Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has confessed to being left humbled after his old club suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat at home to a 10-man Everton side. The admission came just hours after he had publicly revelled in the poor form of United's arch-rivals, Liverpool.
From Boastful to Humbled
Ferdinand had been enjoying Manchester United's recent resurgence, which coincided with a dramatic downturn for Liverpool. The Reds had lost six of their last seven Premier League matches, including a 3-0 defeat at Anfield to Nottingham Forest. Following that result, Ferdinand took a public swipe, demanding that Liverpool manager Arne Slot face the same intense scrutiny that other managers, like Erik ten Hag, have endured.
However, the footballing tables turned dramatically on Monday night. Manchester United's five-match unbeaten streak was shattered by a resilient Everton team that played most of the match with ten men. The 1-0 loss at Old Trafford served as a stark reality check for the former England international.
Ferdinand's Candid Reaction
In a video posted on social media platform X, a contrite Ferdinand shared his feelings. "Guys, just back from a run, I had to put myself through it after last night," he began. He admitted to having been "boastful" and feeling on top of the world while in Milan, but acknowledged that football can humble you quickly.
He described the defeat as having "absolutely ruined" him, especially given that United failed to capitalise against a side with a numerical disadvantage. Ferdinand also noted the immediate backlash from Liverpool supporters, saying his WhatsApp groups were now "popping off like you've never seen it before." He philosophically concluded, "if you're going to give it, you've got to take it."
The Context: Calling for Parity
Prior to United's defeat, Ferdinand had grown frustrated with what he perceived as a softer media approach towards Liverpool's new boss. On his podcast, he pointed to a win rate of just 43% for Liverpool across their last 30 games since a loss to Paris Saint-Germain in March.
He referenced a Sky Sports analysis where pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville had critically examined other managers and demanded "the same energy for Arne Slot right now." Ferdinand emphasised that his call was about balance and parity in media coverage.
The result leaves the two historic rivals in an unusual position in the table. Manchester United and Liverpool are now level on points, with United sitting in 10th place ahead of Liverpool only on goal difference, a scenario few would have predicted given their respective recent trajectories.
