Rashford has drawn a short straw - I've seen many Man Utd title winners partying
In the days when Manchester United were winning Premier League titles and Champions Leagues, I would often see their players out on the town in a bar or nightclub.
The biggest issue Marcus Rashford has got as he tries to shake off the fall-out from an ill-advised bender in Belfast is that United are no longer winning trophies regularly.
It's so true that history is written by the victor. When United beat my Liverpool team in the 1996 FA Cup final to complete the Double, it meant they would forever be remembered as one of English football's great teams. And rightly so.
But while United were dubbed the Class of '92, we were ridiculed as the Spice Boys. United were seen as the real deal while Roy Evans' young Liverpool team were written off as a bunch of wasters with more style than substance.
I've got to admit, walking out at Wembley in those infamous white suits wasn't the best idea! But that fashion faux pas didn't cost us the game. We were a top team, always professional. But United always seemed to be that little bit better. It hurts, but it's the truth.
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I don't know the full details of the booze-up that prompted a pile on to trash Rashford during the week. But what I am sure of is that if United were smashing it on the pitch then the fake outrage would have died a death pretty quickly.
Everyone is looking for reasons why United are not the force they once were. Rashford does have to share some of the blame for that - but only because his form has been so patchy this season.
Marcus will know if he made a mistake - but he responded in the right way by crowning a much better performance with a goal in the 4-3 win at Wolves on Thursday night.
I understand the pressure of playing for your hometown club - and when you represent Liverpool or Manchester United the hype and expectation becomes an even bigger burden.
Marcus Rashford was on the scoresheet in the Wolves win (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)The pitfalls are everywhere these days because everyone has a camera phone and social media account. But even though I played in an era where you didn't have to try to buy some privacy in a ridiculously priced restaurant or bar, you still had to tread carefully because a news journalist was only a phone call away.
When I was making a name for myself at Anfield, playing alongside my mate Steve McManaman, we agreed to do an interview with a magazine. We both thought it had gone well. The journalist then excused himself to go to the loo - but sneakily left his tape recorder running.
When the subsequent article appeared in print, it was all about what me and Steve had said to each other while the reporter wasn't even in the room. We were inexperienced kids during an era when media training was not part of an academy's education programme - but boy did we learn a lesson.
I was always selective with the people I trusted. But I gradually became suspicious to the point of being paranoid. My best mate, Stephen Calvey, worked on a building site. I wanted to be one of the lads like he was, but playing football for Liverpool made that impossible.
Stephen's restoration firm is now flourishing - but I'd like to thank him for helping to make sure I always remained grounded. Another thing I struggled with was being held up as a role model.
I'm not condoning bad behaviour, but making mistakes is part of the process of growing up - whether you play centre-forward for Liverpool or own a building firm.
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Some people naturally grow into becoming a role model - and of course, Marcus' life changed when he led a campaign to force the government to change its policy over free school meals.
I have nothing but admiration for the stance he took, but it meant that even people who don’t like football suddenly had an opinion about him. One misguided night out is all it’s taken for Saint Marcus to become Rashford the Sinner. Talk about angels and demons.
I do like the fact that Manchester United said they would deal with the matter internally and I'm sure that Rashford himself will be grateful that Erik ten Hag didn’t throw him to the wolves.
Everyone makes mistakes. But the next time you see players covering their mouths on TV because they worried how their words in the heat of battle may be misconstrued, understand why.
Klopp will leave the Kop in good shape
I don't agree that the manager who takes over from Jurgen Klopp will be accepting a poisoned chalice. In fact, I think Livepool's next boss will have reasons to be cheerful about the legacy Klopp will leave behind.
Conor Bradley is the latest youngster to illustrate what a brilliant job Alex Inglethope and his staff at the club's academy is doing to produce players who are good enough to wear the famous red shirt.
I was thrilled to see the 20-year-old Northern Irishman score his first senior goal in the midweek victory over Chelsea after recently being given his big chance by the manager. But there are loads of them.
Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of the season (Getty Images)Curtis Jones has become a mainstay of the team this season and is staking a place for England's squad for the Euros with performances that make a mockery of the fact he's only 23.
He is playing as well as anyone in the country in that position and I think there is a real chance of him making the plane for Germany. Jarrell Quansah, Bobby Clark, Owen Beck, James McConnell and Luke Chambers have all broken through this season after graduating from Kirkby.
Throw in young signings like Harvey Elliott, Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak, Kaide Gordon and Callum Scanlon - and even Ryan Gravenberch and it’s clear that Liverpool's future is bright.
Usually, when a manager exits a club they leave behind a team that is struggling. Rarely does the next incumbent inherit a squad that is geared for success. It illustrates the kind of manager Klopp is that he has not turned a blind eye to bringing through the next generation.
It would have been easy for him, knowing this was his final season at Liverpool, to rely on the same select group of experienced players who he knows won't let him down.
Klopp might still walk away with a quadruple, of course, but whatever happens between now and May what is certain is that the next manager will also reap the benefits of his labours.
It has got to a point where lads like Jones and Bradley are in the team not because of injuries, but because their performances deserve it. They are making themselves undroppable. These are huge calls for any manager to make.
But those lads now know the manager trusts them in the biggest games, You can't measure what that backing does for their confidence and long-term development. Jurgen Klopp may be leaving at the end of the season, but his influence on Liverpool's team could last for years.
All eyes on Arsenal
Arsenal's Premier League title ambitions face an acid test against Liverpool. That's the brutal reality of the clash-of-the-weekend at the Emirates because a defeat would see them trailing Jurgen Klopp's team by eight points.
I just don't think the Gunners would be capable of closing that gap, even with 15 games of the season remaining. Mikel Arteta won't be viewing the game like that. He will be telling his players that a victory will take Arsenal to within two points of the leaders - and that will then put the pressure on Liverpool.
It used to be the case that title-deciding games came around in April or May. Not any longer. Liverpool can't win the title this weekend, but they can certainly deliver a devastating blow to Arsenal's hopes.
If the Merseysiders prevail then my belief is that only Manchester City will be capable of stopping Klopp from departing the Premier League as a champion.
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