Manchester United may have salvaged a point against Everton on Saturday, but former footballer Alan Shearer wasn’t holding back when it came to criticizing their performance, especially in the first half.

Despite the dramatic comeback that saw United fight back from a 2-0 deficit to level the score at 2-2, Shearer was harsh on three of their key players.

According to the Premier League legend, United’s struggles were evident throughout, particularly during a shocking first 45 minutes.

Tough Times for Manchester United in Premier League

This season has been one of the most challenging for Manchester United in recent years.

The club has faced numerous off-field issues and their on-pitch results have been equally disappointing, with the team sitting mid-table in 15th place.

The Red Devils’ performance against Everton was no different, as they looked lackluster and disjointed during the first half, leading to goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure.

United were unable to put up much resistance, leaving themselves open to Everton’s attacks.

A Glimmer of Hope Amidst the Struggles

Despite the grim first half, Bruno Fernandes sparked a late rally by scoring a free-kick and delivering another assist, which led to Manuel Ugarte equalizing for United.

This moment of brilliance from Fernandes helped them secure a 2-2 draw, but Shearer wasn’t satisfied with the overall performance.

He specifically pointed out the lack of defensive commitment from some of United’s players during Everton’s attacks.

Shearer Criticizes United’s Defensive Effort

On BBC’s Match of the Day, Shearer was vocal in his criticism of Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Hojlund, and Diogo Dalot.

He questioned the defensive decisions made by Dalot, who stood too far off Everton’s Jack Harrison during one key moment.

Shearer also criticized Fernandes and Hojlund for their lack of pressing, which ultimately allowed Doucoure to score Everton’s second goal.

“Look at the effort or lack of it,” Shearer remarked, pointing out that Fernandes’ attempt to stop Doucoure’s strike was far from convincing. “Everton’s second goal is the worst one of the lot.

Seriously, is that the best you can do?” Shearer noted that the players seemed confused and lacked a clear defensive strategy, allowing Everton too much space to exploit.

A Frustrating Performance for Manchester United

For Shearer, the game highlighted a major problem at Manchester United: a lack of effort and coordination. “For 72 minutes, Manchester United were hopeless,” he said.

The lack of urgency and failure to work together defensively were major concerns for Shearer, who called out the players for their poor performance.

Despite the draw, it was clear that United’s issues ran much deeper than just one match.

Manchester United’s inconsistency this season continues to be a significant issue, and fans will be hoping that they can find some stability before their campaign gets even worse.

With plenty of work ahead, it remains to be seen whether the team can turn things around before it’s too late.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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