Four things Erik ten Hag got horribly wrong as Liverpool demolish disastrous Man Utd 7-0
On Sunday evening, Liverpool put on an outstanding performance at Anfield, defeating Manchester United 7-0. Despite winning eight of their last 11 Premier League matches, Manchester United’s form vanished as they suffered a humiliating defeat.
Goals from Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Cody Gakpo, who each scored twice, followed by a goal from Roberto Firmino, secured Liverpool’s victory.
SportsDias analyzed where Erik ten Hag and his team went wrong, from failing to equalize before halftime to falling apart in the second half.
Doomed from the start
Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United team did not adopt a defensive approach and continued with their attacking style even after conceding a goal to Liverpool.
However, this bold tactic did not work in favor of the former Ajax coach, as Liverpool dominated the game in the final 30 minutes.
The starting lineup of Manchester United was also questionable, and the situation only worsened as the game progressed. The team’s response to the pressure applied by Liverpool is a cause for concern.
Wout Weghorst experiment
Wout Weghorst, who was preferred by Erik ten Hag, failed to make a positive impact on the attack and was substituted before the hour mark.
Despite being a Netherlands international forward, Weghorst had minimal involvement in the game.
He was replaced by Alejandro Garnacho, who had been in good form in recent weeks. With Ten Hag already under pressure to utilize Weghorst, the decision to substitute him may indicate a need to consider alternative systems.
Temperament
Gary Neville referred to the Manchester United team as “school boys” during their second-half collapse, and Jamie Carragher was pleased when their players began to lose their composure.
Luke Shaw was close to getting involved in an altercation with Darwin Nunez, and Bruno Fernandes’ apparent dive was also controversial. Scott McTominay was fortunate not to receive a red card.
Neville said on Sky Sports: “These players are showing they have a lot of growth yet before they can handle it. This place is the toughest place for any Manchester United to play at.”
Substitutions
Erik ten Hag missed his only opportunity to salvage the match by making ineffective substitutions. He brought on Alejandro Garnacho, but the other substitutes – Scott McTominay, Marcel Sabitzer, Tyrell Malacia, and Anthony Elanga – were unable to make a difference.
One Manchester United fan expressed their disappointment on social media, stating that while they love Ten Hag, his lineup, tactics, and substitutions were all wrong in this game.
It is a common occurrence for even the best coaches to make mistakes, however.
A second agreed: “This disgrace is on Ten Hag, terrible line up, terrible subs.”
Erik ten Hag is likely feeling concerned about the nature of Manchester United’s defeat and the team’s response after conceding the first goal, allowing Liverpool to dominate the game.
The team’s performance was far from ideal, and Ten Hag will need to analyze the game thoroughly to identify the problems and find ways to improve before their next match.
Four things Erik ten Hag got horribly wrong as Liverpool demolish disastrous Man Utd 7-0
