Erik ten Hag has branded Alan Shearer’s criticism of Marcus Rashford in Manchester United’s defeat at Brighton last weekend as ‘stupid’.

Shearer singled out Rashford for drifting offside too often when United lost 2-1 at the Amex Stadium and not having impact from the left flank before he was substituted in the second half.

‘He's had two games this season Marcus Rashford and he's not had one shot at goal,’ Shearer told Match of the Day.

‘Man United scored 57 goals last season. That was the worst in the top half. So, (assistant coach) Ruud Van Nistelrooy has been brought into there. He's going to have to work his magic somehow.

‘I know they've got [Rasmus] Hojlund out injured, but when he comes in he's going to have to improve on that because on today's evidence and in the game against Fulham it's not been anywhere near good enough in front of goal.’

Marcus Rashford struggled in Man United's 2-1 defeat by Brighton last weekend

Shearer’s comments were put to Ten Hag ahead of United’s clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday and the Dutchman came out swinging at the BBC pundit.

‘Everyone gets criticism from you guys, it doesn’t matter what we are doing: if we are winning, if we are losing,’ said Ten Hag.

‘If I take a player off, the conclusion is I was not happy with him. I was very happy with Rashy in pre-season and against Fulham, also against Brighton. It is not why I took him off because his performances or level were not right. No. We had to rotate and we have good players on the bench as well, you bring new energy.

‘There will be rotation and if then there is the conclusion the player is not performing. It can be sometimes, definitely it wasn’t in this case. Stupid analysis in this case from the pundit.’