United were thrashed 4-0 by the Reds at Anfield on Tuesday night, with the Red Devils putting in another woeful, lacklustre performance.
Commentating on the game for Sky Sports, Neville singled out Mejbri for praise after the 19-year-old was subbed on for the last 10 minutes and proceeded to show some fight and character, although he was also booked for a late challenge on Jordan Henderson.
Neville said: ‘To be fair, at least the kid’s showing a bit of something. Honestly, it takes a young kid to come on and show the rest of them how to sprint to the ball and put a challenge in.
‘I’m actually proud of him. Maybe he doesn’t like the idea of Liverpool players passing round him. I wish the rest of them were the same.’
But Savage, who came through United’s academy with Neville but never made the first-team, wasn’t so keen on Mejbri’s display.
‘Has it really come to this at Manchester United – where we are supposed to celebrate a 19-year-old kid’s excitable cameo in a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool?’ the former Welsh international wrote in his column for The Mirror.
‘New manager Erik ten Hag will take over this summer with the bar at the lowest level I can remember at Old Trafford. I have been watching United at every level for 30 years – as a YTS, father or opposition player – and I have never felt more saddened by them.
‘In a derisory performance at Anfield, at least Hannibal Mejbri made his presence felt, crashing into Jordan Henderson and Andrew Robertson where more celebrated players offered little resistance.
‘I can understand what Gary Neville said afterwards, but I would disagree. Yes, it’s good to see a young player being given a chance and trying to make his mark, but on another night, Hannibal could have been sent off, which wouldn’t have solved anything.
‘As far as I’m concerned, United are back where they were at Oxford United in 1986, Sir Alex Ferguson’s first game in charge.
‘The whole culture of the club has to change and needs a complete reset, to the values instilled by Fergie 36 years ago. Is the team more important than individuals playing to their own agenda? Sir Alex knew the answer.’
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