SBOTOP: Fans Boo as Liverpool Humiliate Red Devils at Old Trafford

Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday was a day to forget for both the team and their under-fire manager, Erik ten Hag. Booed by the Old Trafford faithful at half-time, full-time, and even during the match, United’s performance left much to be desired. As Liverpool dominated from start to finish, the defeat not only highlighted United’s current struggles but also cast a dark shadow over Ten Hag’s reign at the club.

A Disastrous Start

From the first whistle, it was clear that Manchester United were in for a tough afternoon. Liverpool, led by the tactical acumen of Arne Slot, took control of the game early on, pressing high and forcing United into mistakes. The home side struggled to find any rhythm, with misplaced passes and defensive errors gifting Liverpool opportunities.

Liverpool’s opening goal came in the 12th minute, and it set the tone for the rest of the match. A well-worked move down the right saw Mohamed Salah, who has consistently tormented United in recent years, deliver a pinpoint cross into the box. Cody Gakpo, left unmarked, calmly slotted the ball past a helpless Andre Onana, silencing the Old Trafford crowd.

The second goal followed just 10 minutes later, with United’s defense once again failing to deal with Liverpool’s relentless pressure. This time, it was Diogo Jota who found the back of the net, taking advantage of a deflected clearance that fell perfectly at his feet. As Jota celebrated in front of the travelling Liverpool fans, the boos started to echo around Old Trafford.

The Boos Grow Louder

By the time the half-time whistle blew, United were two goals down and facing a mountain to climb. The frustration among the fans was palpable, with boos ringing out as the players trudged off the pitch. It was a stark contrast to the optimism that had greeted Ten Hag’s appointment just a season ago, with many now questioning whether the Dutchman is the right man to lead United back to glory.

The second half offered little respite for United. Any hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed when Liverpool scored their third goal just after the hour mark. Salah, once again the architect, played a perfectly weighted through ball to Darwin Nunez, who made no mistake in finishing past Onana. At 3-0, the game was effectively over, and the sight of United fans streaming out of the stadium before the final whistle was a damning indictment of the team’s performance.

“It Could Have Been 5-0”

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, who was providing commentary on the match, didn’t hold back in his assessment of the game. “Liverpool could have been 5-0 up since they went 3-0 up,” Neville remarked, emphasizing just how dominant the visitors were. Indeed, Liverpool had several chances to add to their tally, with only some last-ditch defending and a couple of saves from Onana preventing further embarrassment for United.

Ten Hag Under Fire

For Erik ten Hag, the loss to Liverpool represents a new low in what has been a difficult start to the season. After a promising debut season in which he led United to a top-four finish and the Carabao Cup, the Dutchman now finds himself in the unenviable position of having to turn things around quickly to avoid a full-blown crisis.

Ten Hag’s tactical decisions have come under scrutiny, with many questioning his choice of lineup and substitutions. The decision to leave key players like Casemiro and Raphael Varane on the bench was particularly puzzling, and United’s lack of cohesion on the pitch suggests that the manager’s ideas are not translating into results.