Manchester United suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat at home to bitter rivals Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
United delivered a lacklustre performance, compounding their disappointing start to the season following last weekend’s defeat to Brighton.
Luis Díaz opened the scoring for the visitors after a misplaced pass from Casemiro gifted Liverpool possession. The Colombian seized the opportunity, finding himself unmarked at the back post to head Mohamed Salah's cross into the net.
Díaz struck again just before halftime, pouncing on another mistake from Casemiro to put Liverpool firmly in control at the break.
Liverpool's dominance extended into the second half, with Salah adding a third goal to secure victory for the visitors. The Egyptian, who has now scored 10 goals in nine appearances at Old Trafford, calmly slotted the ball past Andre Onana into the bottom corner of the net, sealing a comprehensive win for Liverpool
Here are the key takeaways from the game.
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Individual errors proved costly for United once again
Much like in last week’s game against Brighton, individual mistakes once again cost United dearly against Arne Slot's side.
The game was marred by a series of unforced errors from various United players, starting with a crucial blunder from Casemiro that handed Liverpool an early advantage. The Brazilian's loose pass was pounced upon by the visitors, leading to Díaz's unchallenged header at the back post which put United on the back foot.
Casemiro was again at fault for the second goal, surrendering possession in midfield to set up Liverpool’s counterattack. The midfielder was ultimately substituted at half-time following a disastrous half, marked by a series of errors.
For Salah’s third goal, Kobbie Mainoo was muscled off the ball far too easily, and it can be argued that Andre Onana could have done more as he allowed Salah's shot to slip in at his near post.
Critical errors, particularly in the middle of the park, ultimately cost Ten Hag's side the game and must be eradicated if United are going to make any real progress this season.
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Casemiro was off the pace
Casemiro delivered what was undoubtedly one of his worst performances in a United shirt since his arrival from Real Madrid in 2022. The Brazilian's poor performance meant he was withdrawn at half-time, as Ten Hag was forced to throw 20-year-old Toby Collyer in at the deep end, handing him a high-pressure Premier League debut.
Collyer is one of the most exciting young talents to come through the academy at Old Trafford recently, however, it says a lot about Casemiro's performance that Ten Hag opted to bring on an inexperienced player in such a huge match to replace him.
The Brazilian's mistakes handed Liverpool their two opening goals and Ten Hag was left with no choice but to withdraw the 32-year-old midfielder. Casemiro failed to impress for large parts of last season and continued to look below-par against Liverpool.
Following the performance against Slot's side, there is growing debate over whether Casemiro should be dropped by Ten Hag, as fans and pundits alike are questioning whether the midfielder still has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
The ex-Real Madrid man looked totally off the pace as his lacklustre passing combined with poor decision-making swung the game in Liverpool's favour.
United announced the signing of PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte on transfer deadline day, and after Casemiro's performance against Liverpool, it looks likely the Uruguayan will take Casemiro's spot in the United midfield sooner rather than later.
Ten Hag may consider rotating Casemiro out of the starting lineup in the Reds' next game against Southampton, as Ugarte is anticipated to bring a much-needed surge of energy to the midfield, addressing the deficiencies that have plagued United’s engine room so far this season.
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United were wasteful in possession
United’s struggles in possession were glaringly evident against their rivals. The team’s inability to maintain possession led to frequent turnovers and left them struggling to find any attacking rhythm.
Passes were often misdirected or intercepted, and the midfield struggled to link play effectively. This lack of precision not only invited unnecessary pressure but also led to several significant errors that Liverpool capitalised upon ruthlessly.
Ten Hag’s side found it difficult to string passes together, frequently miscuing what should have been straightforward balls to teammates.
Against an opponent of Liverpool's quality, such wastefulness proved costly. The lacklustre passing disrupted United’s offensive flow and also exposed defensive vulnerabilities that Liverpool exploited throughout the game.
United’s failure to retain possession was a pivotal factor in the defeat, underscoring an urgent need for improvement on the ball for Ten Hag's side.
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Rashford was below par once again
Marcus Rashford struggled to make an impact once again against Liverpool. There was hope that the forward might add to his tally of seven career goals against Liverpool and kickstart a return to form after a poor start to the season. However, the 26-year-old frequently appeared isolated and failed to effectively link up with teammates.
The Englishman had several opportunities to drive at Trent Alexander-Arnold and create chances but repeatedly failed to capitalise. Too often, Rashford slowed down the attack, squandering promising opportunities or opting to pass backwards rather than take on his man. He seems to be severely lacking in confidence, a shadow of his former self at present.
Notably, Rashford hasn't found the back of the net since United's FA Cup clash against Liverpool back in March, and this prolonged goal drought seems to be weighing heavily on his performances.
Rashford desperately needs a goal to regain his form, as his current struggles could soon put him at risk of being dropped to the bench. The pressure to deliver continues to intensify for Rashford, as fans question how much longer Ten Hag will continue to put his faith in the 26-year-old.
While Rashford's talent is unquestionable, a stint on the bench might be exactly what he needs to rediscover his sharpness and confidence. Amad Diallo, who looked lively when he replaced Alejandro Garnacho against Liverpool and found the net against Brighton last week, is a strong candidate to take Rashford's spot.
The Ivory Coast international's energy and creativity could provide the spark United's attack has been lacking.
