Rio Ferdinand has discussed the difference between Liverpool and Manchester United after Jurgen Klopp's side professionally dismissed 10-man Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.
With Liverpool 2-0 up, their win was all-but secured when Felipe was given his marching orders for a tackle on Sadio Mane in the first half. But some 24 hours before that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needed Cristiano Ronaldo's brace, including a stoppage-time volley, to salvage a draw against Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta side.
While Liverpool's win booked a place in the Champions League knockout stages, United will have to get something at Villarreal next time out if they are to realistically top their group as well.
Liverpool thrashed United 5-0 two weeks ago in devastating fashion but following their respective midweek showings Ferdinand noted the contrasts between the two sides after their involvement in the Champions League.
"I think if you look at the contrast with United’s game yesterday it really just highlights the contrast of the game," he said speaking on Wednesday.
"This is a team who are in complete control. They’re in control of every situation going on and yes they’re on a great streak, unbeaten run, but it’s controlling games and really turning the intensity up, using the crowd and having that complete control. Whereas yesterday [United vs Atalanta] was disarray and trying to get to a point of controlling but never getting there."
Tuesday's second-half display was criticised by both Ferdinand and Paul Scholes as Raphael Varane's premature departure saw the defensive stability disappear with Atalanta enjoying frequent pressure on the Manchester United goal.
Duvan Zapata was frequently a menace for the hosts and saw his hard work reward as he dinked over David de Gea to fire the Italians ahead once again before Ronaldo stepped up to arrow his volley into the bottom corner to salvage a late point.
The performance in the final 45 minutes lead to Ferdinand firing a warning ahead of Saturday's Manchester Derby, he said: "They can't have that second-half performance against City if they do they'll get slapped again three or four or five goals because that shows a real lack of respect for the opposition being really fragmented, all over the place, being slack, sloppy in situations with and without the ball.
"The intensity wasn't there. We looked at it and thought what formation are they playing?
"It was disarray, it was just hope and again it comes down to an individual moment of brilliance and that man Ronaldo knew and you go, he saved them in that second half."
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