"That's the big point..." - Ferdinand tells Man Utd they must follow Ferguson example after Liverpool defeat

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has warned the club's players that they must not lose two games in a row following Sunday's devastating defeat at Liverpool.

Erik ten Hag's side conceded six second half goals at Anfield, which came as a huge shock given their recent improvements.

Just a week on from winning the Carabao Cup, United players and staff were reflecting on a major capitulation that saw them equal their heaviest defeat of the Premier League era.

Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez all scored twice as Jurgen Klopp's side took apart the Red Devils midfield and backline, with Gakpo in particular putting in a magnificent display as he worked space in United's man-to-man marking system.

It was perhaps a defining moment in the Anfield career of the Dutchman, who has steadily improved since arriving at the club from PSV in January.

But for the Dutchman in the opposite dugout, this was a day to forget - and Ten Hag told his players, as per Sky Sports senior reporter Melissa Reddy. that, in more explicit terms, the performance was 'a disgrace'.

Now, Ferdinand has sent the United squad a clear warning about what they must not let happen going forward.

Man Utd legend Ferdinand sends warning

Speaking on his YouTube channel 'Vibe with FIVE', Ferdinand cited a theme that was always present under Sir Alex Ferguson - when the team lost one game, the players vowed that they could not lose the next.

He explained, whilst sitting alongside fellow United legend Patrice Evra: "That's the big point. To sit here and to start picking players apart for one performance... we've been sitting here for how many months now going, 'Wow, this team is on an upward curve and they're doing really good things, in contrast to what it has been'.

"They've had one good performance and we're going to sit there and put them in the floor. I don't think it's right.

"When we played in our team, you're thinking about Wednesday or Tuesday - 'We do not lose that game'. That was the chat.

"I'm only going to start panicking if we get beat on Thursday, or against Southampton at the weekend. That will tell me where this team is at mentally.

"How many times [did we say] in the changing room before the game? 'Not two. We're not losing two [in a row].' It is a thing."

United take on Real Betis in the Europa League on Thursday, before taking on Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday. They will hope to use the fixtures to get back on track.

Club legend Gary Neville wrote in a 2012 Daily Mail column that two defeats was 'perceived to be a crisis' when Ferguson was in charge - and the side didn't lose three games in a row under the Scot between 2001 and his retirement in 2013.