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Manchester United conceded late on again, this time against Liverpool as their Premier League game at Old Trafford finished 2-2 on Sunday.
It was the visitors who took the lead as Luis Diaz scored from a set-piece and they had multiple opportunities to take an even greater lead into half-time but failed to capitalise.
United then produced two moments of magic through skipper Bruno Fernandes and midfield sensation Kobbie Mainoo to grab an unlikely lead before Aaron Wan-Bissaka conceded a penalty which allowed Mohamed Salah to equalise in the 84th minute.
Manager Erik ten Hag can point to the scoreline at the end of the game but the fact remains it was the team from Merseyside who dominated the encounter.
Individual brilliance
Jurgen Klopp’s side had 28 shots compared to United’s nine while having 63 percent of the possession. It was individual brilliance that saved the Dutchman.
Not many players in the league can score from a first-time volley over the keeper from close to the halfway line but the Portuguese did just that to bring parity to the Red Devils.
And then, the best player this season curled in an incredible second. And soon after that, the Dutchman decided to try and shut shop, a tactic that has hardly served the team well.
Every time Liverpool attacked, they never had to worry about bypassing the midfield and there was no resistance, in what was another example of the worrying aspect of how the manager’s high-transition chaos ball does not work.
Casemiro was practically non-existent in defensive midfield while Marcus Rashford looks like he stopped trying long ago. How the coaches can look at that defensive shape and still persist with it is beyond logic at this stage.
Poor league finish on the cards
Since Liverpool are comfortable playing on the break, there seemed to be more chances for United but except for a period after the first goal from the skipper, it never felt like the 20-time English league champions were dominating.
And currently based on form, the best United can aim to achieve is win the FA Cup as in the league, they will find it difficult to hold on to sixth place. Forget the fight for a Champions League spot, the team needs to worry about qualifying for Europe.
A lot of these players have given up in the past and without the necessary motivation, things could unravel pretty quickly.
West Ham United, Newcastle United and Chelsea are all within three points and an embarrassing top-flight finish could be on the cards. The lowest United have finished in the Premier League era is seventh and that record looks in danger.
Playing academy youngsters might not be the worst shout at this stage with INEOS having the huge decision on their hands regarding the manager’s future.
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