Manchester United suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday. Although Liverpool initially thought they had taken an early lead with a goal from Trent Alexander-Arnold, it was ruled out due to an offside in the build-up. However, the visitors did eventually go ahead in the 35th minute when Luis Diaz scored with a header at the back post. Diaz then doubled Liverpool’s lead just seven minutes later with a precise finish, putting United in a difficult position before the break.
United’s woes continued in the second half as Casemiro, who had a particularly poor first half, was substituted at halftime. Despite the change, United’s struggles persisted, and Liverpool extended their lead to 3-0 when Mohamed Salah found the net ten minutes into the second half, effectively putting the game out of reach for the home side.
Regarding player performances, Andre Onana had a tough outing in goal, with little to do as Liverpool were clinical with their chances, scoring three goals from their limited opportunities. Onana was unable to make any significant saves, earning him a rating of 5. Noussair Mazraoui had a difficult match defensively, particularly for Diaz’s first goal, and struggled against the Colombian throughout the game, resulting in a rating of 4.
Matthijs de Ligt started strongly and was initially one of United’s better performers, but his form dipped following the first goal, and he received a booking for a rough tackle, leading to a rating of 4. Lisandro Martinez had a frustrating game, struggling to maintain composure and control, especially with the ball at his feet. He was booked in the first half, and his notable contributions were limited, including escorting Diaz off the field when he was substituted; he received a rating of 3. Diogo Dalot also had a poor showing at left-back, unable to prevent Diaz’s goals and seemingly out of place, earning a rating of 4.
Casemiro had one of his worst performances for United, marked by costly errors and ineffective play, leading to both of Liverpool’s first-half goals. His struggles prompted his substitution at halftime, and he was rated the lowest among his teammates with a 1. Kobbie Mainoo failed to impose himself in midfield, particularly struggling without Casemiro’s support and losing possession ahead of Salah’s goal, earning him a rating of 3. Alejandro Garnacho, returning to the starting lineup, was largely ineffective against Liverpool’s Andy Robertson, and his substitution drew negative reactions from the fans, resulting in a rating of 4.
Bruno Fernandes, playing in his preferred No.10 role, was unable to make a significant impact, as Liverpool’s midfield dominated throughout, leading to a rating of 3. Marcus Rashford, starting his fourth consecutive match, had a quiet game despite creating two good chances for Joshua Zirkzee; he received a rating of 4. Zirkzee himself struggled to make a mark in the first half and missed a crucial headed opportunity, earning a rating of 4.
The substitutes also found it tough to make an impact. Toby Collyer, making his league debut, struggled against experienced opposition and was rated 4. Amad, who had been dropped despite winning the club’s Player of the Month award, also had a challenging time and was rated 5. Harry Maguire, introduced later, managed to keep Liverpool from adding to their scoreline during his time on the pitch, earning a rating of 5, as did Christian Eriksen, who came on very late in the game.
Manager Erik ten Hag faced criticism for his team selection and tactical decisions. Although he was not at fault for the delayed arrival of new signing Manuel Ugarte, his inability to find effective midfield solutions was evident. His choices to drop Maguire and Amad were questioned, as neither seemed justified based on the game’s outcome. Ten Hag received a rating of 3 for his management of the match.