Robbie Savage disagrees with Gary Neville comments on Man United youngster Hannibal Mejbri

Robbie Savage has questioned whether the praise directed at Hannibal Mejbri for his erratic cameo appearance in Manchester United's 4-0 loss to Liverpool was justified.

The 19-year-old came on for the final 10 minutes of the game and put in a number of forceful challenges on the likes of Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson, picking up a yellow card for his troubles. This earned the praise of Gary Neville who described Hannibal as the only player on the night who “demonstrated that he had the heart and the soul to play for Manchester United Football Club.”

Neville went on to say he was "proud" of Hannibal and others agreed but Savage — father of the Frenchman's United Under-23 teammate Charlie Savage — is not so sure. Writing in his column in the Mirror, he said: “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?

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“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.”

But he added: “I would disagree with Gary. Yes, it's good to see a young player being given a chance and trying to make his mark, but on another night Hannibal could have been sent off, which wouldn't have solved anything. "

Neville did later apologise for his comments and admitted Hannibal had crossed a line — a stance Jurgen Klopp applauded, while saying "I understand where he [Neville] is coming from".

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