Imagine being one of the match analysts on the staff at Real Betis, collating and trying to make sense of information on future opponents during this crucial segment of the season.
Ahead of Real Madrid’s visit to Seville last weekend, they studied the Spanish champions’ preceding matches – and especially the ominous 46 minutes in late February when Madrid thumped five goals past Liverpool at Anfield.
Meanwhile, ahead of Betis’ trip to Manchester United for Thursday’s first leg of a Europa League last-16 tie, they scrutinise footage of United’s last fixture: Anfield, the same venue at which Madrid had run riot; a mere 12 days after Madrid routed Liverpool there, United shipped seven goals against the home team in the space of 45 minutes.
Trying to establish his bearings between these wildly fluctuating sets of data is Manuel Pellegrini, the vastly experienced Betis manager, whose team were solid enough to keep Madrid goalless on Sunday.
He sees United are well above Liverpool in the Premier League table. He is also wise enough to survey United’s dreadful thrashing at Anfield within the broader context of a run of form in which, since the new year, United have defeated Pellegrini’s old club Manchester City, eliminated Barcelona from Europe and lifted, with victory over Newcastle United in the League Cup final, their first trophy since 2017.
Pellegrini knows bad blips can sometimes just happen. He once oversaw a 7-0 defeat, managing Malaga, away at Real Madrid. His Malaga bounced back to win seven of their next 10 matches and within a year were qualifying for the Champions League.
When a thumping defeat interrupts a club’s momentum, it’s about how the players and the management react that counts.
Erik ten Hag, the United manager, may not be as worldly as Pellegrini but he has his own recovery stories. He was the Ajax manager, who, four winters back, lost 6-2 to arch-rivals Feyenoord. In three of the next four games, Ajax scored at least five times.
The rest of their season would feature winning the Dutch title and a run to the Champions League semi-finals in which Ajax eliminated Juventus and Real Madrid.
“We have to reset and bounce back,” said Ten Hag on Wednesday. “We made a mess on Sunday and we have to deal with that. We have seen the game again, talked about it and set out conclusions.”
Some of those conclusions are that, having gone a goal behind just before half time at Anfield, United became too impatient.
Liverpool 7 Man United 0: Player ratings
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LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Alisson - 7. Calm and assured during a relatively even first half. A spectator in the second half as his outfield teammates ran riot at the other end of the pitch. Getty -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7. Took care of his defensive responsibilities and pushed forward in the second half as Liverpool pinned United back. Getty -
Ibrahima Konate - 8. Rock solid at the back, with the Frenchman producing several interceptions, blocks, and clearances in the first half. Konate could then enjoy the view in the second half. Getty -
Virgil van Dijk - 8. A vintage Van Dijk display as the Dutchman led the defensive line and kept United's attacks through the middle quiet. Getty -
Andrew Robertson - 9. A British media outlet asked its readers in the build-up to this match to select their combined XI. Bafflingly, Shaw was chosen ahead of Robertson. After this performance, the Scot offered another reminder that there really is no comparison. Ran United ragged down the left and provided a superb assist for Gakpo's opener. AFP -
Harvey Elliott - 8. A display beyond his years from the 19-year-old midfielder. Supplied the cross for Nunez's first - Liverpool's second - and helped dominate United in midfield in the second half. Getty -
Fabinho - 8. Apparently the Brazilian's legs are gone. There was little evidence to support that argument at Anfield as Fabinho controlled the midfield in the second half to allow his attacking teammates to fill their boots. PA -
Jordan Henderson - 8. A controlled performance from the Liverpool captain, who helped his side dominate in the second half. Supplied the cross for Nunez's second and Liverpool's fourth. EPA -
Mohamed Salah - 10. Two goals and two assists to become Liverpool's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer. It was Salah at his devastating best - as he so often is against United. Getty -
Cody Gakpo - 9. The Dutch forward hinted at the World Cup he was a player for the big occasion, and after a goal in the Merseyside derby, went one better on Sunday. Gakpo scored two stunning goals to play a key role in this historic rout. AFP -
Darwin Nunez - 9. The Uruguayan has been an easy target for mockery during his debut season but this should silence the haters. Nunez was lethal against United by scoring two excellent headers. He now has 14 goals in all competitions. EPA -
Stefan Bajcetic (Henderson 78') - N/A. The 18-year-old Spanish midfielder provided some fresh legs in midfield. EPA -
Diogo Jota (Nunez 78') - N/A. Given a brief run-out as the Portuguese forward continues to find his fitness following a long-term calf injury. EPA -
Roberto Firmino (Gakpo 79') - 8. The Brazilian is set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, but the club might be keen to convince him to stay after this brilliant cameo. Credited with the assist for Salah's second then scored Liverpool's seventh with a fine finish. EPA -
James Milner (Fabinho 79') - N/A. Brought his experience to the match for the final 11 minutes. Reuters -
Curtis Jones (Elliott 85') - N/A. AP -
MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYER RATINGS: David De Gea – 2. Conceded seven goals at Anfield. Seven. He wasn’t at fault for Liverpool’s first shot on target – Gapko’s first goal. That’s about the best thing we can say about his performance. AFP -
Diogo Dalot – 2. Magnificent cross to Fernandes on 25 and headed a Shaw free-kick on target after 32 as United built pressure. Didn’t stop Robertson’s in run up to Liverpool’s goal. Got worse and worse in the second half. AFP -
Raphael Varane – 2. A doubt before the game like Shaw, but Fabinho’s arm in his face let him know what this game means. Slow as he let Gapko get onto his favoured foot to shoot and put Liverpool ahead. Couldn’t clear his lines for the second and what was he doing for sixth? Or was it the seventh? AFP -
Lisandro Martinez – 2. Headed a 21st minute Robertson shot clear and blocked Nunez a minute later. Then his arm blocked the dangerous Salah. Fell apart like his team. Booked. AFP -
Luke Shaw – 2. Impressive again down the left in the first half. Deliberately slowed the game down at the start – it appeared to be an instruction from his manager. Superb pass to Rashford on 26. Poor pass which let Liverpool in for the second. Lost his head in the second half, like the rest of United. An embarrassment of an afternoon. Getty -
Casemiro – 2. Appeared to be in pain early on and he gave the ball away a couple of times. His worst game for United. Went too early - his 41st minute header into the net was offside. PA -
Fred – 2. Strong against Salah but positioning all wrong for Liverpool’s opener. Then then it all turned as United collapsed and Liverpool recorded their biggest ever win against United. Getty -
Antony – 2. Played left in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Curled a shot on target on nine minutes, drew strong tackles, looked a danger. Poor final ball. Regressed like the rest in his first game for United at Anfield. PA -
Bruno Fernandes – 1. Headed a Dalot cross wide on 25. He was attacking on 49 – the ball was lost, Liverpool countered and scored the third. Gave ball away again too much in the second, then went down claiming he’d been hit on the face. He hadn’t. Appalling in the second half, the worst of a bad bunch. AFP -
Wout Weghorst – 2. Played as a 10, gave ball away in a 24th minute attack. It didn’t work, while Liverpool’s attackers showed what top quality looked like. Getty -
Marcus Rashford – 2. Played centrally and beat Van Dijk for pace in the first half. Didn’t get the best touch to a fine Shaw ball on 27 – a solid chance. Ran back and defended well when his side were a man down. Hit the outside of the post at 0-4, the closest United came to scoring. PA -
SUBS: Scott McTominay (Fred 57’) – 2. Booked for a tackle on Gapko. He won the ball but then lifted his studs. Shot deflected off him for Liverpool’s fourth. PA -
Alejandro Garnacho (Weghorst 57’) – 2. Nothing. Let’s hope he never wants to feel this humiliation again. AFP -
Marcel Sabitzer (Casemiro 57’) – 2. Couldn’t stem the relentless attacks. AFP -
Tyrell Malacia (Martinez 77’) – N/A. What could he do? Soak the atmosphere up? AFP
Striker Marcus Rashford, whose form going into last weekend had been excellent, suggested: “It comes down to the fact, I believe, everyone was trying to get back into the game so much that we came away from our principles, in and out of possession.
“I felt the forwards were trying to press, just the forward unit, and were disconnected from the midfield.
“We were unorganised and communication was bad. The only thing we can do is learn from it and move on.”
Rashford reacted firmly against any notion that as Liverpool racked up second-half goals, United capitulated. “We didn’t give up,” he insisted, “that’s nonsense.”
He and Ten Hag spoke as one in their support for Bruno Fernandes, the captain against Liverpool and the United player who most clearly displayed his frustrations during the rout.
“He’s playing a brilliant season, he’s played an important role in [putting us] in the position we are, giving energy to the team, intensity in the right way,” said his coach. “He’s an inspiration.
“No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes but I’m really happy to have Bruno in my team and I’m happy with him as our captain with Harry [Maguire, the official club captain] not on the pitch.”
“Bruno’s been a good leader and he’s helped other players become better leaders,” according to Rashford. “I’m 100 per cent behind him.”
Betis 0-0 Real Madrid
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Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema, centre, vies with Real Betis defender Luiz Felipe during the Spanish La Liga match at the Benito Villamarin in Seville on March 5, 2023. The game ended 0-0. AFP -
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, right, and Betis' Youssouf Sabaly vie for the ball. AP Photo -
Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger, front, and Betis' Rodri compete for the ball. AP Photo -
Real Madrid's Federico Valverde attempts a shot at goal. AP Photo -
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, right, argues with Betis goalkeeper Claudio Bravo. AP Photo -
Karim Benzema of Real Madrid runs with the ball. Getty Images -
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior in action with Real Betis' German Pezzella. Reuters -
Real Betis defender Luiz Felipe vies with Real Madrid's Karim Benzema. AFP -
Real Betis's Luiz Felipe in action against Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. EPA -
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema in action. EPA -
Federico Valverde of Real Madrid passes the ball. Getty Images -
Real Betis defender Youssouf Sabaly vies with Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior. AFP
Maguire is among the options to come into the United defence should Ten Hag feel the need for significant changes of personnel after the agony of Anfield.
They are up against savvy opponents. Although Betis are without the injured Nabil Fekir, a significant absence, they have plenty of European know-how to call on, from the veteran former City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, 39, to the remarkably durable winger Joaquin Sanchez, a club icon who is now 41.
Betis arrive in Manchester on the back of three Liga wins before the weekend’s gutsy draw with Madrid and sit three points off fourth place – Champions League qualifying – in the Spanish table.
“We have to focus,” said Ten Hag. “In a season, setbacks will always be there, and Liverpool was a huge setback, clearly, but we had a run with 23 games and one loss, before this second one.
“We were really below average, especially our mentality. We got a big lesson. We’ll take it and move on, look forward.”
