Liverpool maintained their flawless start under new manager Arne Slot as they outclassed a woeful Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The visitors were on a different level, delivering a performance so comprehensive that it will undoubtedly bring renewed scrutiny on United’s Erik ten Hag, who survived a summer review to win a new contract following last season’s FA Cup victory.
The Reds have hardly missed a beat since Slot replaced Jürgen Klopp, securing three straight Premier League wins without conceding a single goal. This performance at Old Trafford was, by far, their most impressive display under the new management.
From the outset, Liverpool looked the superior side. Trent Alexander-Arnold had an early goal disallowed for offside, but it was clear that Liverpool was in control. The breakthrough came when Luis Díaz scored twice in quick succession just before halftime, putting Liverpool in complete command.
Casemiro, who had a nightmare first half, was the culprit for both of Díaz’s goals. The Brazilian midfielder lost possession twice, leading to Liverpool’s first goal after 35 minutes when Díaz headed home a cross from Mohamed Salah at the far post. Just seven minutes later, Díaz struck again, this time sweeping in Salah’s pass in front of the Stretford End, leaving Manchester United with a mountain to climb.
Liverpool’s dominance continued in the second half, with Mohamed Salah, inevitably, getting in on the act. The Egyptian forward scored his 12th goal in 15 appearances against Manchester United, beating Andre Onana from a pass by Dominik Szoboszlai after 56 minutes to seal the victory.
While United had a few opportunities, mainly through Joshua Zirkzee, these were rare moments in an otherwise one-sided affair. Liverpool’s defense remained solid, with only occasional moments of anxiety, as they firmly put Ten Hag’s side in their place.
Ten Hag: I’m not Harry Potter
After the match, Erik ten Hag faced the media in what became a tense news conference. Defending his record, Ten Hag emphasized the challenges of integrating new signings so early in the season. He admitted that the team must improve but assured fans that they have a “big chance” to lift another trophy by the end of the campaign. “It’s just the third game of the season, we have to build a new team,” Ten Hag said. “I explained this so many times. We will build it. We have young players and players to build in. Today we had three players who started for the first time this season. We will be fine. It is clear we have to improve, but at the end of the season, I am confident we will have a big chance to lift another trophy.”
Ten Hag was forced to substitute Casemiro at halftime after the Brazilian midfielder made two costly errors that led to goals for Luis Díaz. New £50 million signing Manuel Ugarte was watching from the stands after being presented on the pitch before kick-off, and Ten Hag admitted that the Uruguayan will need time to get up to speed. “So this is another one, we have to build him into the team,” Ten Hag said. “It will take time, so it’s not like I’m Harry Potter. That is what you have to acknowledge. And if you see Manuel Ugarte, he didn’t play so far in the season. Not one match minute. He needs to build his fitness, and then we have to build him in the team.”
A defiant Ten Hag also rejected suggestions that his team continues to be punished for familiar mistakes. “Maybe you can explain to me which mistakes,” he replied. “You are sure? I don’t think so, otherwise, you wouldn’t win trophies as we have. I am sorry for you. I think we won after [Manchester] City the most trophies in English football in the last two years, so I am sorry for you. There are [positives], but I don’t want to talk about this. It hurts, it hurts especially for our fans. We have to be humble and move on.”
Man United CEO Omar Berrada: Erik ten Hag has our full backing
Manchester United’s CEO, Omar Berrada, reiterated the club’s support for Erik ten Hag despite the disappointing result. “Erik has our full backing, and we have worked very closely together in this transfer window,” Berrada said. “We’re going to continue working very closely with him to help him get the best results out of the team. Do we still believe in Erik? Absolutely. We think Erik is the right coach for us, and we’re fully backing him.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his position following the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in May, Ten Hag played a central role in the club’s recruitment over the summer. Close to £200 million has been spent on five new players, including Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee, and Manuel Ugarte.
Ten Hag, who is starting his third season at Old Trafford, called for patience after the defeat to Liverpool on Sunday. Sporting director Dan Ashworth also acknowledged that it will take time to see results but expressed satisfaction with the squad assembled during the first transfer window under his guidance. “I like the squad, I have to say,” Ashworth said. “I probably would say that after the business we’ve done in the summer. I’ve probably done 25 windows now and been doing this for a fair period of time. I don’t think there’s ever been a window where we’ve gone, ‘Oh God, it’s gone absolutely perfectly, we’ve done every single in, we’ve done every single out we wanted to do.’ There are always bits. But in the main, the target positions we wanted to strengthen, the players we’ve brought in, the depth and options when everybody is fully fit that Erik has, and we have as a club, I’m pleased with that.”
Ashworth and Berrada have been part of a summer of change at United, which also included the arrival of Jason Wilcox as technical director and Ruud van Nistelrooy and René Hake as assistant managers. This upheaval has created more uncertainty around Ten Hag’s job, but Ashworth said he has quickly developed a good working relationship with the former Ajax boss. “I’ve really enjoyed working with Erik for the last eight weeks,” Ashworth added. “I see my job as supporting him in every way I possibly can, whether that’s operationally, with recruitment, medical, psychology, or training ground flow. It’s just to take as much of that off him to allow him to fully focus on the training pitch and the match tactical plan to deliver success for Manchester United.”
‘Biggest heart’ – Casemiro’s wife hits back after criticism
Casemiro’s performance, in particular, came under intense scrutiny following the defeat. There were even claims that the Brazilian midfielder left Old Trafford at the break, though Ten Hag refuted these rumors. In defense of her husband, Casemiro’s wife, Anna Mariana, took to Instagram to remind critics of his illustrious career. She posted a picture of his impressive collection of silverware, which includes five Champions League titles with Real Madrid, three La Liga titles, and, most recently, the FA Cup with Manchester United. In another post, she shared a picture of the 32-year-old celebrating with his teammates, writing: “Always strong Casemiro, the biggest (flaming heart emoji).”
Casemiro was replaced at halftime by 20-year-old Toby Collyer, who made his United debut. Explaining his decision, Ten Hag said, “We had to take risks because we want to bounce back, and you need players in midfield to cover ground. Therefore, we put Toby Collyer on the pitch. I think that in football everyone has to take responsibility. I’m sure he is a great character, and he won everything in his career that you can imagine. I am sure he will keep contributing to our team, and Casemiro is always winning, so he will be there.”
It seems a long time since Casemiro texted his agent following Manchester United’s four-goal hammering at Brentford in August 2022 to say he would “fix” the problems at Old Trafford. After a decent first season, his form has dramatically declined. By the end of last season, Casemiro had lost his place in the starting lineup.
The exact reason for his absence from United’s FA Cup final matchday squad for their 2-1 win over Manchester City was never properly explained. However, it is understood that after being dropped to the bench at Wembley by Ten Hag, the midfielder informed his boss that he was not fit enough to be involved.
Casemiro was present on the pitch for the post-match celebrations and briefly attended the party that followed, but he quickly left with his family to begin their summer break. He had also been dropped by Brazil from their Copa America squad.
A summer move to the Saudi Pro-League was anticipated for Casemiro, but a deal did not materialize. The Brazilian returned for pre-season training, looked fit, and performed reasonably well during United’s tour of the United States. He started in the Community Shield loss to Manchester City in August and has also started all three Premier League games this season.
Club sources stress that Casemiro remains an example to younger members of the squad. Although not fluent in English, he communicates effectively, trains hard, and, aside from occasional flare-ups like the cup final issue, is a positive influence off the pitch. Club officials were quick to dismiss social media claims that Casemiro left Old Trafford early on Sunday, and Ten Hag confirmed that the Brazilian was present in the dressing room after the final whistle.
However, the decision to substitute Casemiro at halftime, and the introduction of Toby Collyer to provide a more mobile presence in central midfield, spoke volumes about the current state of the Brazilian’s form.
In his prime, Casemiro was one of the most effective defensive midfielders of his generation, and as his wife pointed out, he has won every major honor in European football. Whether United can continue to accommodate a player whose mobility is rapidly declining remains to be seen.
Liverpool’s commanding victory at Old Trafford has further reinforced their status as early title contenders under Arne Slot. Slot, who has enjoyed a seamless transition into the role after Jürgen Klopp’s departure, has quickly implemented his footballing philosophy, turning Liverpool into a formidable force once again. His tactical acumen and ability to get the best out of his players were on full display in this dominant performance.
As for Manchester United, their struggles continue as they search for answers and improvements in the coming weeks. Erik ten Hag’s future remains a topic of intense speculation, but with the support of the club’s hierarchy, he will be given time to turn things around. Whether he can do so remains the big question, especially after such a humbling defeat at the hands of one of their fiercest rivals.
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