5 talking points as Manchester United problems exposed by Liverpool in pre-season clash – Eric Ten Hag future hanging
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Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool highlights and reaction as pre-season tour ends in defeat
Man United were beaten 3-0 by Liverpool in their final game of their pre-season tour of the United States in South Carolina in the early hours of Sunday morning.
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by Samuel Luckhurst, George Smith
Updated03:45, 4 Aug 2024
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Manchester United brought their pre-season tour of the United States to a close with a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at the Williams-Brice Stadium in South Carolina.
Despite enjoying the best of the chances in the first half, United found themselves 2-0 down at the interval as a result of goals from Fabio Carvalho and Curtis Jones.
The Reds continued to probe after the break, with Amad often pulling the strings, but Liverpool added a third goal via left-back Konstantinos Tsimikas with 61 minutes on the clock.
United, following that third goal, suffered yet another injury blow, losing substitute Will Fish, who had stepped off the bench at half-time. He was stretchered off wearing a protective boot.
Focus for United now switches to next Saturday’s clash with Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley.
You can recap how the match unfolded by checking out the live blog below:
Key Events
REPORT: Casemiro and Ten Hag reactions highlight United squad issues in Liverpool defeat
03:00
PLAYER RATINGS: Casemiro struggles as United beaten by Liverpool
02:47
FULL-TIME: MUN 0-3 LIV – United end the tour with a defeat
02:38
61′ – MUN 0-3 LIV – GOAL LIVERPOOL! (Tsimikas)
02:07
Half-time player ratings as Rashford looks sharp
01:33
HALF-TIME: MUN 0-2 LIV – United have work to do
01:31
36′ – MUN 0-2 LIV – LIVERPOOL GOAL! (Jones)
01:22
10′ – MUN 0-1 LIV – LIVERPOOL GOAL! (Carvalho)
00:55
1′ – MUN 0-0 LIV – KICK-OFF!
00:45
TEAM NEWS | UNITED STARTING XI
23:36
03:45George Smith
That’s a wrap!
We’re calling time on our live coverage of United’s final pre-season friendly of their US tour here, folks.
A massive thank you to those of you who have stopped up late to follow our coverage, both tonight and against Arsenal and Real Betis as well. It is appreciated.
Continue to check the MEN website for more reaction and analysis following United’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool.
03:00Key Event
REPORT: Casemiro and Ten Hag reactions highlight United squad issues in Liverpool defeat
The Erik ten Hag era at Manchester United began with a 4-0 friendly victory against Liverpool two years ago in Bangkok. The scoreboard in South Carolina was almost the reverse.
The upgrade in opposition after the enterprising win against Real Betis resulted in a clinical Liverpool exposing United’s glaring squad issues. The absence of a proven goalscorer, problematic throughout last season, cost United in a game they dominated for large swathes.
United are without Rasmus Hojlund until September yet they have invested more than £100million in two strikers with identically modest goalscoring records. Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are of the potential variety, rather than proven. Zirkzee, not even on tour, is already under mounting pressure to hit the ground running ahead of his possible debut in the Community Shield against Manchester City on Saturday.
Click here to read Samuel Luckhurst’s match report in full.
02:47Key Event
PLAYER RATINGS: Casemiro struggles as United beaten by Liverpool
United were beaten 3-0 by Liverpool in their final game of the US pre-season tour.
Here is a flavour of how chief United writer Samuel Luckhurst rated the players out of 10…
Andre Onana
Beaten by a deflected goal for the opener and could do little about the second. Attempted to be proactive on the ball. 6
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Usual performance of relative defensive competence and attacking incompetence. Scooped one cross over everyone. 5
Victor Lindelof
More minutes for a centre back United want to sell before the end of the month. Not a particularly convincing 45 minutes. 5
Click here to read Samuel’s ratings in full.
(Image: Grant Halverson/Getty Images.)
02:38Key Event
FULL-TIME: MUN 0-3 LIV – United end the tour with a defeat
It’s all over at the Williams-Brice Stadium, and so is United’s pre-season tour of the United States.
They have been beaten 3-0 by Liverpool. Fabio Carvalho, Curtis Jones and Konstantinos Tsimikas got the goals for the Merseysiders.
United had plenty of chances but were simply nowhere near as clinical.
Next up is the Community Shield against Manchester City at Wembley in less than a week’s time.
(Image: 2024 Manchester United FC)
02:35George Smith
90′ – MUN 0-3 LIV – Into the closing stages
We have entered the final moments of this game now.
02:31George Smith
85′ – MUN 0-3 LIV – Attendance confirmed
It has been announced that 77,559 people are in attendance at the Williams-Brice Stadium tonight. It is the biggest crowd for a football match in North or South Carolina.
02:29George Smith
83′ – MUN 0-3 LIV – Another United change
With less than 10 minutes to go, another United change has been made with Aaron Wan-Bissaka being replaced by James Scanlon.
Wan-Bissaka walked off the pitch unaided after the United medical staff had come onto the pitch to attend to him.
02:27George Smith
80′ – MUN 0-3 LIV – Into the final 10 minutes
We have entered the final 10 minutes at the Williams-Brice Stadium.
A United comeback is somewhat unlikely now.
(Image: 2024 Manchester United FC)
02:23George Smith
78′ – MUN 0-3 LIV – Casemiro at centre-back
Casemiro, following the exit of Will Fish to injury, is now at centre-back. United are down to the bare bones in the heart of the defence once again.
02:19George Smith
73′ MUN 0-3 LIV – Triple United change
Erik ten Hag has made three more changes.
OFF: Fish, Amass, Sancho
ON: Oyedele, Murray, Mather
02:18George Smith
72′ – MUN 0-3 LIV – Fish carried off
Will Fish has been carried off the pitch on a stretcher with his right leg strapped in a protective boot. Erik ten Hag went onto the pitch to speak to him.
02:15George Smith
70′ – MUN 0-3 LIV – Fish down
United centre-back Will Fish is currently down on the deck after taking a bash to his ankle. He is receiving treatment from the medics.
02:10George Smith
62′ – MUN 0-3 LIV – Triple United change
Erik ten Hag has made a handful of changes.
OFF: Collyer, Mount, Amad
ON: Eriksen, Antony, Wheatley
02:07Key Event
61′ – MUN 0-3 LIV – GOAL LIVERPOOL! (Tsimikas)
Liverpool add a third to their tally. Left-back Konstantinos Tsimikas scores from about a yard out after Andre Onana failed to hold onto a shot from Diogo Jota.
With VAR, however, it would have been chalked off for offside.
01:59George Smith
53′ – MUN 0-2 LIV – Superb from Amass
A terrific tackle from Harry Amass inside the penalty area prevents Mohamed Salah from getting a shot away. A seaoned left-back would have been happy with that one.
01:55George Smith
50′ – MUN 0-2 LIV – Casemiro draws a save
Excellent work from Amad to drive United up the pitch. He loses possession, the ball lands at the feet of Jadon Sancho, who tees up Casemiro, and the Brazilian drives a tame effort towards goal. It was an easy save for Liverpool substitute goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros.
01:52George Smith
48′ – MUN 0-2 LIV – How United shape up
Following three half-time changes, this is how United are currently looking on the field: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Fish, Bennett, Amass; Casemiro, Collyer, Mount; Amad, McTominay, Sancho.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have also made a cluster of changes.
01:50George Smith
46′ – MUN 0-2 LIV – Second half kicks-off
We are back under way at the Williams-Brice Stadium.
United have made three changes at the break, which are as follows:
ON: Fish, Bennett, McTominay
OFF: Lindelof, Evans, Rashford
01:48George Smith
HT’ – Players coming back out
The players are coming back out for the start of the second half. The restart is moments away.
01:33Key Event
Half-time player ratings as Rashford looks sharp
Here is how Samuel Luckhurst rated United’s players out of 10 following the first 45 minutes at the Williams-Brice Stadium…
Onana
The defence was too loose for both goals. 6
Wan-Bissaka
Okay in defence, not okay in attack. 6
Evans
Uncomfortable half. 5
Lindelof
Similar to Evans. 5
Amass
Won a duel with Salah. 6
Collyer
An impressive half was blemished by his part in Jones’s goal. 6
Casemiro
Better at attacking than defending. 5
Amad
Quietest half of the tour by far. 5
Mount
Had two good chances. 6
Rashford
Sharp and often a threat. 6
Sancho
Not as effective as against Betis. 5
01:31Key Event
HALF-TIME: MUN 0-2 LIV – United have work to do
The half-time whistle blows at the Williams-Brice Stadium and United find themselves 2-0 down at the interval.
Fabio Carvalho and Curtis Jones have given Arne Slot’s side the advantage after the opening 45 minutes.
01:24Samuel Luckhurst
39′ – MUN 0-2 LIV – Collyer will learn from that error
That’s a harsh lesson for Toby Collyer but an invaluable one. It is good for youngsters to make mistakes in these games as they will learn from them. His pass was loose and then Salah was too cute for him.
01:22Key Event
36′ – MUN 0-2 LIV – LIVERPOOL GOAL! (Jones)
Liverpool double their lead through Curtis Jones. Mohamed Salah shrugs off Toby Collyer on the right flank, has acres of space to deliver a low cross and Jones, arriving in the six-yard box, beats Aaron Wan-Bissaka to the ball and slides it home. He couldn’t miss.
01:19George Smith
34′ – MUN 0-1 LIV – United look suspect defensively
As good as United have been in an attacking sense so far, they have been slightly suspect defensively. The goal they conceded was poor and there have been one too many moments of hesitancy.
As a caveat, however, the current back-four is by no means their strongest. It is made up of a right-back who is poised to join West Ham United, a centre-back they actively want to sell, a 36-year-old and a 17-year-old who is yet to make his senior debut in competitive football.
They are missing the likes of Diogo Dalot and Lisandro Martinez.
01:11Samuel Luckhurst
27′ – MUN 0-1 LIV – Rashford causing problems
There have been some flashes of lightning in the distance and there are sparks on the pitch, too. Marcus Rashford has been sharp again and has gone close a couple of times. United have played quite well, despite the scoreline. They must have had four or five decent chances and Caoimhin Kelleher has been the busier of the keepers.
01:10George Smith
24′ – MUN 0-1 LIV – Rashford denied
United, despite trailing, have been really impressive in an attacking sense. They have produced some brilliant approach play and Marcus Rashford is causing a lot of problems.
Moments after being denied by a brilliant save from Caoimhin Kelleher, he drags an effort wide of the target. Erik ten Hag, generally speaking, will be pleased with what he’s seen for the most part.
01:04Samuel Luckhurst
17′ – MUN 0-1 LIV – Wan-Bissaka needs offloading
Some United staff are sat behind us and required their poker face for that Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross. It is a failing of the club they spent £50million on him a year after getting Diogo Dalot for £19m. It’s an issue for United that someone who should be sold by the end of the month will probably start the month against City in the Community Shield.
01:00Samuel Luckhurst
15′ – MUN 0-1 LIV – Casemiro is better going forward
As good as Casemiro was against Betis, it was meaningless as there was one intense team for the majority of that game. The playing field has been levelled for this game and we have seen that from Casemiro in a competitive match (Palace away).
He is arguably a better attacking than defensive midfielder these days, as he demonstrated with that defence-splitting pass for Mason Mount.
00:59George Smith
14′ – MUN 0-1 LIV – Rashford goes close
United go close again, this time through Marcus Rashford. He bends a shot just wide of the far post after a loose Liverpool pass was intercepted. United will find it hard to believe they are behind.
00:58George Smith
13′ – MUN 0-1 LIV – Mount denied again
Mason Mount must be wondering how he hasn’t scored in this game. He latches onto an excellent pass over the top from Casemiro and he is quickly closed down by Caoimhin Kelleher, who makes the save.
00:55Key Event
10′ – MUN 0-1 LIV – LIVERPOOL GOAL! (Carvalho)
United will not want to see that again. Fabio Carvalho’s deflected effort from inside the box finds a way past Andre Onana and Liverpool lead. He made the most of some very slack United defending with that one.
00:54Samuel Luckhurst
8′ – MUN 0-0 LIV – Kelleher called into action
Excellent from Toby Collyer again. He read the play well there and picked the right pass for Mason Mount. United need some energy in midfield and to bring down the average age of that department and Collyer has contributed plenty over the last month. The team against Betis was rotated but the XI tonight feels like the strongest available to Erik ten Hag.
00:52George Smith
5′ – MUN 0-0 LIV – Amad is feeling confident
After scoring two excellent goals against Rangers and Real Betis so far this pre-season, you cannot begrudge Amad having a go.
After collecting the ball on the right-wing, he moved inside onto his favoured left foot and fired a shot miles over the bar. It was nowhere near the goal and Marcus Rashford’s reaction suggested he felt Amad should have switched the play to him.
00:48Samuel Luckhurst
3′ – MUN 0-0 LIV – The ball is moving nicely
The sky is a lot clearer now the players are on the pitch. Some patches of the pitch look quite sodden but the ball is rolling okay so far.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been off the ball a couple of times already. Under the old regime, he’d have probably banked a new six-year contract last year.
00:45Key Event
1′ – MUN 0-0 LIV – KICK-OFF!
We are up and running at the Williams-Brice Stadium. United, as we look, are kicking from right to left in this first half.
00:40George Smith
Here come the teams
The two sets of players have emerged from the tunnel at the Williams-Brice Stadium. Kick-off is now just minutes away.
Stay tuned to this live blog for regular updates.
00:35George Smith
Ten minutes until kick-off
The countdown to kick-off at the Williams-Brice Stadium in South Carolina is almost over.
The national anthem has just been performed and we are almost ready to go.
If this contest is as half as entertaining as the one that was served up between United and Real Betis in San Diego a few days ago, it is doubtful we’ll be left disappointed.
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
00:30George Smith
Four players missing from the matchday squad
Of the 29 players that Erik ten Hag took to the United States with him, 25 of them have made the matchday squad this evening.
Harry Maguire has joined Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund in missing out, being left out of the squad tonight as a precaution. Goalkeeper Dermot Mee has also failed to make the cut.
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
00:21George Smith
Ten Hag confirms Maguire decision
United manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed Harry Maguire has been left out of the matchday squad this evening as a precaution.
United were already light on numbers at centre-back after Leny Yoro suffered an injury last weekend and Lisandro Martinez did not travel to the United States after representing Argentina at the Copa America.
Ten Hag told MUTV:
“Pre-season is always tough. Harry Maguire, as a precaution, we have left him out. We, of course, have some injuries that we have picked up, but that is top football. We have to develop our team and we have made some good progression. I am sure Liverpool will demand much more from us, so much more intensity. that is a really good step forward and a test forward and after tonight we will learn a lot more.”
(Image: MUTV.)
00:10George Smith
Cole challenges Sancho to make his mark
Speaking ahead of kick-off in South Carolina this evening, former United striker Andy Cole has challenged Jadon Sancho to get his Old Trafford career back on track.
Sancho is starting for the second game running this evening and will be determined to put himself in contention to start the Community Shield at Wembley next weekend.
Cole told MUTV:
“We all know that he is very talented and we all know that he has got the ability. Coming to United is totally different to playing for Borussia Dortmund. He had a tough season last season, went out on loan, played in the Champions League final and I think he proved to everyone that he can play the game. Now he has got the opportunity to come back. He just needs to go and enjoy himself and do what he did at Dortmund and show why United paid that money for him. That is the way I view it. The manager has opened the door and let him back in; crack on and do your best.”
(Image: 2024 Manchester United FC)
00:00Samuel Luckhurst
United still have work to do in the transfer window
Looking ahead to the Community Shield, Andre Onana, Harry Amass, Casemiro, Amad, Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount and Jadon Sancho could all feasibly start that. So could Aaron Wan-Bissaka, even though his bags are probably packed for a return to London.
United have still got a lot of work to do with their squad management. At least three of the starters tonight need to be sold by August 30 and the squad has not gone through enough changes after the team finished eighth and bottom of their Champions League group last season.
The FA Cup win was a tremendous day for United but players out here have spoken about how it’s not good enough and they’re right.
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
23:50Samuel Luckhurst
The rain has stopped
As is often the case in this part of the world, the rain has halted now it is evening time. The skyline still looks quite menacing but both sets of players are on the pitch and the stadium is filling up, so hopefully the game is not in jeopardy. The weather forecast has also vanished from the big screen.
United partly chose the Williams-Brice Stadium as it is a natural grass pitch. The pitch in Los Angeles was specifically cultivated the game as it is usually artificial due to NFL teams playing there.
(Image: Nikki Dyer – LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images.)
23:45George Smith
TEAM NEWS | LIVERPOOL STARTING XI
Here is a quick glance at how Liverpool line up for tonight’s friendly. Big-name forwards Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota are among the starters.
It is, however, a very youthful-looking bench for Arne Slot’s side.
23:40Samuel Luckhurst
Maguire missing as a precaution
Harry Maguire is not in the squad as a precautionary measure. United staff said Marcus Rashford only got a knock against Betis and Erik ten Hag said he would not risk him, so he must be well in the clear.
Harry Amass and Toby Collyer deserve their starting roles. Both have done really well during pre-season.
(Image: Getty)
23:36Key Event
TEAM NEWS | UNITED STARTING XI
United starting XI vs Liverpool: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Evans, Amass; Casemiro, Collyer, Mount; Amad, Sancho, Rashford.
Substitutes: Heaton, Vitek, Bennett, Fish, Murray, J.Fletcher, Eriksen, Hannibal, Mather, McTominay, Oyedele, Scanlon, Antony, Wheatley.
(Image: 2024 Manchester United FC)
23:30George Smith
Fans are gathering
Ahead of tonight’s game, United supporters are gathering outside the Williams-Brice Stadium in South Carolina.
As Samuel said earlier on, this is new territory for United and they will be keen to impress their army of fans in this part of the world.
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
23:15George Smith
Ten Hag’s record vs Liverpool
Since taking over as United manager in 2022, Erik ten Hag has faced Liverpool five times in competitive fixtures, losing just once.
That defeat, however, was the 7-0 annihilat
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