Manchester United were branded a ‘shambles’ by Paul Scholes after being brushed aside by Liverpool in the Europa League.

Jurgen Klopp’s side dominated last night’s last-16 first leg as a penalty from Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino’s tap-in sealed a comfortable win.

Former United midfielder Scholes was damning in his assessment as Louis van Gaal’s team were left with a mountain to climb in next Thursday’s second leg at Old Trafford.

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Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini looks dejected after his side were beaten by Liverpool

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge celebrates after netting a first-half penalty against Manchester United

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes was less than pleased with what he saw on Thursday night

‘They were a shambles,’ said Scholes after the game on BT Sport. ‘The lack of quality and fight...when you are United, there are certain standards you have to be at, and they haven’t made them. When we were playing we were reaching them. These players are falling well short.

‘The worst thing is these players now apologising on Twitter and Facebook. Just get out there and play! These players that have come in for £300million are no better than the players that have been allowed to leave the club.

‘For 20 years Manchester United had an identity. You were going to play fast football, going to pass the ball forward, tackle, run. The last three years they have gone away from something that worked.

‘You look at the pitch tonight and what are they trying to do? I have absolutely no idea. The first half was shocking, the second half they go to three at the back, which they tried last season and was a disaster, and tonight again it was a disaster.

‘You bring on Michael Carrick to play centre midfield. He (Van Gaal) sticks him in the middle of a back three. Where’s this club going at the minute? They are going the wrong way.’

Another former United hero, Rio Ferdinand, also weighed in with criticism as the away fans were kept behind after the final whistle.

Roberto Firmino celebrates after scoring Liverpool's second goal during their 2-0 win over Manchester United

SECOND LEG Manchester United vs Liverpool Old Trafford March 17, 8.05pm Advertisement

He said: ‘I wouldn’t want to be a player walking past the away fans tonight because they will get abused and rightly so.

‘Liverpool deserve the credit because they should have had three or four. They played like United played back in the day. They were on the front foot from the word go and overran United across the park.

‘I see what’s happening at Anfield. Klopp says ‘‘jump’’ and Liverpool say ‘‘how high?’’. I don’t sense that’s happening at United.

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was left angered by the performance at Anfield Stadium

'I was thinking ‘‘do these players even know they are playing at Anfield? Is it filtering through to those United players?’’

‘I’ve written down a list of players. Di Maria, Nani, Evra, Welbeck, Chicharito, Evans, Fletcher, Rafael, Kagawa ... I could go on. Are they worse than the players out there? They are better than that team there — that’s the problem.’

Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman said: ‘This is the most disjointed Manchester United team I have ever seen. They had players all over the place playing in the wrong positions.

David de Gea shows his frustration after having being unable to save Sturridge's spot-kick on Thursday night

GRAHAM POLL'S VERDICT Referee Carlos Velasco Carballo was absolutely correct to award Liverpool a penalty. While the initial contact on Nathaniel Clyne from Memphis Depay was outside the area, the following contact was either on the line or just inside the box depending on the viewing angle. Not that it mattered, as the line constitutes part of the area. Depay was rightly cautioned for the foul too. Carballo lived up to his disciplinarian reputation by dishing out the cards and cautioned Jordan Henderson inside the first five minutes. But there's nothing wrong with that... Advertisement

‘The gulf in class tonight was clearly visible. United managed one chance.’

United were chasing a fifth win in a row against Liverpool but did not have a shot on target in the first half. Only a string of saves from David de Gea prevented an even greater defeat.

Yet Van Gaal questioned the decisions to allow Liverpool’s goals — he felt Nathaniel Clyne was fouled outside the area for Sturridge’s penalty and Jordan Henderson was offside in the build up to Firmino’s goal — but accepted United were well beaten.

Still he feels United can come back, saying: ‘You have to believe in everything. You see what Liverpool have done and everything is possible. We have to talk about this game.

‘I give my opinion now. We didn’t cope with the high pressure of Liverpool. We had expected that. It was a surprise that we didn’t cope. They played like that in Premier League.

'That raised the atmosphere in the stadium. They created big chances but we had a very good goalkeeper.

Fellaini (left) is left frustrated following a dismal performance away against rivals Liverpool on Thursday

'We had a cheap penalty and in the second half we changed the shape. We had much more contribution to the game but we didn’t create enough.

‘They scored another cheap goal — he was offside — and that is difficult. We have to create an atmosphere like that next week.’

Van Gaal was angered when a journalist raised Ferdinand’s post-match criticisms in the press conference.

Sir Alex Ferguson (centre) was among the crowds as Manchester United stuttered against Liverpool

The Dutchman said: ‘You don’t give your opinion and you give Rio Ferdinand’s opinion. Very strong of you.’

Delighted Liverpool boss Klopp said: ‘It was good, yeah? From the first second to the last second, with the exception of a few minutes in the second half. They didn’t create a lot. Scoring the second goal was crucial. We are in a good position.

‘We would have liked to win by more but the result is OK. I can give a lot of good grades to my players. We had some really big chances.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp punches the air with delight after Firmino's strike doubled their advantage

'There is a lot of things we can improve but there are a lot of things that were very good. I do not think we are through. We can run further, we can play better.’

Marouane Fellaini escaped punishment for an apparent elbow on Emre Can and could be ruled out of the second leg.

Klopp said: ‘I saw it but I don’t think I should say anything. I am not the referee.’