Graeme Souness has hit out at some of the "vile" abuse that has been dished out to Manchester United captain Harry Maguire in recent months.
Maguire has been scrutinised following a collapse in form and has already lost his first-team spot at Old Trafford after new boss Erik ten Hag axed United's beleaguered captain after just two league games.
Despite his domestic woes, the 29-year-old has managed to retain his spot in the England set-up. However, pressure is now building on Gareth Southgate to change that ahead of the World Cup after Maguire was at fault for two goals in the 3-3 draw with Germany at Wembley last week.
Criticism of Maguire has intensified this week in the wake of that performance - but Souness has now hit out at the level of abuse that is being thrown at the former Leicester City man.
Souness wrote for the Daily Mail : "Maguire is at particular risk of the kind of pile-on we’re seeing because a failing Manchester United made him the most expensive central defender in the world and then made him their captain.
"So he becomes a lightning rod for all United’s ills. All the club’s failings are piled at his door. Ridiculous. I can’t remember a game United lost because of Harry Maguire alone.
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"He has been guilty of making mistakes. But if you make a mistake in that position, it generally leads to an effort on your goal. You’re relying on having good central midfielders in front of you, putting the ball under pressure, trying to protect you at all times, making sure that if a ball is played through into your area, it’s of no great quality. United’s players in those central midfield positions haven’t been good enough."
Souness goes on to stress that Maguire has never been part of a "reliable and consistent" back four during his time at the club, criticising the likes of Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane.
But it's the level of abuse that has really irked Souness. He added: "It’s the level of abuse which is bewildering, though. I witness it at games and it’s water off a duck’s back to me now. I’m of a certain age and a certain character where nothing really bothers me.
"But if you’re a public figure today, you are apparently there to be ridiculed and that seems to be accepted. That’s the 21st century. That’s 2022.
"I particularly despise the keyboard warriors we have now. Faceless pygmies who will write abuse about someone, knowing that they will never be confronted. Knowing no one will ever find out who they are and who is spouting all this vile hate.
"I’ve met Maguire once and he seemed a thoroughly decent young man with a very good attitude. It was only a five-minute exchange at the premiere of a Bryan Robson film in Manchester last November but I wanted him to do well because he seems a very good type."