The Red Devils were met with arguably their most significant challenge of the season on Sunday afternoon, and they faltered in a dramatic fashion.
Under the management of Erik ten Hag, United began the match with energy and optimism, applying early pressure on Liverpool.
However, their initial momentum quickly dissipated after Luis Diaz broke the deadlock, putting Liverpool ahead.
Diaz didn’t stop there; just before halftime, he doubled Liverpool’s lead, further demoralizing United. The situation only worsened after the break as Liverpool continued their relentless attack.
Mohamed Salah extended Liverpool’s lead just before the hour mark, and at that point, any hopes of a United comeback seemed to vanish.
The absence of newly signed Manuel Ugarte, who wasn’t registered in time for the match, was keenly felt. United might regret not having Ugarte available for this crucial encounter, especially given the struggles in midfield. Casemiro, paired with young Kobbie Mainoo, had one of his poorest performances for the club.
Defensively vulnerable and error-prone in his passing, Casemiro’s performance highlighted United’s need for a dynamic presence in the midfield—something Ugarte might have provided had he been available.
As United prepares for their next match against Southampton, it’s imperative that Ugarte be included in the starting lineup.
The club has long depended on moments of individual brilliance to carry them through, but Ten Hag must establish a cohesive team identity that can be maintained regardless of which players are on the field.
United did show glimpses of what they could be during the first 10 minutes against Liverpool, with aggressive pressing and a structured build-up from the back.
However, as the game progressed, they lost their shape and descended into disarray. This defeat serves as a reminder that building a successful team takes time, but patience among fans and the board is wearing thin.
Amad Diallo’s absence from the starting lineup was another point of contention. Ten Hag made three significant changes for the Liverpool match, bringing in Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, and Alejandro Garnacho in place of Mason Mount, Harry Maguire, and Amad.
Amad’s omission was surprising, especially after he scored in the previous week’s match against Brighton and delivered a solid performance in the Community Shield against Manchester City.
His impact after being brought on in the second half was immediate, and the boos from Old Trafford’s crowd during the second half reflected their desire to see Amad start alongside Garnacho, not as his replacement.One positive takeaway from the match was the promising partnership in central defense.
Last season, Ten Hag had to experiment with 13 different center-back combinations due to an injury crisis. However, this summer, finding a reliable defensive duo was crucial, and in Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt, United seems to have found a solution.
De Ligt, who had only appeared as a substitute in the first two games, was given his full debut against Liverpool and delivered an outstanding performance.
United may have finally established a long-term central defensive partnership, though they still require a stronger midfield to provide adequate protection.
Despite the defensive improvement, United still has a significant problem with Marcus Rashford. The 26-year-old has carried his poor form from last season into the new campaign and appears to have completely lost his confidence.
Rashford, who was trusted by Ten Hag to start—likely due to his historically strong performances against Liverpool—looked out of sorts once again.
He is now at risk of losing his place in the starting eleven, as he continues to be a shadow of the player who scored 30 goals during the 2022-23 season.
Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool has highlighted several issues that Erik ten Hag needs to address.
The absence of Manuel Ugarte was particularly felt in midfield, where Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo struggled. Ugarte’s inclusion could have provided the dynamic presence United needed.
The defense, while showing promise with the partnership of Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt, still lacks protection from the midfield.
Amad Diallo’s omission from the starting lineup was surprising, especially given his recent performances. His impact off the bench against Liverpool reinforced the need for his inclusion in the starting XI.
Marcus Rashford’s ongoing poor form is another concern. Despite his historical success against Liverpool, Rashford appeared out of sorts, which could impact his place in the starting lineup moving forward.
United’s next match against Southampton will be crucial for Ten Hag to resolve these issues and stabilize the team.
