'That surprised me': Rio Ferdinand says what shocked him about Liverpool during Man Utd game

09/03/2024 10:15 AM

Liverpool hammered Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford this weekend.

The Reds headed into this game as favourites after a strong start to the season, and it wasn't a shock that the Merseyside club ran out victorious.

However, speaking on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand says he was shocked by the manner of the defeat.

This game, as ever, was won and lost in the midfield battle as Liverpool dominated United in the middle of the park.

Owen Hargreaves stated that, on paper, this battle should've been closer, while Ferdinand says that he was surprised by the gulf in class between these two sides.

Rio Ferdinand shocked by Liverpool's midfield dominating Manchester United

Ferdinand and Hargreaves reviewed the midfield battle in this game.

"You should be able to control the game better, with Casemiro, Kobbie and Bruno, you should be able to control the game. On paper you wouldn't say that Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch is better, but they were way better," Hargreaves said.

"That surprised me, that surprised me. It's not just about the midfield, but I was surprised their midfield was so much more fluid and better than ours," Ferdinand said.

Rio Ferdinand shouldn't be shocked by Liverpool's midfield

Ferdinand was shocked by how Liverpool were able to dominate in the midfield, but it's hard to understand why he's so surprised.

This was always going to be a horrible match-up for United.

Casemiro, with all due respect, looks like his legs have gone, while Kobbie Mainoo isn't the most mobile, despite how good he is on the ball.

Bruno Fernandes is a quality player who works hard, but his head can drop quickly once things don't go his way.

Meanwhile, Liverpool had a midfield three full of energetic workers who also have on-ball quality.

This was a complete mis-match, and as Gabriel Agbonlahor says, Gravenberch basically put Casemiro out to pasture with this performance.

Manchester United have to hope that Manuel Ugarte is something special, because this midfield is broken at the moment.