- Three of Manchester United’s summer signings started in the 3-0 win over Liverpool
- Manuel Ugarte was the one they needed the most, although he was sitting in the stands
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Erik ten Hag poured £100m into his line-up for new signings, but at the end of another painful and punishing defeat to Liverpool it looked like the man Manchester United really needed was the one sitting in the stands at Old Trafford.
Manuel Ugarte was paraded onto the pitch to rapturous applause before kick-off, with Paris Saint-Germain’s new £50.5m midfielder having to sit and watch helplessly from the directors’ box as Liverpool mercilessly spoiled United’s party.
Ugarte was signed too late on the final day of the transfer deadline to be eligible for a game. Given that he has not played for PSG this season while his move to United was being negotiated, it is unlikely that Ten Hag would have started him anyway.
But the tough Uruguayan has been brought in to shore up United’s midfield and that is exactly what Ten Hag’s side needed on Sunday when they were outclassed by the Liverpool trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.
Casemiro went off at half-time and Kobbie Mainoo received a brutal reality check.
Erik ten Hag spent £100m on new signings to take on rivals Liverpool
Manuel Ugarte was paraded around the field to applause and watched from the stands.
Casemiro (pictured) was sent off at half-time and Kobbie Mainoo received a brutal dose of reality in the match.
United identified Ugarte as their number one midfield target earlier in the summer, so the question arose as to why they waited so long to sign their man. Ten Hag responded to that question by warning that the 23-year-old is no miracle worker.
“We have to get him into the team and that will take time. He’s not like Harry Potter, that’s something you have to recognise,” said the United manager.
“If you look at Manuel Ugarte, he hasn’t played a single minute of a match this season. We have to improve his physical condition and then I’m sure he’ll be an important player.”
Ten Hag was able to hand debuts to Joshua Zirkzee – the £36.5m Bologna striker who came on as a substitute to score the winner against Fulham on the opening weekend – and £42.8m defender Matthijs de Ligt, who replaced Harry Maguire in the starting line-up. Noussair Mazraoui, signed by de Ligt from Bayern Munich for £17m, played at right-back for the third consecutive time.
Although Ten Hag said he was pleased with Zirkzee’s performance, the Dutchman never really got into the game and missed two late chances created by Marcus Rashford.
De Ligt got off to a solid start, but United’s defence crumbled as Liverpool advanced through the midfield almost at will.
Erik ten Hag warned that Ugarte, 23, is not a miracle worker and will need time to adapt.
Joshua Zirkzee (pictured) never came into the game and missed two late chances created by Marcus Rashford.
Meanwhile, Mazraoui was fortunate to have Trent Alexander-Arnold’s early goal ruled out for offside after Luis Diaz got away from him down the right, and a defender renowned for his attacking abilities was caught miles further up the pitch when Diaz appeared unmarked to head home to put Liverpool ahead.
It has become a dangerous pastime to rush to judgement on United’s new signings over the past decade. “It’s been a graveyard for players who came to the club with great reputations and haven’t done well,” former United defender Gary Neville said on Saturday.
But after United emerged from the summer very pleased with their transfer business, this was a sobering reminder that there will be no easy fixes.
