Manchester United finds themselves in a downward spiral this season, having suffered defeats in 12 out of 24 matches across all competitions. Their Champions League campaign ended on a dismal note as they finished at the bottom of their group, thereby missing out on even competing in the Europa League.
The mounting pressure on United’s manager Erik Ten Hag has reached a critical juncture, and the upcoming clash against rivals Liverpool may prove to be the decisive factor. Notably, this fixture in 2018 marked the end of Jose Mourinho’s tenure, despite his previous success with Manchester United.
Manchester United’s defensive vulnerabilities have been glaring, with a recent statistic revealing that they conceded 15 goals in the Champions League group stage— the highest by any Premier League side in the competition’s history. Under Ten Hag’s management, the defensive unit has appeared disorganized, with constant changes in center-back pairings.
The inclusion of goalkeeper Andre Onana, formerly of Inter Milan, has also posed significant challenges. Communication gaps between Onana and the defense have been evident, and his performance has raised questions about his goalkeeping techniques, with Opta noting that he has made more errors leading to goals than any other goalkeeper in the Champions League since 2018/19.
The striker position has been another area of concern, despite the acquisition of Rasmus Højlund from Atalanta. While Højlund has shown promise in the Champions League, his lack of goals in the Premier League has raised concerns. Curious decisions by Ten Hag, such as benching Højlund in favor of Antony Martial, have left fans puzzled, especially given Martial’s underwhelming performance over the years.
The team’s inconsistency further compounds their challenges, evident in a defeat to Newcastle followed by a victory against Chelsea and another loss to Bournemouth. As they face the prospect of a trip to Anfield, memories of their 7-0 defeat in the previous encounter at the venue loom large, adding to the pressure on the players and coaching staff.
