‘Klopp will be rubbing his hands together’ – Paul Scholes fears for Man Utd vs Liverpool after Atalanta first-half flop
MANCHESTER UNITED legend Paul Scholes has declared Jurgen Klopp will be “rubbing his hands together” following the 3-2 win against Atalanta.
The Red Devils once again came back from behind in the Champions League to win late on at Old Trafford having trailed 2-0 going into the break.
It was a disastrous display from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s men in the opening 45 minutes as they were outclassed by their Italian opponents, who could have scored more.
And Scholes has stated they will be not be able to get away with a similar outing against rivals Liverpool on Sunday at the Theatre of Dreams.
The BT Sport pundit said: “The first half put me off the second half. It was worrying, it looked anything but a team and lacked unity.
“It was the back four, the two holding midfielders then the rest. Can they go and play against Liverpool or Manchester City like that? Never in a million years.
“The two midfield players were playing on their own. They conceded so many chances. Against quality opposition there’s no way you’re winning that games.
“Imagine Jurgen Klopp during that first half at home, watching rubbing his hands together.
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“They can’t keep on relying on the goalkeeper like that. The quality has never been in doubt, it’s at the other end.
“I don’t want to sound like a party pooper but that first half was a major worry for me.”
He added: “I felt sorry for the two midfield players. There is not a chance they’ll play 4-2-4 this weekend, if they do they’ll get destroyed.
“Fred and [Scott] McTominay – I don’t care what two midfielders in the world – you cannot handle that on your own.
“The front four are so high, there is no connect between the team. If we play like that against Man City and Liverpool it will be disastrous.”
Following the victory over Atalanta, Solskjaer bizarrely stated his side performed well in the first half, despite match-winner Cristiano Ronaldo left fuming with his team-mates.
He remarked: “We played well first half. It was just two chances and two goals.
“Out of nothing they scored the first goal then another set play. But they never stopped believing and kept on going.
“They made a few mistakes but they kept going.”
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