Manchester United’s loss to Liverpool was ’embarrassing and humiliating’

Ralph Rangnick described Manchester United’s performance in their 4-0 defeat to Liverpool as “embarrassing, and possibly humiliating” and said as many as 10 new players may have to get through to rebuild the club.

United suffered a crushing defeat at Anfield on Tuesday night, just six months after Liverpool’s 5-0 win at Old Trafford.

Rangnick didn’t punch any punches in his post-match rating and said the new coach – likely to be Ajax Amsterdam coach Erik ten Hag – would have to tear up the squad in the summer.

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It’s embarrassing, it’s disappointing, maybe even insulting,” Rangnick said. “Especially in the first half we weren’t ready for that.

“Against a team like this, if you want to have a chance, you have to cause them problems and take advantage of those few moments of counter-attack ourselves and we couldn’t, which is why we lost 4-0.

“If you analyze the team, it needs to be rebuilt. There are six or eight maybe 10 new players and before you sign them you have to be aware of what kind of football the new manager wants to play and then it fits with that kind of profile.”

While United are on track to post their worst-ever points total in the Premier League era, Liverpool are still looking for an unprecedented quadruple after winning the Carabao Cup and securing places in the FA Cup final and Champions League semi-finals.

Liverpool’s win saw them move to first place ahead of Manchester City in the table, with Pep Guardiola’s side set to play Brighton and Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday where they can reclaim the top spot in the Premier League with a win.

“They have better players than us, and that result has already been reflected today,” added Rangnick, a Liverpool player led by Klopp. “There will be a rebuilding for sure, that was evident in the first three or four weeks for me. For us, it’s very embarrassing. We just have to admit that they are better than us.”

Mohamed SalahThe visitors, who scored twice for Liverpool against United, said the visitors made things easier for them in the match by giving up the ball in useful positions.

“They make our life easier in midfield and at the back, and they always try to give us the ball in a one-on-one situation, which makes our lives a lot easier,” Salah said. “When we were defending, we had clean sheets here and clean sheets there, so they made our lives easier.

“We only want to score one goal and as soon as we get the first goal we go for the second goal, and as soon as we get the second we go for the third. It was a great performance from us here and away as well. We hope to continue like this.”

United midfielder Bruno Fernandez He agreed with his manager that the performance was far below the level expected by the club’s supporters.

Fernandez, who dismissed the idea that players deserve more, said. They did not try.

“I think everyone is running. I think there is effort from everyone. I don’t think there is anyone who is not giving 100%. We have to do it for ourselves, the clubs, the fans and everyone else.

“We have to say things but that stays in the dressing room. Now it’s over we have to think about the next match.”

The Portuguese playmaker said the difference between the two teams was clear.

“Liverpool are ready for the title. We are not. I don’t need to be here to talk about the difference in level. We have to look at ourselves from top to bottom and understand what’s wrong,” he said.

United have fallen to sixth in the Premier League and are three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, having played a game more.

“We compete to the end,” Fernandez said. “No one can grovel and think it’s over. We have something to fight for.”

Information from Reuters was used in this story.