Former Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger predicted that the Red Devils would stage a second-half comeback after falling behind against Liverpool - only to watch them ship another six goals in Sunday's humiliating 7-0 loss.
United had given a pretty good account of themselves during an even first-half at Anfield and were unfortunate not to be ahead before Cody Gakpo - a former Manchester United transfer target - broke the deadlock to nudge the hosts ahead.
Schweinsteiger, who spent two years at Old Trafford during his playing career, slammed Fred on social media for allowing the Dutch forward to cut inside from the left flank but predicted his old club would come out swinging in the second-half.
The former German international posted on Facebook : "The better team leads 1-0. Liverpool take more risks in pressing against the ball and are rewarded with the goal. Come on Manchester United the second half is yours."
He added in a comment: "Fred doesn't need to push too much to Gakpo. He just needs to close inside and let the ball pass wide. World Cup ritual: Never open the centre!"
Despite Schweinsteiger's optimism ahead of the second-half, the game was beyond United by the 50th minute. Darwin Nunez headed home less than two minutes after the restart before Gakpo helped himself to a second goal with a cool finish from an acute angle.
Nunez would go on to score a second with Mohamed Salah bagging a brace. Fittingly, Roberto Firmino capped the historic result with a goal in the dying embers of the match - just days after confirming he would be leaving the club for a new challenge at the end of the season.
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Sunday's drubbing is the joint-heaviest defeat Manchester United have ever suffered against Liverpool and comes just one after the club ended a six-year trophy drought.
Former United captain Roy Keane was analysing the game for Sky Sports and admitted that he was never convinced United were truly back to their best - but was still shocked at the performance. He pointed the finger of blame at the club's senior players.
Speaking after the match, Keane said: "I never thought United were back to their very best, they've had some good results, but they have been giving teams chances and they've been let them off the hook. The chances they gave up today, Liverpool didn't let them off the hook and punished them.
"That's where they deserve credit, they created opportunities, they were clinical, ruthless. They kept going, wanted more goals, but the senior players - I always look at them. The ones we give a big build-up to, the experienced ones, will be the ones who let the club down today."
The Irishman added: You'd go into hiding if you were a player. Never mind a few days, I think I'd go missing for a few months, it really is that embarrassing for the players. What can you do; that's the game, they've got to bounce back."
