Manchester United

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Sean asked: Looking at yesterday's Manchester United v Liverpool match, do you think it is far too early for Mainoo? Great potential, but I thought he was exposed yesterday and potentially targeted as a weak point in that midfield. Why they sold McTominay is beyond me. I think he was responsible for 12 points last season.

Phil answered: Kobbie Mainoo was exposed yesterday but he was in a tough position because Casemiro had such a nightmare before being replaced by youngster Toby Collyer.

Mainoo just had too much to do against a very good Liverpool side. I do not think he was the specific weak point. I think there was a lot of weak points all around him and I still think he will be a big player for Manchester United this season.

It was sad to see McTominay go but he has clearly been sold to ensure funds to buy Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain. There is an awful lot riding on that deal for manager Erik ten Hag as he desperately needs Ugarte to be a success and make a difference.

Follow Phil's Q&A and the rest of Monday's football news here

On the the latest episode of The Devils' Advocate podcast, ​Gaz and Joe bring you all the reaction and analysis from Manchester United's home defeat to Liverpool.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Joe asked: Hi Phil - simple question. Would you sack Ten Hag? And a less simple one - who would you bring in as his replacement?

Phil replied: Hello, Joe. No I wouldn’t. Not after three league games when he was given a new contract extension in the summer.

I would wait to see what happens when he has all his new signings available and the likes of Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund in the team – although who knows when that will be?

What I do think is that if there is no sign of significant improvement or progress around October or November then Ten Hag will be under real pressure, because there was no doubt his removal was considered last summer.

Replacement? I can see managers like Gareth Southgate and Graham Potter being linked should this happen but maybe Thomas Tuchel can be persuaded this time.

Not a lot of options, which perhaps explains why Ten Hag is still there.

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We asked you for your reaction to another heavy defeat by Liverpool.

You replied in droves.

Here is a flavour of your responses:

Barry: Liverpool were better than us. Time will tell if we're heading in the right direction. Remember Jurgen Klopp and Sir Alex Ferguson won nothing until their fourth seasons, so it takes time. To finish in the top four you don't have to beat Liverpool, but you do need to grind out results when not playing well and this United team seems incapable of doing that.

Lawrence: An absolute disgrace. I have been a United supporter for 63 years in good and bad years but this is an absolute disgrace. People say players are to blame but they’re not the ones picking the team. Erik ten Hag is just not good enough.

Kieran: What are my thoughts? Sorry BBC but I'm going to need a lot more than 350 characters - can I have another six or seven boxes please? Full-backs too far forward too early; one central midfielder has got no legs; the other has got no real experience yet; wide players scared to take anyone on. Bruno Fernandes' weak mentally; Joshua Zirkzee dropping deep and offering nothing; no patterns of play...

James: Simply outclassed. Out-muscled in midfield, chances taken by Liverpool and missed by United. No improvement on last season so far. Just hope there will be some improvement as the season progresses. Casemiro is too slow and Marcus Rashford has lost his enthusiasm.

Phill: I can see how the new Liverpool and Brighton managers want to play. In just a few games, their players have bought into them. Behind the manager, the clubs have bought players, at reasonable prices, to achieve an ethos. The United style/plan still eludes me, and by the look of them it eludes the players as well. Install a style, end petulance and be a team.

Chris: A familiar story with United needlessly giving the ball away in dangerous areas of the pitch. The same players have been doing this week in and week out, namely Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes. For every 'killer' pass Bruno makes, he must waste five or six opportunities to just 'hit his man' and retain possession!

Richard: Can Erik ten Hag come back from this? To be embarrassed by your biggest rivals once is unfortunate, twice is careless.

Manchester United's new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was caught in a picture that painted a thousand words at Old Trafford as Liverpool outclassed Erik ten Hag's side.

Ratcliffe arrived to applause from fans as he made his way from the Stretford End up to the directors box - but was later caught with his head bowed, hiding his eyes behind his hand on a miserable afternoon for United.

The biggest decision taken by Ratcliffe this summer was to keep faith with manager Erik ten Hag after a mediocre season was rescued spectacularly with a surprise FA Cup final win against Manchester City.

United could not find any credible or available alternatives to Ten Hag so he was not only reprieved but handed a contract extension.

How long this lasts remains to be seen but there is fresh scrutiny on Ten Hag after United's losses to Brighton and Liverpool, a sobering experience as they were taken apart by a team under new management of their own in the shape of Arne Slot.

Ten Hag is battling against injuries, while new signing from Paris Saint-Germain Manuel Ugarte was unavailable, but the manner in which United were dismantled and the downbeat mood around Old Trafford means the manager needs wins and quickly.

He needed a fast, fresh start after signing that new deal to blow away any lingering uncertainty. The opposite has happened.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag got involved in a spiky exchange with a journalist during his post-match media conference after the home defeat by Liverpool.

The crux of the issue was that the journalist felt many of the failings that have been evident over the past two seasons - counter-attacks when his side are outnumbered, the amount of chances they give away - are down to his coaching rather than the personnel. Ten Hag challenged the observation.

It was a similar question I put to the Dutchman after the late defeat at Brighton last week.

He rejected it then as well.

Yet the evidence is mounting. And whether he agrees or not, if United keep conceding the kind of cheap goals they were guilty of at Brighton and again against Liverpool, they will lose plenty of matches. And he will be in trouble.

Ten Hag says he is not Harry Potter. That is fine. But he needs to be a man with a plan.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says he "does not see any real progression" in this Manchester United squad.

New owners Ineos have backed Erik ten Hag in this window, with six of those new signings starting against Liverpool on Sunday, but have three points from three games.

"What is this thirst for signing players?" Reo-Coker asked on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily Podcast. "Liverpool haven’t signed anyone and Arne Slot’s gone in and they look like a well-coached team compared to Manchester United.

"United, for me, never really looked like scoring in this game and Liverpool played through them with ease. But it is typical Erik ten Hag when you question him on the mistakes.

"Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo do not look athletic enough in that midfield, so any team they come up against that have players to drive with the ball will destroy them.

"Joshua Zirkzee is not a number nine. He’s not going to be a prolific scorer in the Premier League, and he wasn’t a prolific scorer in Serie A. He’s more of a creator than an actual goalscorer, so playing him and Bruno Ferndandes makes no sense.

"I just don’t see that working. And it leads to the questions of 'what do you see in this Man Utd side?' I do not see anything.

"There’s no positives from this game."

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Highlights and analysis from Sunday's three Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Newcastle 2-1 Tottenham

• Man Utd 0-3 Liverpool

Manchester United are looking to sign Fulham's 27-year-old United States defender Antonee Robinson for £30m. (Express), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag speaking to Sky Sports: "We made mistakes and they were very clinical in finishing. They did very well."

On whether Liverpool's forwards were allowed to run at his defence: "I don't think so. If I see all the chances we conceded, I don't think that's what happened. We made mistakes. It was all individual errors. Maybe the last one you can debate where our double-six was. Liverpool did brilliant but the goals conceded expectations were not that high.

"It's clear Liverpool deserved the win. We have to be humble, take this and improve our game."

On Casemiro being taken off: "It is what the team needed. You know when you are 2-0 down against Liverpool you have to take more risks, it will be open. When you are losing you have to take more risks. I have to give compliments to the team. You have to keep fighting and sticking together."

Is he still able to play at the highest level? "He improved and has shown so often that he is a great character. We all have seen great moments from him and him be decisive in midfield. He will show that again and will bounce back."

Feel like the same as last season? "I don't think you are right. You can see the XG we didn't concede as many goals. I don't think we are in the same pattern. It was sometimes open and we took risks. But I don't want to talk about this after a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool. Well done Liverpool. We have to be humble and take it.

"There are many games to play and I know where we will be at the end of the season. We will go for trophies. That will stand."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have lost three of their last five Premier League home games against Liverpool (W1 D1), as many defeats as in their previous 18 Old Trafford meetings (W12 D3).

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• Chelsea v Crystal Palace

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