Neal Maupay should be embarrassed by his recent ‘odd’ behaviour towards James Maddison and Kyle Walker, claims Chris Sutton on Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast. 

The Brentford striker has been rejuvenated since the turn of the year, scoring in each of his last five games in all competitions. 

However, the 27-year-old has coupled his improvement in front of goal with a renewed aggression and eagerness to provoke his opponents. Maupay incited some ill feeling from Maddison by mocking his celebration after giving the Bees the lead against Tottenham last month. 

It’s All Kicking Off co-host Sutton believes that the former Everton striker’s behaviour is ‘quite odd’ considering his level of ability compared to the England internationals. 

Neal Maupay (right) was again at the centre of controversy in Brentford’s clash with Man City

Kyle Walker raged to the officials and claimed that Maupay made a comment about his kids

He wonders whether Maupay is being encouraged to unsettle opposition players by his manager. 

‘It just seems quite odd to me because there are levels, aren’t there?’ Sutton said. ‘This is what I can’t quite work out about him. 

‘When you dish it out to players who, frankly, are miles better than you, I think that’s a really odd mindset. I would be thinking just keep your mouth shut, stay under the radar.

‘You want to be competitive, you can be physical, whatever, but chucking out comments to Kyle Walker, I do not get that in any way, shape or form, he should be embarrassed really.’

An expert lip reader exclusively revealed to Mail Sport that a raging Walker threatened to ‘knock out’ Maupay after the striker ‘whispered taunts about his children’. 

The Manchester City star – who had been mocked by the home fans following the news he had fathered a second child with Lauryn Goodman – erupted at the 81st minute of the game at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The Frenchman got under James Maddison’s skin by mocking his goal celebration last month

Chris Sutton believes that Neal Maupay should be embarrassed by his recent behaviour 

Walker was seen venting his frustrations to referee Jarred Gillett and fourth official Stuart Attwell, claiming to the pair that Maupay had made comments about his children.

‘It’s obviously doing him a lot of good and maybe motivating himself,’ Sutton added. ‘But he’s not half bringing a lot of heat on the team.

‘Thomas Frank, decent guy, I don’t know, maybe he is saying behind closed doors keep doing it, but he can’t like it.’

Sutton had slammed Maupay for his antics following the incident with Maddison last month. The forward had given his side the lead against their hosts and opted to tease the former Leicester midfielder with his celebration. 

The pair shared a heated exchange afterwards, though Maddison and Tottenham ultimately would have the last laugh by taking three points. 

The striker was also seen exchanging words with City goalkeeper Ederson during the clash

Maupay continued his feud with Maddison online after getting under the midfielder’s skin

In highlighting his view on the respective players’ quality, Sutton claimed that the Bees striker is ‘LIDL’ while Spurs’ Maddison is ‘Waitrose’.

Walker has since been added to the brand of high-street supermarket chains, with the determination that the 33-year-old is the most up-market label of them all. 

‘What are those shops you have up north? Booths?’ Sutton added.