Roy Keane expects Premier League teams to target Manchester United winger Antony and says he will ‘learn the hard way’ if he carries on ‘trying to make a fool’ of opponents.
The Brazil international has not been afraid to express himself on the pitch since completing an £82m move from Ajax last summer.
Performing tricks on the pitch is not always the wisest move, however, and several players have already kicked out at Antony, including Newcastle’s Joelinton during last weekend’s EFL Cup final.
Manchester United legend Keane believes Antony will continue to get kicked about and says the Brazilian will need to ‘learn quickly’ to avoid picking up injuries.
‘I think he will have to learn the hard way,’ Keane told ITV Sport. ‘Players have targeted him.
‘We saw that at the weekend [during the EFL Cup final against Newcastle United], where he is trying to make a fool of people and players have tried to go through the back of him.
‘So he will have to learn quickly otherwise he will pick up more injuries.’
Antony has scored six goals in 26 appearances for Manchester United this season and celebrated his first trophy at Old Trafford last weekend after Erik ten Hag’s side won the EFL Cup final 2-0.
Just three days later United came from behind to beat West Ham 3-1 and advance to the FA Cup quarter-finals, where they will face Fulham.
More pressing for Manchester United is Sunday’s Premier League showdown against Liverpool at Anfield.
Revealing his prediction for the much-anticipated clash, ex-Premier League striker Chris Sutton told BBC Sport: ‘United were finding it tough against West Ham but they changed the game when they brought on Casemiro and Marcus Rashford, and went up through the gears.
‘Liverpool don’t seem able to do that at the moment and the turnaround – for different reasons, good and bad – for both teams since the start of season has been unbelievable really.
‘Jurgen Klopp’s side have kept a couple of clean sheets in a row now, against Crystal Palace and Wolves, which was important for them but it’s really not that big a deal because neither of those teams offer much in attack, do they?
‘Liverpool did the same last month when they beat Everton and 10-man Newcastle without conceding, but then they got hammered at home by Real Madrid.
‘Put it this way, I don’t think it means Liverpool will keep Rashford out on Sunday. They get dominated in midfield and are vulnerable at the back, and United will take advantage of that and win 2-1.’
MORE : Martin Keown fires warning to Manchester United ahead of Liverpool clash
MORE : Graeme Souness expected Man Utd defender to get ‘exposed’ this season
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