Steve Nicol: 'Liverpool don't have one decent defender'

Former Liverpool player Steve Nicol has claimed that the club do not have one "decent defender" in their squad following the 3-0 loss at Manchester United on Sunday.

The Reds created numerous chances at Old Trafford, but some poor defending allowed Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie to score the goals that condemned them to a comprehensive defeat at the hands of their rivals.

Nicol says that he was not impressed with Liverpool's mistakes at the back, especially Dejan Lovren's weak clearance which allowed Mata to set up Van Persie for the third goal.

"This performance rubber-stamped that Liverpool do not have one decent defender in the squad. The defence was absolutely atrocious," Nicol told ESPN.

"The icing on the cake was the last goal involving Lovren. The clearance was schoolboy.

"Losing 3-0 looks bad, looks a disaster, but the truth of the matter is Liverpool created more chances in one game than they have in any other game all season - that has to be a positive."

Liverpool return to action on Wednesday against Bournemouth in the League Cup.