Analysis: What are Manchester United’s biggest issues on the pitch?

Manchester United’s flaws were on full show when Liverpool came to town on Sunday. The Red Devils found themselves four nil down at half-time, as the Merseyside team ripped them apart with ease.

The game would go on to finish five nothing, with Paul Pogba handed his marching orders early in the second half after just being introduced to the games.

A chorus of boos rang around Old Trafford at full-time, as the fans that remained let Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his players know their feelings, in United’s heaviest loss at home to Liverpool and their heaviest since 1955 where they lost to neighbours Manchester City without scoring a goal and conceding five+ goals.

The Basics

United have been a victim of themselves this season – with slow starts – failure to capitalise on opportunities and many, many basic defensive errors. The Liverpool game was just a culmination of all of it. Every mistake, every bad thing about this side rocked up and showed out on Sunday.

Now, Liverpool were a level above in the game, and as clinical as they have been all year; the basics may not have saved United, but they’d of most definitely helped them do better.

Liverpool came in with a game plan, and it worked perfectly. Every time they attacked, United were on the back foot, tactically unaware and frankly all over the place. Harry Maguire looked as bad as he has ever done, completely flat-footed with almost no command over the back four at all.

This left him out of position the majority of the time, leaving Victor Lindelof in two minds over who to cover. In turn, this dragged Luke Shaw, who had a torrid time, to have to drift in, leaving mountains of space for Mohammed Salah, which you just cannot do.

This isn’t the only basic mistake United made: they were constantly caught in possession, whether that be at the back, or in midfield – they changed nothing. It’s no secret that Liverpool press you high, and yet United did the same thing time after time, and they were punished mercilessly.

Granted a lot of the players had a horrible day, but the lack of direction and the simple tactical mistakes made was abysmal.

Direction, or lack thereof for the Old Trafford club

Despite being thoroughly blown out of the water, United did have chances in the game and held the ball well at certain points – all be it before they were stung by the counter-attack.

Coming up with some chances is great, but they were bit-part chances and nothing concrete. United look like a team lost in the wasteland; there’s no plan there, just hope that they have the personnel to get the job done.

Bruno Fernandes, United’s most creative player was barely fed the ball, and when he had it, no one seemed bothered to make a run or Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t because he’s just run back 30 yards to retrieve it in midfield. Fred and Scott McTominay could barely hold onto the ball and when they did, they had no options.

It is becoming more and more clear, that it’s more of a reliance on the fact United have these players they believe in, rather than giving them the direction they so dearly crave to flourish the way they can.

Manchester United Getting Exposed

The Red Devil’s bit-part performances have plagued them all season long, and this drubbing was almost predictable. In the UEFA Champions League, United have launched two second-half comebacks to pick up the six points that sees them top of their group.

After poor first halves, OGS has turned to his big guns, and they have saved his side. But just like Manchester hero Paul Scholes said: “Go and do that against Liverpool on Sunday, see what happens”.

Yes, United could do with some extra help in holding midfield, but it is no excuse to be playing with the lack of direction and simple tactics that they have been over the past few games. Teams have worked them out because it’s rather simple.

Ole’s men want to compete for titles and with the money they have spent, they should be competing on all fronts – but they’re getting exposed every week – and it won’t hold up against title rivals like Liverpool, who look light years ahead of them.

What does the loss mean for the Red Devils?

The loss on Sunday means that the Red Devils have just two Premier League wins since the 14th of August and leaves them seventh in the table standings.

OGS said, following the game, that “he has come too far to give up” but this team hasn’t. It has the making of a team that can win things, it has players who can perform and most of the time it is carried by them, not the manager.

United are crying out for some organization and direction, and OGS has to answer those calls. If not, his P45 should be on its way. Each week it becomes more of a question, would he even have been given a chance in the job if he’d never played at Old Trafford? His CV certainly adds to that question, along with what we’re seeing this year.

Manchester United can go a long way should they want to, but to take that step, to clear out the mess and simply put things in place, it will take a change in the hot seat or some big answers.