"I know what it feels like to be hammered and it's no time for a joke!"

Thankfully I have never suffered a 9-0 defeat like Southampton have managed twice in little over a year but I do remember being on the wrong end of a major hiding at Old Trafford.

I was left-back in a West Ham side 2000 when we played against a great Manchester United team and were thumped 7-1. The worst thing we could have ever done was score early through Paulo Wanchope - it just made them angry and United were like the Incredible Hulk after that.

It was tough up against Keane, Scholes and Beckham in midfield, plus Cole and Yorke up front and they were even able to bring on Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the last 20 minutes.

We were missing a few on the day, as Southampton were on Tuesday, with Igor Stimac, Neil Ruddock and Paolo Di Canio among those who didn't travel but we still had a decent side with Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, the late Marc Vivien-Foe and Freddie Kanoute so should never have been beaten so heavily despite their quality.

That game made me realise just how good Beckham was. If I got close he played a touch around the corner and if I sat off he would whip in a world-class cross which is why, having played against him, I really don't think he gets the credit he deserves.

Our boss Harry Redknapp was livid afterwards and he carried on the digs at the players in training until the next game but we knew ourselves it wasn't acceptable.

It's always a tricky one to know when it's okay to crack a joke after a result so bad but there wasn't that much noise as we travelled back to London. If you were playing cards it was done quietly and it was the same for those just chatting. It's not the time for laughter.

However, at some stage you have to get over it and after the team meeting on Monday is the right sort of time frame. Someone will have done something to lighten the mood, even if it was out of earshot of Harry!

My advice for the Southampton players is not to take the nightmare into the next match at Newcastle on Saturday.

At West Ham we bounced back really well with three straight wins. Who did we beat first on that run? Newcastle...

Tight game coming up at Anfield

A lot of the big Premier League matches have not lived up to the hype and I fancy another low-scoring draw when Manchester City head to Liverpool.

City would happily take a point given their Premier League position and can control Liverpool to earn a draw.

City will be delighted there are no fans at Anfield given their previous recent woes at the ground and Liverpool have been so inconsistent in the past week. Excellent at West Ham then poor against Brighton.

I think the best aspect of Liverpool's deadline-day signings was the fact it will enable one, or maybe both of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to return to midfield where their leadership and energy has been sorely missed.

It just becomes a case of whether Klopp trusts Ben Davies or Ozan Kabak in such a big game.

It's a cracking move for Davies, jumping up from Preston, and I am pleased he has been given the opportunity. However, it's one thing defending two v two in the Championship for Preston and quite another one v one at Liverpool where you are left isolated, plus there is also the pressure of wearing that famous shirt.

Scott Minto presents the Racing Post's Different League show in association with Betfred.

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