Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy insists Manchester City ace Kevin de Bruyne shouldn't be thinking about a guard of honour for the new Premier League champions.

Pep Guardiola's men will give the Reds a guard of honour on Thursday night ahead of the clash between the teams at the Etihad.

Murphy has slammed the idea and says some of Klopp's squad are not in the same league as City star De Bruyne.

He said: "Kevin De Bruyne is the best midfielder, probably, in the world, and he's clapping his hands and giving a guard of honour to players who can't even lace his boots."

Murphy claims the act is meaningless.

He told talkSPORT: "It's a perception of respect, 'the right thing to do', the message you're trying to send to the football world that when somebody wins, that you show respect and grace.

"The fact City will be doing it on Thursday will show humility, saying 'well done' to Liverpool and appreciation for their quality. I think it's a load of nonsense!

"I don't know where it started and why it started, I would feel uncomfortable doing it.

"I'd do it because you have to do it, but I wouldn't want to do it, because it's not done with sincerity."