Manchester United had been dealt a grim actuality examine following one more dismal show away to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, with Erik ten Hag’s seemingly resurgent outfit having been merely schooled by their bitter rivals.
Whereas the Crimson Devils have made spectacular progress because the win within the reverse fixture again in August – a outcome that the gamers themselves have pointed to as a defining second within the season – this newest encounter was a reminder that the Carabao Cup winners are removed from the completed article, with any earlier, quiet hopes of a title cost now effectively and actually extinguished.
After a comparatively encouraging first-half efficiency at Anfield, a objective from former United target Cody Gakpo simply earlier than the break appeared to open the floodgates as soon as the second half started, with the guests merely wilting amid the rampant Reds onslaught.
As a lot as Ten Hag had lauded his facet’s “mentality” heading into that mouthwatering assembly, the membership’s leaders appeared to go lacking amid that staggering collapse after the interval, with the 7-0 scoreline reflecting a brand new nadir within the post-Sir Alex Ferguson period.
It was undoubtedly stark to see skilled heads comparable to Casemiro seemingly go beneath on Merseyside, the serial-winning Brazilian having been merely ‘overwhelmed‘ by Jurgen Klopp’s males, based on Manchester Night Information journalist Samuel Luckhurst.
The midfield “monster” – as lauded by journalist Muhammad Butt – has been a very influential presence this season, though did not hit his traditional heights yesterday, having misplaced possession on 13 events and recorded only a 63% cross accuracy charge earlier than being withdrawn late on.
The 31-year-old was not the one shock determine who endured one thing of a uncommon horror present on the day, nevertheless, with the usually unflappable Raphael Varane additionally trying somewhat “awful” on the coronary heart of the defence, based on reporter James Wokabi.
How did Varane play towards Liverpool?
Very like his ex-Actual Madrid colleague, Casemiro, Varane has been an actual key asset within the current rise for Ten Hag’s males, with the “calm and picked up” Frenchman – as described by pundit and former defender Adrian Mariappa – having fashioned a rock-solid partnership with summer season signing Lisandro Martinez of late.
For all of the 29-year-old’s good work in current months, nevertheless, the World Cup winner was caught out by the ferocious nature of Liverpool’s attacking triad, having been far too simply crushed by Gakpo because the Dutchman netted the sport’s opener.
That set the tone for the car-crash efficiency that was to observe from Varane and his teammates, with the 93-cap titan not in a position to step up and lead his teammates when wanted, as he received simply three duels and made just one sort out in his 90-minute outing.
The £340k-per-week gem additionally misplaced possession 9 instances from his 38 touches and achieved a cross accuracy charge of solely 75%, with that contributing to a somewhat dire match score of 5.5, as per Sofascore – the bottom of any outfield participant.
Arguably the centre-back’s ‘worst efficiency of the season‘ – based on Luckhurst – Varane was uncovered like most in that grim Anfield encounter, with the hope being that such a drubbing is merely a one-off so far as the Outdated Trafford outfit are involved.
The worry shall be, nevertheless, that very similar to the earlier assembly on the Theatre of Desires helped to kick begin United’s season, yesterday’s shambolic displaying may spark one thing of a nosedive for the membership within the coming months.
