Paul Scholes criticized Joshua Zirkzee’s decision to pass the ball to Harry Maguire in the dying moments of Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool, a choice that cost him a potential Diego Forlan-esque moment of glory.
Forlan famously turned his United career around with two iconic goals at Anfield in the 2002/03 season, ending Liverpool’s unbeaten home record.
Zirkzee, who has faced similar struggles since joining from Bologna, has managed only three league goals so far and has drawn comparisons to the Uruguayan’s early difficulties.
The Dutch forward’s challenges intensified after being substituted just 33 minutes into United’s defeat against Newcastle, sparking rumors of a January exit.
However, manager Ruben Amorim has consistently backed the 22-year-old, bringing him on late in the game against Liverpool in hopes of a winner.
In stoppage time, Bruno Fernandes set Zirkzee up perfectly, but instead of taking a shot, the forward passed to Harry Maguire, who failed to capitalize by sending his effort over the bar.
After the match, Amorim defended Zirkzee’s choice, stating, “It was the perfect decision. He could’ve shot, but he set up Harry in the center. The pass was slow, but Josh made a good call.”
Scholes, however, disagreed, saying Zirkzee missed an opportunity to secure a defining moment in his United career. “It could’ve been his big moment,” Scholes remarked on Premier League Productions.
“Forlan had a similar chance and became a hero forever. Zirkzee might look back and think he made the wrong call, but he’s clearly lacking confidence.”
Scholes sympathized with Zirkzee’s struggles but expressed hope for better decision-making in the future. He also praised United’s overall performance, calling it a “blueprint” for success.
“This was a proper performance, toe-to-toe with the league leaders. It was better than the win against Manchester City,” Scholes said. “If they keep this standard, the manager must stick with his strongest XI, making changes only if players underperform. This has to be the way forward for United.”