It was a bad afternoon for everyone associated with Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho’s side were completely outplayed by arch-rivals Liverpool, eventually losing 3-1 at Anfield.

It means the Red Devils are now 19 points behind their opponents after just 17 games.

It was a poor all-around performance from the United players but one man getting plenty of criticism was striker Romelu Lukaku.

Lukaku was bullied by Virgil van Dijk throughout the 90 minutes and barely got a touch.

Manchester Evening News thought he was so bad that they rated him a 1/10 and wrote: “Maybe Alisson fumbled the ball because Lukaku did something. Lost almost every duel with Virgil van Dijk and played amateurishly. 1.”

Ouch.

Jose Mourinho was even asked about Lukaku’s performance and attempted to defend him.

However, the Portuguese boss had to admit that the Belgian’s first touch is “not the best.”

"I think he didn't have a bad game at all," Mourinho said, per Manchester Evening News. "He fought hard, he had good movement, set up the goal, gave more problems today than he gave last season when we came for the 0-0 draw. He was lively, he had good movement, good interaction.

"Sometimes his first touch is not the best and he loses balls in the first touch.

"Today, didn't happen, he had some good link. I think he fought hard, I think he is improving, he played positively the last game against Fulham and today a very difficult match to play, I think he was positive."

Lukaku has often been slammed for his poor touches this campaign so when your manager is even criticising it, you know it needs a bit of work.