Luke Shaw apologises for 'disgraceful and embarrassing' Man United loss at Liverpool

Defender, along with goakeeper De Gea and attacker Rashford, also insists team must not let Anfield humilation derail season

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal against Manchester United on Sunday, March 5, 2023. Liverpool thrashed United 7-0 at Anfield. EPA

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his second goal against Manchester United at Anfield. AP

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp greets striker Cody Gakpo. AFP

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford looks dejected after Liverpool's Darwin Nunez scored their side's fifth goal. PA

Darwin Nunez of Liverpool celebrates after scoring against Manchester United. Getty

Manchester United's Scott McTominay at Anfield. PA

Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag leaves the pitch after the 7-0 defeat at Anfield. AP

Liverpool's Cody Gakpo scored twice on Sunday. EPA

Liverpool's Cody Gakpo scores. EPA

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez celebrates with his teammate Mohamed Salah. EPA

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores his side's fourth goal. AP

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez heads the ball. AP

Liverpool's Cody Gakpo is challenged by Manchester United's Casemiro. AP

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford being clattered. Reuters

Luke Shaw has apologised to Manchester United supporters for the “disgraceful” performance in their 7-0 Premier League mauling against Liverpool on Sunday.

United had arrived at Anfield full of confidence after the highs of beating Barcelona in the Europa League and winning the League Cup final against Newcastle United.

But it was back down to earth with a shuddering bump for Erik ten Hag's men at the home of their fierce rivals, when United unravelled in a loss that matched their heaviest-ever defeat, conceding six goals in a catastrophic second half.

“Unacceptable, embarrassing, to be honest,” England defender Shaw told MUTV. “I think out there on the pitch I felt embarrassed for us players, for the fans that were there supporting us, that were watching at home, to watch that second half.

“I can only apologise for that and us as players have to own it, we have to stand up and accept that it was nowhere near good enough.”

Shaw said he felt standards had dropped since beating Newcastle in the Wembley final.

“We need to find the good things we were doing before and bring them back because this hurts a lot,” he said. “It's really unacceptable what we did in that second half with mistakes.

“We showed no personality, no mentality and for a big team to come here we need to be better.”

The 27-year-old said the team needed a big debrief on Monday, with a Europa League match against Real Betis looming on Thursday.

Liverpool 7 Man United 0: player ratings

“We need to keep the belief, keep the character and bring back that personality and mentality that we know we have … we can't let this one result derail our whole season because I think we're in a really good place.”

That was a sentiment repeated by Shaw's teammate Marcus Rashford who urged United to “stick together” after the second-half display on Sunday that coach Ten Had labelled “unprofessional”.

“I wish we could play a game today to try to put things right,” the 25-year-old tweeted. “The result is the result, and we can't see past that!

“We must not let it define our season. We have to trust the process and stick together.”

Goalkeeper David De Gea described the result as “disastrous”, urging the players to look forward, with the game against Real Betis looming.

“This was a disastrous moment for us and these results shouldn't happen, especially with the journey we are all on,” he tweeted.

“We have a duty to this club, a responsibility to represent the badge, but we have many opportunities to look ahead, many games coming fast and we have to lock our focus on these.”