Alan Shearer has been criticised over his ‘stupid analysis’ of Marcus Rashford by Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag.
The Red Devils forward is yet to chip with a goal contribution this season from his three outings.
Rashford has been preferred ahead of Alejandro Garnacho in each of United’s matches – with Darren Bent urging Ten Hag to drop the England international to the bench.
United academy graduate Rashford was guilty of squandering two key chances in the club’s Community Shield defeat to Manchester City.
And he failed to impress in United’s opening Premier League win over Fulham as well as their defeat at Brighton last week – where he was hauled off after 65 minutes.
It left BBC pundit Shearer to state on Match of the Day: “He’s had two games this season Marcus Rashford and he’s not had one shot at goal.
“Fifty-seven goals they [United] scored last season. That was the worst in the top half.
“Ruud van Nistelrooy has been brought into there [as United’s assistant manager]. He’s going to have to work his magic somehow.”
His comments were brought to Ten Hag‘s attention during his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of the clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford.
To which the Dutchman said: “Everyone gets criticism from you guys, it doesn’t matter what we are doing, if we are winning or if we are losing.
“If I take a player off, the conclusion is I was not happy with him.
“But I was very happy with Rashy in pre-season, against Fulham [in the opening game] and also against Brighton.
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“I didn’t take him off because his performances or level were not right – no, we had to rotate because we have good players on the bench who bring new energy.
“There will be rotation. Then there is the conclusion the player is not performing.
“It can be sometimes, but definitely it wasn’t in this case. In this case, it was stupid analysis from the pundit.”
Rashford’s start to the season has seen him omitted from Lee Carsley’s first squad as England’s interim boss.
The 26-year-old was also left out of Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad after scoring just eight goals in 43 matches last campaign.
