Mejbri should NOT be praised for Liverpool cameo, says Savage

Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri did not deserve praise from Gary Neville for his 'excitable cameo' in Tuesday's 4-0 defeat at Liverpool, says Robbie Savage.

United were torn apart by their bitter rivals at Anfield, falling two goals behind inside 22 minutes and then conceding another couple in the second half.

However, Red Devils legend Neville pointed to Mejbri as one positive for his former side to take from an otherwise miserable outing, commending him for coming off the bench late on and showing the kind of fight that was lacking from his team-mates.

The 19-year-old put in some heavy tackles and was booked for a late challenge on Naby Keita, which Neville admitted made him 'proud'.

But Savage believes the praise Mejbri has received for his lively performance off the bench speaks volumes about the current state of United, insisting he could have been sent off on another day.' 

He wrote in his column for The Mirror: 'Has it really come to this at Manchester United – where we are supposed to celebrate a 19-year-old kid's excitable cameo in a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool?

'New manager Erik ten Hag will take over this summer with the bar at the lowest level I can remember at Old Trafford. I have been watching United at every level for 30 years – as a YTS, father or opposition player – and I have never felt more saddened by them. In a derisory performance at Anfield, at least Hannibal Mejbri made his presence felt, crashing into Jordan Henderson and Andrew Robertson where more celebrated players offered little resistance.

'And I can understand Gary Neville saying afterwards : “He reminded me of Nobby Stiles, of Eric Harrison and the basic principles of being a football player: Compete, win your duels, fight for