Man United: Gary Neville admits he was unprofessional for praising Hannibal Mejbri for fouling

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has admitted that he strayed on to the ‘unprofessional side of commentary’ amid his praise of Hannibal Mejbri’s challenge on Naby Keita on Tuesday. 

The Red Devils were torn apart by Liverpool for the second time this season after a 4-0 mauling at Anfield left them humiliated. 

Very few United players left Merseyside worthy of any credit after an inexcusable performance but Neville reserved some praise for youngster Mejbri.  

Gary Neville admitted his praise of Man United’s Hannibal Mejbri (right) was ‘unprofessional’

Man United suffered a chastening 4-0 defeat by rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday night

The 19-year-old was only on the pitch for six minutes but was a source of pride for the former United defender as he flew into tackles and gave away fouls for robust challenges on Jurgen Klopp’s men. 

The substitute soon picked up a yellow card for one of his tackles but Neville claimed was proud of the teenager for making an effort. 

The Sky Sports commentator later admitted his praise aired on the unprofessional side but still insisted United fans could respond to Mejbri’s efforts.  

The former Red Devil said he was ‘proud’ of the youngster for fouling Liverpool players

‘That is why I aired on to the slightly unprofessional side of commentary tonight,’ Neville said after the chastening defeat, via The Mirror. 

‘When I said that the kid [Mejbri] to be fair I was proud of him because he was going round trying to top people and trying to kick people.

‘But he demonstrated something, he showed something. He didn’t like the idea of Liverpool, at Anfield, passing it around him and the idea of Liverpool taking the mick out of him and his team-mates.

The 19-year-old came off the bench with six minutes remaining and was quickly booked

‘At least he demonstrated something. I am not saying it is brilliant because he could have hurt the Liverpool players, but as a Manchester United fan you can respond to that.’

The disgraceful performance follows United’s humiliation at the hands of Klopp’s side in their own backyard earlier this season, when the Reds ran riot in a 5-0 win. 

United’s cumulative 9-0 defeat against Liverpool is now the second-worst in the club’s history, only surpassed by the 11-0 loss over two games they suffered against Sunderland in 1892-93. 

United slumped to a 4-0 defeat at Anfield on Tuesday, after losing 5-0 in the reverse fixture

The likes of Harry Maguire, Nemanja Matic and Bruno Fernandes were chasing shadows as Liverpool ran riot and Neville blasted the side. 

He claimed it was some of the worst football he has seen in 42 years watching the club but Mejbri drew an ounce of pride from the former defender for his tackle on Keita.

‘It takes a young kid to come on and show the rest of them how to sprint for the ball and put a challenge in,’ Neville said while co-commentating. 

‘I’m actually proud of him! Maybe he doesn’t like the idea of Liverpool players passing it round him. I wish the rest of them were the same.’