Premier League: Former stars Gary Neville and Roy Keane turn on Man United

Manchester United’s latest dispiriting loss saw former captains Gary Neville and Roy Keane blast their old club, describing it as “awful”.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has drawn the fire of former stars

Former Manchester United captains Gary Neville and Roy Keane turned their fire on their old club after Jose Mourinho’s side fell to a dispiriting 3-1 defeat to old rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

United are now 19 points behind Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League leaders and sit 11 points off fourth place and Champions League qualification.

But while the numbers speak for themselves, Neville and Keane, both working as analysts on Sky Sports, suggested the club’s problems ran much deeper than just their current league position.

Mourinho’s decision to leave Paul Pogba as an unused substitute raised eyebrows, with Neville saying the midfield was not up to scratch.

“I can’t get over United’s central midfield. If you’re Paul Pogba watching (Nemanja) Matic, (Ander) Herrera, (Marouane) Fellaini, Fred, who played the other night … not one of them can pass a football,” said the former full-back, who won eight titles in Sir Alex Ferguson’s team. .

“None of them can actually receive the ball and pass the ball. I just find it absolutely staggering. I thought United were awful today … It’s not good enough.”

Neville said it would not make sense to sack Mourinho mid-season and pointed the finger at the club’s directors for extending the manager’s contract last season.

“The board are so naive, giving him a new contract. Manchester United need to reset. It’s not just the manager, it’s deeper than that. They lost control of the football club when they gave him a contract extension 18 months in.

“The minute he came back from pre-season he was at it and the club lost control. There is not that experience or knowledge in the football club above him to be able to manage or control him and handle him.”

Keane said he was not surprised by the performance he witnessed at Anfield. “I looked at United and thought they’re going to be found out today. And they were. It’s a huge concern going forward.

“I certainly believe a lot of their players are not good enough to be playing for Manchester United. They’re good players but not good enough for Manchester United.”

The Irishman suggested that Pogba might not have a long-term future at the club. “If he’s sitting on the bench and not getting on, you’re thinking his days must be numbered. I don’t think they’ll do anything in January but, come the summer, you move him on.”

Keane speculated that the mood at the club may not be conducive to success.

“Is it a happy camp? Because seeing the players’ body language, I don’t get the impression they enjoy playing for Man United,” he added. “Some of them look disinterested. Is that coming from the manager?”

Liverpool’s substitute midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri netted twice late on to seal the victory over Manchester United after Sadio Mane had opened the scoring for the hosts.

Jesse Lingard levelled for United before halftime but Shaqiri scored in the 73rd minute, just three minutes after coming off the bench, before adding a second 10 minutes from time.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp revelled in his side’s display.

“We all know about the quality United have, the plan was to take the risks, to be really brave. I loved it, a fantastic performance,” he said.

Earlier, Chelsea consolidated fourth place with a 2-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion with Arsenal slipping to a shock 3-2 loss at relegation-threatened Southampton.

Having won 4-0 at the Amex Stadium last season, Chelsea were on course for a repeat after taking a 2-0 lead at the interval.

Eden Hazard set up the first goal for Pedro after 17 minutes and scored the second himself before halftime following a defensive error.

Brighton came back into contention through Solly March’s goal midway through the second half and Lewis Dunk went close to an equaliser.

The home side have not beaten Chelsea in any competition since 1933 but they stayed 13th in the table, nine points clear of the bottom three places. Chelsea moved three points clear of London rivals Arsenal, who were beaten 3-2 thanks to a late goal from substitute Charlie Austin at Southampton. It was the Londoners’ first defeat in 23 games and meant they lost ground on fourth-placed Chelsea, while Southampton moved out of the bottom three in new Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuettl’s first home game.

Danny Ings, back after injury, headed two fine goals in the first half from equally good crosses by Matt Targett and Nathan Redmond.

In between, Mkhitaryan drew Arsenal level with a header of his own and early in the second half he scored via a big deflection.

Yet in the 85th minute Austin, who had come on for the tiring Ings, headed in a cross by Shane Long.

The win sent Southampton above Burnley into 17th place while Arsenal remained fifth in the table.

— Reuters