Manchester United legend Gary Neville admitted that he ‘aired on to the slightly unprofessional’ side when he praised Hannibal Mejbri’s robust tackle on Liverpool ’s Naby Keita.
The Red Devils were dealt another humiliating football lesson by Jurgen Klopp’s rampant Merseysiders on Tuesday night. A Mohamed Salah brace accompanied by goals from Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane sealed an easy 4-0 home victory over Ralf Rangnick’s side.
Very few, if any, United players were able to depart Anfield with any credit, but Neville did praise young United midfielder Hannibal , who made his presence known by sprinting into a challenge and hitting Keita with a firm tackle. But after Neville praised the Tunisian ace’s gritty tackle, the former United captain admitted his commentary strayed into unprofessional waters.
"That is why I aired on to the slightly unprofessional side of commentary tonight,” Neville said after the chastening defeat at Anfield. “When I said that the kid [Mejbri] to be fair I was proud of him because he was going round trying to top people and trying to kick people.
“But he demonstrated something, he showed something. He didn’t like the idea of Liverpool, at Anfield, passing it around him and the idea of Liverpool taking the mick out of him and his team-mates.
“At least he demonstrated something. I am not saying it is brilliant because he could have hurt the Liverpool players, but as a Manchester United fan you can respond to that."
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Mejbri was one of the few United players who drew an ounce of praise from Neville and the United critics. But despite receiving a yellow card, Neville said he was proud of Mejbri’s physical contribution to the contest.
"It takes a young kid to come on and show the rest of them how to sprint for the ball and put a challenge in,” Neville said while co-commentating the loss. “I'm actually proud of him! Maybe he doesn't like the idea of Liverpool players passing it round him. I wish the rest of them were the same."
While Mejbri may have briefly raised Neville from his seat, it was another horrendous evening of football for the Red Devils. Even though Liverpool and United were the only two players competing in the Premier League, the sheer number of goals the Reds scored saw United topple down the table again.
The Red Devils dropped below Arsenal into sixth position once the 90 minutes at Anfield were up. But despite only being three points away from fourth placed Tottenham, Neville stated he and United fans are now willing the season to end sooner rather than later.
"It's a decade of repeated failure and that's not good enough," added Neville. "Man Utd have got everyone in the country expected tonight. Really in a poor place.
“The end of the season can't come quick enough. Liverpool are top of their form and it was always going to be difficult. This is a broken Man Utd squad in this moment in time. It's on the edge, that's for sure."
