Rio Ferdinand has slammed Joshua Zirkzee's role in Harry Maguire blowing a last-gasp chance to hand Manchester United the win at Liverpool.
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Man Utd draw 2-2 at LiverpoolMaguire misses late chance from Zirkzee passFerdinand tears into strikerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
In the dying embers at Anfield on Sunday, substitute Zirkzee played a bobbly pass to team-mate Maguire in the Liverpool area and the defender could only spoon his effort over the bar. Days on from the 2-2 draw, United legend Ferdinand has said he would have called out the Dutchman's "stupidness" in the dressing room if he was in Maguire's position.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT RIO FERDINAND SAID
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, he said: "After all of it, I would have gone in the changing room and gone, 'Bruv, what type of stupidness was that?! What type of pass was that?! We could have won the game!' But Zirkzee is lacking in confidence so he [Maguire] ain’t going to do that. It’s detail, bro. You know what it’s like? Talk to somebody like you want to be talked to. Pass how you want to receive. Same thing."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite Ferdinand's pointed criticism, United head coach Ruben Amorim and club captain Bruno Fernandes gave their backing to the 23-year-old summer signing. However, a return of just four goals and two assists in 28 appearances highlights how the £36 million (€42.5m/$46m) forked out for him has not been worth it so far.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
Former Bologna forward Zirkzee will hope to right the wrongs of that late miss when United take on Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday.