Erik ten Hag is once again under intense pressure at Manchester United after failing his first major test since the club chose to retain him as manager. United suffered a crushing 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, leaving them in 14th place in the Premier League just three games into the season.
Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of United, was visibly frustrated, with his head in his hands as he watched the team repeat familiar mistakes against their long-time rivals. Ten Hag's side initially matched Liverpool for the first 30 minutes, but errors from Casemiro and sharp finishing by Luis Diaz put the visitors firmly in control by halftime.
Mohamed Salah added a third goal in the 56th minute, and Liverpool coasted to victory as the Old Trafford stands emptied. For United's fans, who have endured years of disappointment since Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, this performance felt like another chapter in the club's ongoing struggle with mediocrity, despite numerous changes in management and players.
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Ten Hag, who was given a contract extension in July after United briefly considered other options, now faces renewed scrutiny. His job was saved by United's FA Cup final victory against Manchester City in May, but Sunday's defeat, following a last-minute win against Fulham and a loss to Brighton, has put him back on the defensive.
"It's only the third game of the season, and we need to build a new team," said the 54-year-old Dutchman. "I've said it many times: we're building something new with young players and fresh talent. We clearly need to improve, but I'm confident we’ll have a strong chance to win another trophy by the end of the season."
Ten Hag can cite some mitigating factors—new midfield signing Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain was unavailable, and other key players like defender Leny Yoro, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, and Rasmus Hojlund are injured. However, United looked out of ideas and lacked quality against a Liverpool side that has won all three of their Premier League games under new manager Arne Slot.
Casemiro, a former Real Madrid star, was at fault for both of Diaz’s goals and was substituted at halftime. Marcus Rashford also struggled, appearing low on form and confidence. The lack of depth in United's squad was evident as Ten Hag had to rely on 20-year-old Toby Collyer, who was making his Premier League debut.
Ten Hag asked for patience regarding Ugarte’s integration into the team. "We need time to build him into the squad," he said. "I’m not a magician; you have to understand that. Manuel Ugarte hasn’t played a single minute this season."
While it remains unclear if United regrets their decision to stick with Ten Hag, former club captain Gary Neville, now a Sky Sports pundit, believes the Dutchman will be given until Christmas to turn things around. "Now is the time for calm," Neville said. "The international break has come at the right time for United. But Ten Hag must have the team challenging for a Champions League spot by Christmas, or he’ll be in serious trouble."
The international break provides some respite for Ten Hag, with United’s next match scheduled at Southampton on September 14. However, the manager faces a challenging task as he works to find solutions and stop the team’s downward spiral.
