The Red Devils faced their biggest test of the season so far on Sunday afternoon and failed. Emphatically.
Erik ten Hag‘s side actually started brightly and put the visitors under huge pressure, but they lost control and things turned sour quickly after Luis Diaz opened the scoring.
Diaz doubled Liverpool’s lead just minutes before the break and Arne Slot’s side continued their onslaught after the break.
Mohamed Salah added to Liverpool’s lead just short of the hour mark and from then on there was no way back for United.
Manuel Ugarte cannot start soon enough
Manchester United may regret not being able to register Manuel Ugarte’s £42m move in time for the Liverpool clash.
Casemiro started alongside Kobbie Mainoo in midfield and the Brazilian had one of his worst performances in red. Not only was he weak defensively, but the amount of sloppy, wayward passes was unforgivable.
United were missing an energetic midfield warrior, and frustratingly they have one, but he was forced to sit in the stands and watch.
When United return to action against Southampton, Manuel Ugarte has to be thrown straight in as a starter.
United have relied on individual brilliance for far too long and it is up to Ten Hag to build an identity that the club can follow regardless of who is on the pitch.
There were glimpses of that in the opening 10 minutes against Liverpool with United pressing high and playing out from the back, but as the clock ticked on they lost control and reverted back to chaos.
Sunday’s defeat showed that it will take time, but patience is running thin.
Amad must start
Ten Hag made three big changes for the Liverpool clash with Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Alejandro Garnacho all coming into the side in place of Mason Mount, Harry Maguire and Amad Diallo.
Amad was extremely fortunate to miss out, especially after scoring last week against Brighton and impressing in the Community Shield against Manchester City.
He made an immediate impact after being introduced in the second half and Old Trafford’s boos in the second half suggest fans are desperate to see him start alongside Garnacho, not instead of.
United have found a long-term partnership
Ten Hag played 13 different centre-back partnerships last season.
The Dutchman wasn’t left with much choice after the injury crisis at the back, but it was essential that United solved their defensive options this summer.
In De Ligt, it looks like United have found the answer. The former Ajax star had arrived off the bench in the opening two fixtures but he was handed his full debut against Liverpool and was outstanding.
In Lisandro Martinez and De Ligt, United finally have a long-term centre-back partnership they can rely on. They do, however, need a midfield to protect them.
Marcus Rashford is still a major problem
United have a huge Marcus Rashford-shaped problem. The 26-year-old has carried his poor form from last season into the start of this one.
He has completely and utterly lost his confidence, and he will be lucky to now keep hold of his starting spot.
United’s academy graduate was trusted by Ten Hag to start – possibly due to Rashford’s impressive record against Liverpool – but he continued to look off the pace and a shadow of the player who scored 30 goals in 2022-23
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