Manchester United were completely assassinated by Liverpool in front of their home crowd last Sunday in a 5-0 defeat. This was Ole’s back-to-back heavy defeats and 3 in the last 4 PL games. Mohamed Salah became the first player to score a hat-trick against Man Utd at Old Trafford.
Naby Keita opened the scoring sheet at 5′ for Liverpool after a horrible defensive display. Then Diego Jota and Salah netted the ball in to make it 0-3 within 38′ to dent the hopes of United. The score was 0-4 at halftime and the game was pretty much over by then.
1. Abysmal defencive mistakes for Manchester United.
Team coordination and understanding between the players seem not to be improving for the Red Devils at all. This is what happens when there is lacking coaching staff and qualities. United had managed to keep a single clean in the last 20 games and we are at the last position in terms of goals conceded. Varane’s injury is proving us costly a bit. Now fully fit, Varane could feature against Tottenham.
2. Ole is getting his tactics wrong in every match.
He doesn’t prefer rotation of players, not using the resources properly, no dropping of players like Fred, McTominay, and Luke Shaw despite horrific performance week in, week out. Benching talents like Donny van de Beek, Telles (equally good LB as Shaw), and Sancho (who is actually a potential winger and that’s the reason why we bought him).
Get Cavani or Greenwood upfront and drop Ronaldo back. Give him the ball and get runners around him.
3. Manchester United have an ample attacking options but still struggles to score.
I believe a lot of Manchester United’s goals are down to individual brilliance. I felt no such teamwork and planning was required. No passing the ball inside the 18-yard box, no diagonal balls, no long balls and no driving forward through the channels by the full-backs and wingers. Everyone wants to score, everyone wants to be the hero, everyone wants to be on the scoresheet.
4. No sign of discipline.
Ronaldo lost his head was caught in a heated argument and action in the Curtis Jones incident. He was lucky to receive a yellow only. Pogba was sent off within 15′ of introduction and United were down to 10 men. Harry Maguire was also lucky not to receive a red card on Diogo Jota.
5. Title hopes over for United?
If they continue their dismal show in every match then even UCL qualifications also look tough. With West Ham and Tottenham doing good United needs to pull up their socks and start striving hard.
But for how long will you use the same strategy, same tactics, same formation. Even the manager of the opponent’s team will get to read your mind game. Liverpool, Chelsea, and Man City are our rival teams but still, you have to acknowledge the fact that, that’s how a game of football should be played.