Scholes spots ‘criminal’ mistake Man Utd star keeps making that sparked Liverpool demolition
Paul Scholes identified a “criminal” error Lisandro Martinez keeps making, and the Man Utd legend reckons David de Gea should’ve given the Argentine both barrels for his part in the first Liverpool goal on Sunday.
Liverpool recorded their biggest ever victory over Manchester United when putting seven past the Red Devils at Anfield.
What made the victory all the more remarkable was the fact the hosts were only one goal to the good at half time.
That strike came via January recruit Cody Gakpo who, ironically enough, was firmly established as a Man Utd transfer target in the winter window.
Andy Robertson’s incisive through ball left Fred for dead before Gakpo cut inside Raphael Varane and onto his stronger right foot.
Lisandro Martinez attempted to block Gakpo’s shot, though dropped deep inside his own six-yard box and moved across David de Gea’s sightline. Whether De Gea would’ve got to Gakpo’s shot is open to debate, though Martinez’s dubious intervention certainly didn’t aid his chances.
De Gea was visibly frustrated with his centre-back, immediately turning to face Martinez and flinging his arms up in the air. However, the veteran Spaniard left it there and did not give Martinez a piece of his mind.
Speaking to Premier League Productions at half time in the contest, United legend Paul Scholes stressed De Gea could’ve and should’ve given Martinez a verbal rocket.
Furthermore, Scholes also pointed out Martinez has developed a habit of dropping too deep and attempting an eye-catching block rather than pushing up towards the ball carrier and attempting to disrupt the shot at source.
“I certainly don’t think it helps De Gea,” said Scholes. “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.”
Scholes reacts at full-time
Reflecting on the result at full-time after Liverpool proceeded to score six unanswered goals in the second half, the Man Utd legend insisted it’s “difficult not to be embarrassed”.
However, he did echo those who’ve claimed it was nothing more than a freak result.
Scholes added: “There’s a naivety about this from United, team and players; they’ve let in six at Man City and now seven at Liverpool. These are places where you need to go and stop teams playing, and they haven’t done that.
“It’s difficult not to be embarrassed by that result.”
Scholes continued: “It’s a freakish result for Manchester United, everything went against them – but they’ll have to accept it and get over it.
“It’s not just three points lost, there’s a couple of positions where you think they’re a bit short in games like this, but it’s difficult to be too critical of this team.
“It’s just such a freak result; the question now is whether there’s a hangover, and I think they’ll come out of this okay.”
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