Jose Mourinho came under fire from Manchester United legends after his side’s dismal display in a 3-1 defeat at Liverpool that underlined just how far they have fallen.
Mourinho’s side were out-classed by Liverpool as Xherdan Shaqiri’s late double killed off United at Anfield.
United were fortunate to be level when Jesse Lingard cancelled out Sadio Mane’s opener, but Mourinho’s team paid the price for another disjointed performance that left them languishing 19 points behind table-topping Liverpool.
With United trailing fourth placed Chelsea by 11 points, Mourinho heads into the hectic Christmas period facing fresh calls for his dismissal.
The former Chelsea boss has overseen United’s worst Premier League start after 17 games amid reports of numerous rifts with key players including French World Cup winner Paul Pogba and Chile forward Alexis Sanchez.
Gary Neville, who won eight Premier League titles as a United defender in the Alex Ferguson era, admitted Liverpool are so far ahead of his old club now that questions must be asked about Mourinho’s job security.
“Liverpool are streets ahead. Streets. Not one of the United midfielders can pass a football. Not one of them,” Neville told Sky Sports.
“I find it staggering. United were awful. They were hanging in there for a bit but the only real team who were going to win the game was Liverpool. It’s not good enough.”
Asked if Mourinho should part ways with United, Neville questioned the club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, who was criticised by Mourinho in the close-season for failing to land his transfer targets.
“Will Mourinho leave? I think it will happen, my preference would always be to get to the end of the season. But the board room is so naive it’s unbelievable,” Neville said.
“To give him an extended contract, knowing his cycle of every three years, was incredible. The minute he came back from pre-season he was at it and the club was out of control.
“Nobody above him can handle him. They don’t know what to do with him, they don’t know what to say to him. They don’t know what he’s going to say at every press conference. It will cost a fortune to lose him now.”
Roy Keane, working as a pundit for Sky Sports, was equally scathing of United’s limp effort in a grudge match that always drew the best from the tough-tackling former Manchester United captain in his playing days.
Keane accused Mourinho of assembling a team that is a pale intimation of the club’s glory days.
“If you came down from the moon today and knew nothing about football you’d say United are an average Premier League side. Nothing more. They are Manchester United of the 1980s, they can be a decent cup team,” he said.
“I did fear the worst today and it could have been a lot more. Towards the end Liverpool just toyed with them. United were not at the races.
“I certainly believe a lot of the players playing for United today are not good enough for Manchester United.”
Pogba was an unused substitute and Keane sees no future at Old Trafford for the France midfielder, who has already quit United once before to join Juventus.
“Paul Pogba’s days are numbered, they won’t sell him in January but he’ll move on. It’s no big deal, he’s left United before,” he added.
Fans of United (and other clubs) on Twitter couldn’t stop taking digs at United as well.
I can't be the only one who hates Mourinho more as the United manager rather than when he was managing other clubs
— Utd! (@ManUtd_HQ) December 16, 2018
Overall, the board and Woodward deserves this outcome for giving Mourinho an extension he did not simply work for. However, this decision is now effecting our key players and most importantly the supporters. #MUFC
— Manchester United (@UTDWorldwide) December 16, 2018
So tell me how Mourinho can’t get the best out of Pogba Mata Martial Sanchez but Ferguson won titles with Carrick Fletcher Park and Wes brown? Jose is finished!!
— Dean Brett (@DeanBrett62) December 16, 2018
Jose Mourinho was sacked on December 17th 2015 by Chelsea after losing 3-1 to Klopp's Liverpool
— The Realest Boss 🙏 (@pacman_TL) December 16, 2018
Today Mourinho's United lost 3-1 to Klopp's Liverpool. Tomorrow is December 17th 2018.
If you know you know
😁😂😀#MrpacTL
“According to a Portuguese newspaper someone (Mourinho) said that a player like me (37) is at the end of his career. Completely agree! My question for that newspaper: in the case of coaches, when and at what point do you see that they are at the end of theirs?”
— FourFourTweet (@FourFourTweet) December 16, 2018
- Iker Casillas pic.twitter.com/excikhe70l
Roy Keane: “Mourinho’s not changed drastically over the last few months. It’s always been about him. When his team win it’s down to him, the tactical side of it. When they lose, I’m short of players. There’s no surprise on the Mourinho front of that.” [sky] #mufc
— utdhq (@utdhq) December 16, 2018
Can’t wait to draw Barca tomorrow further adding to my depression that is Jose Mourinho.
— FergieTime™️ (@SSIIIIUUUU) December 16, 2018
Look what Mourinho’s awful football has done to Sir Alex Ferguson 😭😭😭 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/cOcjS9LMok
— United Related (@UnitedsRelated) December 16, 2018
Mourinho gave Robertson more praise in that press conference than he’s given Martial in 3 years
— RJ (@utdrj) December 16, 2018
Die Hard tonight! The Bruce Willis version not the Mourinho managing United version we're all living right now
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) December 16, 2018
Reasons for Man UTD being 19 points after Liverpool:
— Jan Aage Fjortoft (@JanAageFjortoft) December 16, 2018
- Lingard’s clothing brand
- Pogba’s SoMe- activities
- Ed Woodward
- the Board
- owners
No reason at at all:
- Mourinho’s leadership
- no pattern on the pitch
- unhappy dressing room
Rather than play a system that suits them, Mourinho wants the players to play the utterly outdated tactics that suits HIM. And today that system (or lack of) was exposed so badly that anyone in their right mind can see he is a busted flush.
— Sav (@jonmikesav8) December 16, 2018