Lisandro Martinez: Manchester United defender condemned for costly red card

United avoided the ignominy of a third successive three-goal defeat for the first time since 1961 thanks to a very tight VAR decision that ruled out Estevao’s effort for offside.

Martinez will now be suspended for next Sunday’s Premier League match with Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

“At 1-0 down, United are still in a decent position,” former England and Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Sport. “You’re still in the game.

“At 2-0 and down to 10 men, effectively the game is over.

“If the player sent off holds his hands up and says ‘sorry, boys, I’ve let you down’ it can diffuse the situation but the issue is that Martinez is making mistake after mistake at the moment.”

Former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole was rather blunter on TNT Sports.

“In a Man Utd shirt, he’s just at the scene of the crime too often,” he said. “Whatever the next Man Utd phase is, I think Martinez’s time at the club has run its course.”

Former England midfielder Danny Murphy was equally scathing on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“Lisandro Martinez has got a lot to answer to, because the first goal was mainly his fault. The sending-off is absolutely ridiculous,” said Murphy.

“Obviously, he is going to apologise in the dressing room, but his mindset is not right to play. You can’t rely on him. He is a liability.”

Asked whether he would play Martinez again, Murphy added: “No, I wouldn’t, only because he looks like he has already gone. His head isn’t right. He is not going to be there long term, that is evident.

“Michael has got to make some big decisions. You can’t have a liability in your team. That petulance, that behaviour on the pitch is not acceptable.

“He has been poor for a while and he has had injury problems. He is not the answer.”