Roy Keane has conceded that he does not harbour much hope when it comes to Manchester United finishing in the top-four this season.
The former Red Devils midfielder was analysing United's chances of Champions League qualification for next term when he made the admission that he fears the club are in "trouble" as they near the season's final furlong. Keane was speaking prior to kick off ahead of United's trip to Liverpool in a contest that saw the hosts go 2-0 up inside the opening 30 minutes.
Luis Diaz opened the scoring for Liverpool on the four-minute mark after side-footing the ball beyond David de Gea from close range, before Mohamed Salah doubled the Reds' advantage after a neat interchange, including an outrageous no-look through ball from Sadio Mane.
Keane's pre-match assessment suggested that United's season could be salvaged were they to have gotten something off of Liverpool. "It has been a poor season, finishing fourth people are getting excited by that?", he told Sky Sports.
"They are in trouble, but this could be something that ends up saving their season. That could help with getting a new manager is, new players in and of course United want to be in the Champions League every season."
However, the result that Keane claimed could have operated as a springboard for United's season did not come as they failed to overcome the mounting they gave themselves to climb inside the game's opening exchanges.
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Sadio Mane added a third for Liverpool shortly after the hour mark, but it was the first goal that left Keane furious from a United viewpoint. "There is no point in having all the bodies behind the ball if they are not going to be intense. You get kidded on, it is just quality from Liverpool. The worst possible start from United," he bemoaned.
Keane was surprisingly more reserved than his former United teammate Gary Neville, who covered the game as a co-commentator and made his feelings clear. "This Man Utd team are a waste of space," he said after a shoddy first-half display from his old team.
"This is as bad as it gets. I thought Man Utd looked promising towards the end of last season but the demise to where they're at today has been alarming. What we're watching is nothing. This is nothing." Salah notched Liverpool's fourth and his second of the night to cap off a resounding victory.
