Manchester United legend Roy Keane has described his former club's performance in their 7-0 defeat to Liverpool as "embarrassing", "shocking" and "disgraceful".
Erik ten Hag's men were blown away at Anfield, with bitter rivals Liverpool inflicting the Red Devils' joint-heaviest defeat of all time on a historic day.
Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah all scored twice before Roberto Firmino capped off the rout and secured Liverpool's biggest-ever win over Man United.
The result is Man United's first defeat in 12 games across all competitions, and only their second loss since November 6.
However, Keane admitted that the nature of the result will leave the players "ashamed" and believes that the senior players were particularly at fault for the scoreline.
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"Liverpool were back to their very best - amazing performance. If I got beat 6-0 or 7-0, I'd go into hiding. I'd go missing for a few months. It really is that embarrassing. A shocking day. The goal just after half time, it was game over," Keane told Sky Sports News.
"The senior players were embarrassing, didn't show any leadership skills. The goals they gave away were shocking. A tough day for United. Thank god I've never been part of a team that's been beaten by that much playing for Man United. The players will be embarrassed, ashamed of their performance. When the going got tough they went missing.
"When you go two goals down like that you've got to show some sort of pride, fight, spirit, they didn't show any of that. I never thought United were back to their very best. They've had some very good results. They've been giving teams chances - Leicester at home, West Ham. Teams have let them off the hook.
"Liverpool didn't let them off the hook and punished them. That's where they were deserve credit. They were clinical, ruthless. They kept going and wanted more goals. The senior players are the ones that let the club down today.
"You talk about concentration levels [at the start of the second half], I saw [Man Utd] players in the tunnel coming out smiling and laughing. I saw a couple of players coming out for the second half having a laugh and a joke. They were having a joke with the Anfield staff at 1-0 down – I don't like to see that rubbish. You are here to work, it's big boy stuff. Forget the laughing and joking.
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"When it was three or four, you take your medicine, you take your loss. The way they were so open, the manager tried to make substitutions, they threw the towel in. Fernandes's body language today was nothing short of disgraceful. A really talented boy, he's your captain, but his body language, waving his arms, not running back, you wouldn't be happy with him in your dressing room.
"After winning the Carabao Cup, at the West Ham game, lots of celebration, lots of nonsense, lots of presentations – there were four or five. The circus is back in town at Manchester United. I was always aware of that as a player. Keep an eye on people, don't let people get carried away as you know what this game can do to you.
"[David] De Gea was getting presentations last week, I wonder if he'd get a presentation tonight? Giving up seven goals like that. Don't let him off the hook. The way he controlled his back four, some of the set pieces and the last goal was schoolboy stuff."
Keane's fellow pundit Gary Neville also slammed his former team's performance, reserving particular criticism for captain Bruno Fernandes.
Ten Hag's side will next face Real Betis in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday.
Barney Corkhill
