Paul Scholes: Liverpool could win the league, Manchester United lack quality in final third

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the only goal – a scrappy effort – in the 69th minute against the Ukrainian side to give Jose Mourinho’s men their first win in the Europa League after a 1-0 defeat to Feyenoord in their first match.

But Scholes did not hold back in his assessment of what he felt should have been a routine victory.

“One shot on target probably sums it up,” he said. “They gave United problems on the break.

“United won which is the most important thing, and there were some bits of good play, but the quality in the final third wasn’t what you’d normally associate with this team."

The 41-year-old also suggested that Liverpool could win the Premier League, given their contrasting depth of talent in the final third.

When asked if he thought the Merseyside club could win the title, he told BT: "They do to me. I was a little bit worried about them defensively, but you have to say [with] the attacking quality they are showing at the minute, they look like they can score goals against anybody."

Scholes later questioned United's motivation in Europe, given they have a busy fixture list in domestic competitions.

“Maybe the Europa League is something they’re not interested in,” he added.

"The manager is passionate on the sidelines and it looks like it’s something he wants to win so he needs to try and transfer that on to the players.”