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Alan Shearer got the last laugh as Manchester United were thumped by Liverpool just days after Erik ten Hag slammed the Premier League legend’s ‘stupid analysis’ of his team.
Goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah secured a 3-0 win for Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, with United beginning the season with two defeats in three games.
The pressure is already on Ten Hag, who had raised eyebrows in his pre-match press conference by slamming Shearer’s criticism of Marcus Rashford on Match of the Day.
The Dutchman defended the forward, saying: ‘Everyone gets criticism from you guys, it doesn’t matter what we are doing, if we are winning or if we are losing.
‘In this case, it was stupid analysis from the pundit.’
Asked about the Dutchman’s comments on The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer did not hold back, giving a scathing review of the Red Devils’ performance against their arch rivals.
‘In his press conference he said he didn’t agree with the analysis and said it was “stupid”. But look at their performance today then see,’ the legendary striker said.
‘I totally get why. He’s trying to protect his player, he couldn’t see anything different, but I think the truth be known at Man United.
‘Nothing much has changed over the summer, has it? Certainly, in the performances that we’ve seen.
‘They got absolutely battered, was like men against boys. They were awful, Liverpool were brilliant.’
In his analysis, Jamie Carragher said that the Reds already had more ‘identity’ under new boss Arne Slot than United had under Ten Hag after two years in the job, a point Shearer says the Liverpool legend ‘absolutely nailed’.
‘Arne Slot’s been in there six, seven weeks and I know he’s got a good team but already you can see what he’s trying to do. Yet, I just keep seeing the same things with Manchester United week after week after week.
‘When they lose possession, not closing down quick enough, not stopping the crosses, three men in the box again, they are so open it’s just incredible.
‘And when you’ve got really, really good players which is what Liverpool have then they’re going to punish you. It should have been five or six, they got away with it really.’
Ten Hag now has the international break to turn things around, with United’s next game away to Southampton on September 14.
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