‘Criminal’ - Paul Scholes slams Lisandro Martinez for role in Liverpool opener vs Manchester United

Paul Scholes says Lisandro Martinez’s positioning during Cody Gakpo’s opening goal for Liverpool hindered David de Gea’s view, and told the Manchester United defender to trust his goalkeeper more.

United let in seven goals without reply to be handed their heaviest defeat for 92 years and their biggest ever against Liverpool. The first-half was a fairly even contest until double goalscorer Gakpo - once linked with a United switch - hit the ball home two minutes before the break.

Andy Robertson had played it through to the Dutchman, who chopped back inside before pulling the trigger. Before he did, Martinez came across to try and block the effort but in doing so seemingly blocked the vision of De Gea.

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Speaking to Premier League Productions, Scholes says his movement hindered the goalkeeper’s ability to try and stop the shot.

“I certainly don’t think it [Martinez’s position] helps De Gea,” Scholes said during the interval. “I don’t think he’s quite in line at the point it’s kicked but David can also think the ball might hit him.

“But when he [Gakpo] does hit it, he has gone right past him. You see David’s reaction there towards Martinez, he doesn’t quite have a go at him, but I think he should do.”

Scholes added: “I think it happened a couple of times, once before with Robertson where he ended up clearing it off the line, he’s going far too deep, he should be getting up the pitch, can he stop the shot or have an effect on the shot rather than get in the keeper’s way.

“He needs to trust his goalkeeper. This is a top goalkeeper we’re talking about, do not get in his way. If anybody gets in the goalkeeper’s way it’s criminal.”

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