Like the rest of us, Paul Scholes was angry on Sunday as he watched Manchester United suffered a 7-0 defeat away at Liverpool. It was a shocking result and performance from the Reds but not enough reason to throw our toys out of the pram. Constructive criticism is warranted in times like this, even if a week ago we were celebrating a League Cup triumph.
January signing Cody Gakpo opened the scoring at Anfield for Jurgen Klopp’s side two minutes before the break. Then, Manchester United completely collapsed in the second half – conceding six goals without reply.
Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah both scored twice, while Gakpo added another before Roberto Fermino made it seven.
Scholes was furious with Martinez’s role in the first goal, though.
The Argentine ran in front of De Gea just as the Liverpool forward took his shot on goal. Scholes thinks by doing this Martinez blocked the goalkeeper’s vision of the ball.
“I certainly don’t think it helps De Gea,” Scholes told Premier League Productions at half time, as per the Metro.
“I don’t think he’s quite in line at the point it’s kicked but David can also think the ball might hit him.
“But when he [Gakpo] does hit it, he has gone right past him.
“You see David’s reaction there towards Martinez, he doesn’t quite have a go at him, but I think he should do.
“I think it happened a couple of times, once before with Robertson where he ended up clearing it off the line, he’s going far too deep, he should be getting up the pitch, can he stop the shot or have an effect on the shot rather than get in the keeper’s way.
“He needs to trust his goalkeeper. This is a top goalkeeper we’re talking about, do not get in his way. If anybody gets in the goalkeeper’s way it’s criminal.”
It’s important to put things into perspective when you look back at yesterday’s shocking result. Without making any excuses for the capitulation in the second half, these players have averaged two games a week since the World Cup and we’re still in the Europa League and FA Cup after winning the Carabao Cup.
Furthermore, in the league, we’re seven points ahead of Liverpool, who are positioned fifth. That means we stand a very good chance at finishing in the top four to qualify for the Champions League.
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