Just 16 days into the new season, Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United project is already on shaky ground.
A 3-0 defeat to Liverpool highlighted significant issues, with two losses in three Premier League games leaving United in a tough spot ahead of the international break.
The match against Liverpool exposed failures across the team, notably with Casemiro, whose mistakes led to two Luis Díaz goals.
His struggles symbolized broader problems, as United had only one senior holding midfielder available for the match. Despite signing Manuel Ugarte for £42m, his late arrival meant he was ineligible to play.
Joshua Zirkzee, making his first start, missed key chances, while André Onana struggled with his distribution.
Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes were ineffective, and Marcus Rashford’s continued poor form is a major concern.
Rashford, who hasn’t scored in 245 minutes, is far from his peak, leaving Ten Hag with much to consider before United’s next match against Southampton.
As United stumbles early, the team and its manager must regroup quickly to avoid a repeat of last season’s struggles.
