Manchester United were put to the sword by a clinical Liverpool side 0-3 in a display that will add to the increasingly long list of embarrassments under Erik ten Hag.
It can be argued that the game was more even than the scoreline suggests and Liverpool were far more clinical, but that doesn’t mean Manchester United deserved anything from the game.
Perhaps most damningly, there were a couple of occasions when something which rarely happens at Old Trafford happened.
The fans audibly booed a few players, with Casemiro facing the brunt of it, but it reached a crescendo towards another Ten Hag favourite.
Old Trafford boos Marcus Rashford
The board went up and fans were excited to see Amad come on, with many thinking he should have started the game.
He performed much better than any other forward after coming on, further vindicating the fans’ feelings but the substitution itself was booed.
However, that wasn’t because there was any opposition to Amad coming in, it was because the player coming off not being Marcus Rashford.
Alejandro Garnacho came off and Rashford survived the 90 despite being the player who was frustrating fans the most.
The Mancunian fashioned two chances for Joshua Zirkzee, at least one of which should definitely have been converted, but his style of play left a lot to be desired.
It was clear that the atmosphere was getting to him, as fans groaned and booed everytime he had the ball in space but chose to pass it back instead of taking his man on.
The confidence of the player looked shattered, and Ten Hag has got quite a job on his hands to rebuild it, especially with fans making their feelings clear on his current form.
Rashford’s season of reckoning
It is worth saying that Rashford’s general level of play has been quite good this season, certainly an improvement over the previous year.
However, that is not high bar to clear when the standard he should actually be matched up to is his output during Ten Hag’s first season.
His form has fallen off a cliff after signing a contract extension leading to questions over his drive and commitment, and fans booing only adds to that narrative.
It might be a do-or-die season for the player as he is one of the highest earners in the squad but his output is nowhere near justifying that outlay.
Ineos have already shown with the Scott McTominay transfer that it’s sporting first, emotions second for them.
“General level of play” being good won’t quite cut it anymore. Rashford can’t ask for fan support anymore, he has to earn it now by contributing to the team.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/ocwm3Yt