It wasn’t supposed to be like this for Manchester United. Second last season in the Premier League thanks to their manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doing an impressive job, United signed Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo over the summer. Optimism rose among fans. They felt that a first title challenge since 2013 was possible. United’s squad was now packed with world-class names and fans at Britain’s best supported club would be back to cheer them along the way.
It has not happened. United have just suffered a horrific run of form, picking up one point from the last 12 in the league. Leicester City put four past United last week, Liverpool five this. That’s Liverpool, United's biggest rivals. Liverpool for whom United felt they had prepared well. The players felt confident in their roles, in their game plan. They didn’t have to worry about being blockaded in their hotel either like the last time Liverpool came to Old Trafford.
United were destroyed, the game plan quickly exposed by Jurgen Klopp’s ruthless side and support for Solskjaer has taken a nose dive among United’s support.
United can’t keep clean sheets, keep going behind in games, look unbalanced and unable to control matches. Some of the best players from last season have become the worst this. The team doesn’t look like one, more a jigsaw of players that have been scattered incoherently and are yet to fit together. Solskjaer has the best intentions but he’s struggling to get a tune out of his talent.
Sunday against Liverpool was the nadir. Defenders didn’t defend, goalscorers didn’t score, midfielders were outclassed. United’s great names were outthought and outfought by Liverpool from the start.
Not since May 1990 have United been 4-0 down at half time in a league game, and that was an end-of-season match against Nottingham Forest which barely mattered. The 4-2 defeat to Liverpool at Old Trafford at the end of last season barely mattered either. United had done enough to finish above Liverpool in the league.
Sunday mattered. This season was still young enough to atone for errors. Win against Liverpool and United would have only been a point behind the Reds in the table. But anyone watching that game knows Liverpool are so far ahead of United right now they’re likely to disappear into the distance. On this form, United will be fortunate to be also rans, to finish in the top four. The team are being outplayed so often that Solskjaer’s future is under intense scrutiny. Villarreal and Atalanta were far better in the first half at Old Trafford in the Champions League, yet United roared back and beat both. That’s proving more difficult in the Premier League and fans are alarmed. They’re tired of trite promises from some of the players, tired of Solskjaer talking of heart and passion and United’s DNA. Words don’t cut it any more, though he has little opportunity but to keep talking since he’s contractually obliged to do so. The Norwegian can say nothing to heal the wounds of defeat.
United have recovered from hammerings before. Tottenham beat Solskjaer's United 6-1 a year ago - the worst result under the Norwegian's watch, yet Sunday is much worse. Spurs was a freak result and United finished well clear of them; Liverpool was coming.
Player ratings
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MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 4 - Conceded now in 13 consecutive home games for United – not that he could do much about the five which past him. A chocolate fireguard would have offered more protection. Good save from Alexander Arnold after 70. EPA -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 3 - Left his man to try and retrieve the ball before Liverpool’s opener. Didn’t. And from there things got even worse. Booked – one of seven United players to get a card on a day of frustration. EPA -
Victor Lindelof 3 - Another in the wrong position for the opener for the most jittery start from United. Ball bounced off him before Liverpool’s third. Booed off at half time with the rest of his teammates by a support who otherwise sang until the end. No wonder several of the players apologised. EPA -
Harry Maguire 2 - Adrift as Liverpool cut United’s defence open from the start and tangled with Shaw for the second as Liverpool went 2-0 up after 13. Things got even worse and he’s having an awful time of it. Booked. Getty -
Luke Shaw 3 - Stranded for Liverpool’s opener. Shot wide from distance after 21, but, like the rest of the defenders, he was all over the place as a far superior Liverpool passed the ball around them. EPA -
Fred 3 - Lovely ball to Ronaldo after three minutes. And that was the highlight as his side were thrashed. Booked. Not even fair to compare him to someone as influential as Jordan Henderson today. Had little time on the ball against a side who never stopped hunting the ball down. EPA -
Scott McTominay 3 - Ran back to dispossess Salah after eight minutes. Does he really want to be reminded of anything after that as Liverpool completely dominated? Headed ball down to set up Cavani after 83. The game was so far gone, there was barely a reaction when the ball went in the net. EPA -
Bruno Fernandes 3 - Skied a third minute shot over. Wasted. Often frustrated, too often argumentative. Booked for this on an afternoon which became deeply embarrassing for the home team. AP -
Mason Greenwood 4 - Was up for it from the start, intercepting a Liverpool attack. Then they scored twice. Shot tested Alisson after 28, but what else can you say about a player on a side which was 4-0 down at half-time for the first time in 31 years? AP -
Marcus Rashford 3 - Lively start and got away from Kieta to shoot wide from 25 yards. But lost in the hideous muddle which developed and for which no words can make up. EPA -
Cristiano Ronaldo 3 - Another who skied a shot early on. Put the ball in the net after 53 with a superb shot, but it was offside. Booked. He’s hugely frustrated – and hugely influential. And that could be a blessing and a curse for United. AP -
SUBS: Paul Pogba 2 - On for Greenwood at HT. Dived in for a challenge with Keita on 58 and was sent off. He should have known far better. AP -
Edinson Cavani 3 - On for Fernandes after 61 as Liverpool fans sang ‘Ole’s at the wheel’ and ‘Ole give us a wave.’ It was that bad. A deflected shot hit the crossbar after 83. EPA -
Diogo Dalot 3 - On for Rashford after 61 as Liverpool fans chanted ‘Ole must stay’ while the speculation about United’s manager skyrocketed. AP -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker 8 - The Brazilian foiled Greenwood and Ronaldo in the first half and was a model of composure. He distributed the ball with his usual aplomb. Getty -
Trent Alexander-Arnold 8 - The 22-year-old was supposed to be the target for Ronaldo and Rashford but was comfortable throughout. He ranged forward at will and supplied the cross for Jota’s goal. Getty -
Ibrahima Konate 8 - The Frenchman got sucked into midfield and went to ground early on but he soon found his feet. He was excellent in the air and strong on the ground. EPA -
Virgil van Dijk 8 - The Dutchman was completely at ease. He oozed class. It is hard to believe that Maguire was a more expensive signing. EPA -
Andrew Robertson 8 - The Scot’s passing was a little inconsistent but he worked the line well. He made himself available as an outlet ball and got better as the game went on. Getty -
Jordan Henderson 8 - The captain was efficient in possession and adapted nicely to the defensive midfield role. His pass for Salah’s hat-trick was splendid. Getty -
James Milner 7 - The 35-year-old limped off injured after 27 minutes but his workrate and appetite were illustrated when he was queuing at the back post behind Jota for a chance to score the second goal. Reuters -
Naby Keita 9 - This was the 26-year-old’s best game for the club. He scored, helped set up two goals and broke up United attacks. He was carried off in the 64th minute after a horrible challenge by Pogba. Getty -
Mohamed Salah 10 - The Egyptian’s pass for the opening goal was wonderful but what followed was exceptional. He tormented United and was rewarded with a hat-trick. AFP -
Roberto Firmino 8 - The Brazilian’s movement and intelligence bemused the defence. He helped create the fourth goal before being replaced by Mane in the 77th minute. EPA -
Diogo Jota 8 - The Portuguese caused havoc down the left. He scored the second goal and set up another for Salah. Getty -
SUBS: Curtis Jones 7 - The 20-year-old replaced Milner in the 27th minute and was given some rough treatment by Ronaldo and Fernandes but never let it affect his game. Getty -
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 7 - The 28-year-old joined the action in the 64th minute when Keita was injured. He was effective on and off the ball as Liverpool cruised towards the final whistle. AFP -
Sadio Mane 6 - The Senegalese was introduced for Firmino with 13 minutes left. He was desperate to score and was perhaps a little too greedy. Reuters
In September 1989, Alex Ferguson went to bed after a 5-1 defeat at Manchester City and hoped that if he did wake up, it would all have been a dream. After Liverpool had scored five and their 3,000 travelling fans had mocked Solskjaer by singing ‘Ole’s at the wheel’ or ‘Ole give us a wave’, Solskjaer came out of the dressing room and posed for photos with fans outside the Stretford End: mostly younger or weekend visitors hoping to take a rare chance to see those they idolise. The majority had long left the stadium in disappointment or disgust, let down by those players they’d supported so well.
Liverpool winning wasn’t a surprise and neither would it be if champions Manchester City won in United’s next home game in two weeks. These are grim times and Solskjaer, usually an optimist, admitted his team are at rock bottom.
He’s a good man, a proud man, a very well renumerated man who is trying but failing in his job right now. His players are too, but Solskjaer knows he ultimately holds responsibility. This is on him and football is a results business. He’s not getting points, has won no trophies and it’s hard to see a way back for him from this, though United have stuck by him with a loyalty which would be unheard of at major European rivals. As egos jockey for position in the dressing room, United have so far shown no inclination to change their manager and the club genuinely believed in a plan, in their cultural reboot, in increased investment in youth. They believed it would pay dividends in playing success. Instead, the prevailing mood is one of doom and despair and defeat. If he can come back from this it’ll be his most momentous act in his long association with Manchester United, though in the past he has managed it when at his lowest ebb. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
