‘Terrible’… Alan Shearer shares what he found awful about Liverpool on Sunday

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Alan Shearer has criticised the standard of football on show from Liverpool and Manchester United on Sunday.

It may be billed as English football’s biggest game, but the clash at Anfield really failed to live up to the hype this weekend.

United fans won’t mind too much, they’ll be relieved at having escaped with a point. But for Liverpool supporters – and just about everyone else – it was a frustrating affair. And speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer echoed that sentiment.

“It was a rotten game,” slammed the pundit. “I can’t believe I had to watch it live and then sit and watch it again on Match of the Day. It was an awful game, the standard was poor. I know Liverpool were the better team and had more chances, more possession but the standard of forward play from both teams was terrible.

“Both teams actually got into some good positions. Man United twice in the second half, Hojlund should have scored but missed it but it was a really poor game. Man United had to defend, defend, defend.

“Liverpool just had nothing in attack, it was one of those days yesterday for them where they just couldn’t find the back of the net.”

Liverpool serve up a miserable watch

After last season’s 7-0 destruction of United, perhaps Sunday was always going to be the exact opposite.

Having come out and attacked Liverpool during that memorable game in March – and paid the price for it – Erik ten Hag’s side were far more conservative this time around.

With the Reds tasked with breaking the Red Devils down, they just couldn’t quite do it.

In some ways, you have to give United credit for that. There were predictions that this would be another walk in the park for Liverpool and they dug in and didn’t let that happen.

But at the same time, this is the club with the most league titles in English football. They shouldn’t be taking on their biggest rivals with such a negative approach.

If Ten Hag set out to spoil the game and the occasion though, then his tactics did work well.

You have to say that Shearer is right as well, though. Despite the fact that they did come to Anfield and offer no real desire to attack, Man U did still perhaps have the clearest openings of the game.

Rasmus Hojlund really should have scored when one-on-one with Alisson Becker. Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho was a Trent Alexander-Arnold toe away from a clear run at the Liverpool goalie, too. In the end, it was just one of those days. We need to see better next time out from the Reds.