Paul Scholes slams Erik ten Hag and highlights area Man Utd are 'miles behind' Liverpool
Manchester United have lost three of their first four games this season under Erik ten Hag, whose future as manager has been put back into the spotlight following Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Liverpool
Paul Scholes claims that Manchester United are 'miles behind' Liverpool when it comes to their midfield, a contributing factor in Sunday's humiliating 3-0 defeat.
Erik ten Hag's side were humbled on home turf by their arch rivals, making it two defeats in three Premier League games this season, three in four in all competitions. The Red Devils have failed to produce one convincing performance and were dismantled in the first half as Luis Diaz scored twice.
Mohamed Salah made it 3-0 in the second half and there was no response from a rudderless United. All three of Liverpool's goals came from United giving away the ball in midfield, with Casemiro at fault for two and Kobbie Mainoo the other.
Scholes took aim at the Red Devils' midfield in his post-match analysis for Premier League Productions. "It was a difficult afternoon, but they have to realise what they are playing against," the legendary ex-United midfielder began.
"We know United have work to do. The centre of the pitch is a big problem. I thought Liverpool were miles ahead of them."
Fortunately for Scholes, United have already addressed that area with the £50.7million signing of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte. The 23-year-old Uruguayan was unveiled to the Old Trafford crowd before kick-off and shook hands with Scholes.
But Ugarte could take time to get bed in at his new club, having not featured in a competitive match since July. "It will take time. It's not like I'm Harry Potter. That's what you have to acknowledge," Ten Hag argued.
"If you see [new signing] Manuel Ugarte, he didn't play so far in the season. Not one match minute. So he needs to build his fitness and then we have to build him in the team and I'm sure he'll be an important player.
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"But that will take a couple of weeks, maybe even months. Joshua Zirkzee, he made big steps in the last three or four weeks and I was very pleased with his performance today."
The United boss added: "It's clear Liverpool deserved the win. We have to be humble, take this and improve our game. The first two goals, you cannot change when you make such mistakes against a good team like Liverpool, they will kill you."
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