Paul Scholes reacts to Man United’s exit at the hands of Liverpool

Paul Scholes accepted that Liverpool were the better team over the two legs after Manchester United were dumped out of the Europa League by their bitter local rivals on Thursday night.

Liverpool headed into the game at Old Trafford with a 2-0 lead after their impressive win at Anfield last week but fell behind when Anthony Martial scored a first-half penalty.

The Red Devils started the game brightly and impressed in the first half but Liverpool were level on the stroke of half-time after Philippe Coutinho danced through the Red Devils defence and chipped the ball over David De Gea to equalise for the visitors.

Speaking on BT Sport after the final whistle at Old Trafford, former United midfielder Scholes accepted that the Red Devils were nowhere near good enough to make it through to the last eight.

Scholes said: “Over the two games, Liverpool were by far and away the best team.

“United were a lot better tonight. They had to be a lot better – they couldn’t have been any worse than they were last week.

“They huffed and puffed and really just lacked that real bit of quality to score goals.

“I always felt Liverpool were going to score goals, and I was proven right.”

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United now turn their attentions to their Premier League derby clash with Manchester City on Sunday.