Louis van Gaal trolled by Virgin Trains after Manchester United lose to Liverpool

Company offered the Dutchman a one-way ticket back to Manchester

(Getty Images)

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was on the end of a dig from a sponsor of Manchester City after his side lost to Liverpool in the Europa League on Thursday.

United were well beaten at Anfield, losing 2-0 thanks to goals from Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino.

There was more bad news for the Dutchman when Marouane Fellaini was spotted elbowing Emre Can off the ball, an incident that went unseen by the six officials but which could prompt a Uefa investigation.

City sponsor Virgin Trains offered little sympathy to the under-pressure coach - offering him a one-way ticket back to Manchester.

Posting to their Twitter page, the company said that Van Gaal "may need consoling with a cup of tea following the result", while his ticket number was '0-2'.

Former midfielder Paul Scholes was highly critical of United's performance, even describing them as a "shambles", while former team-mate Rio Ferdinand said the Dutchman's bizarre transfer policy has cost them.

"They were a shambles," said Scholes after the game on BT Sport. "The lack of quality and fight...when you are United, there are certain standards you have to be at, and they haven't made them. When we were playing we were reaching them. These players are falling well short.

"The worst thing is these players now apologising on Twitter and Facebook. Just get out there and play! These players that have come in for £300million are no better than the players that have been allowed to leave the club.

"For 20 years Manchester United had an identity. You were going to play fast football, going to pass the ball forward, tackle, run. The last three years they have gone away from something that worked.

"You look at the pitch tonight and what are they trying to do? I have absolutely no idea. The first half was shocking, the second half they go to three at the back, which they tried last season and was a disaster, and tonight again it was a disaster.

"You bring on Michael Carrick to play centre midfield. He (Van Gaal) sticks him in the middle of a back three. Where's this club going at the minute? They are going the wrong way."