Mark Goldbridge believes that Liverpool are a better team than Manchester United - even with a two-man disadvantage.

The Reds were sent down to nine men in their controversial 2-1 defeat against Tottenham on Saturday evening.

Despite conceding a second half stoppage-time own-goal, Liverpool showed courage and resilience as they not only looked to hold onto a draw - but threatened to claim a winner of their own.

Earlier in the day, United lost their fourth Premier League game of the season as Crystal Palace claimed a 1-0 win at Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag's side lacked threat going forward and questions are being raised over the quality in the side.

Speaking on his show, talkSPORT's Goldbridge agreed with a fan's claim that nine-man Liverpool are better than his beloved United as a result.

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"There's a lot of teams better than United but it's a big statement to say that Liverpool with nine men are better than United with 11.

"But it is true, United don't have an identity, they don't have players that want to play football and they don't really seem to know how to do it.

"I don't really blame the manager, I don't think [Jurgen] Klopp or Pep [Guardiola] or [Roberto] De Zerbi even as a trio would get United playing better football because I don't think they've got the IQ to do it in the final third, they just haven't.

"That's why a team with nine men all working together as a team, as one purpose, can do what Liverpool did which is almost the impossible."

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Goldbridge is also struggling to identify United's style of play and asked if any of their attackers would start for rival sides given their current form.

He added: "United just don't have an identity. I watched Brighton today against Aston Villa, 6-1 [they lost] and I still saw what Brighton were trying to do, they play with their back to goal, they play out from the back, trying to play through the press.

"United for years and years I watch them and I just go, 'We don't know what we're doing in the final third.' There's no composure, they shoot, they take people on, I don't think they know what they're doing themselves.

"People would reflect that's Ten Hag then, he's not as good as Pep, he's not as good as Klopp, he's not as a good as De Zerbi, he's not as good as Ange [Postecoglou], he can't get an identity.

"But then I look at the United players and I go, 'How many of the United attack would start for Spurs? How many of the United attack would start for Brighton? How many of them would start for Liverpool?'

"That's when you start to look, I think it's a quality of player, I don't think Ten Hag can play the way that he plays at Ajax, I don't think it's possible."

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