Man Utd will lose at Anfield but below the surface issue is more concerning

15 December 2023 , 17:30

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Man Utd will lose at Anfield but below the surface issue is more concerning

For Manchester United to finish bottom of a Champions League group behind Galatasaray and Copenhagen is embarrassing. To be out of the title race by mid-December is shocking. And perhaps most damning of all, it wouldn't be a shock if United are beaten convincingly again at Anfield this weekend.

Liverpool and United remain two of the biggest global brands in football, with two of the largest fanbases, but the red-letter days of them being title rivals are long gone. In three of their last four meetings with United, Liverpool have won 4-0, 5-0 and 7-0. It's a far cry from the days of Rafa Benitez trying to outfox Sir Alex Ferguson with his dossier of “facts” in the title race.

Never mind being the best club in the Premier League – right now United are not even the best club in Manchester. Historically and globally, obviously they are still the giants. But contrast their dismal performance in the Champions League with holders Manchester City – played six, won six – and there's no escaping the truth. Manchester is blue.

That's not just based on fortunes at first-team level: It's evident in the alignment (or lack of it) at both clubs, running from the academy to Under-19, Under-21 and Premier League squads. From the youngest age group upwards, City's DNA is evident in the way they play.

Pep Guardiola took City's reserves to Red Star Belgrade in midweek and Micah Hamilton, who was a ballboy at the Etihad six years ago, scored a stunning goal on his debut.

Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash

Man Utd bowed out of Europe with a whimper (Getty Images)

Erik ten Hag, on the other hand, watched United crash out of Europe without a whimper and claimed their performance was “very good.” Last season, they played 62 games in all competitions and only lost 12 of them. They have already lost 12 out of 24 this year, and they are going backwards.

Name me one player signed by Ten Hag whose value has gone UP since joining United. Lisandro Martinez was doing well until he was injured, but Antony, Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund – about £270 million combined – would not fetch as much in the transfer market now.

Micah Hamilton scored his first Man City goal in midweek (ANDREJ CUKIC/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Antony has made 17 appearances this season for no goals and no assists. Marcus Rashford has scored two goals and provided four assists. Alejandro Garnacho scored a goal of the century contender at Everton but three goals and one assist overall is a poor return.

The output from those three forwards combined is simply not enough. At times it looks like they are playing for themselves. There is no structure. Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £1.4 billion buy-in can't come soon enough because United's recruitment strategy since Fergie retired has been scattergun where Pep's shopping has usually been spot-on.

I know there are clouds on the horizon with City facing 115 Premier League charges, but here and now on the pitch the evidence is overwhelming. City are a club in perfect alignment from top to bottom, United have lost their identity on the pitch.

Man City can now attract the best young talent (Getty Images)

I'm a football addict and I watch every football match I can find on TV – including City's youth teams, MUTV, Premier League 2 games and other club channels. United have had a proud history of producing home-grown talent since the Busby Babes era. From Paul McGuinness to current academy director Nick Cox, who continues to do a great job unearthing young prospects, they are still a hotbed of young talent and United won the FA Youth Cup 18 months ago.

But there is a lack of alignment higher up the food chain and, even at youth team level, City can now attract the best youngsters where United once cornered that market. City have won the Under-23 Premier League 2 competition for the last three years, as well as the main title, so the conveyor belt is running smoothly.

But we still don't know what Ten Hag's team stands for – whether it's pressing, counter-attacking, low block or high-tempo. So I don't hold out much hope of United reasserting themselves as top dogs in Manchester overnight.

Their away record at the top teams under Ten Hag is shocking, and it would be a major surprise if United came away from Anfield with anything on Sunday.

Robbie Savage