Sunday’s result has completely changed the mood at Old Trafford, from one of celebration and optimism to complete rock bottom. It is of paramount importance that Erik ten Hag and his players bounce back quickly and with purpose if they are to put their Anfield collapse behind them and continue to move forward.
Luckily for Manchester United, they have two perfect opportunities to do so in the week following their devastating loss, with two home matches in quick succession as they host Real Betis on Thursday before Southampton make the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Europa League provides United with the chance to add to the Carabao Cup they secured last week. Having eliminated fellow heavyweights Barcelona in the previous round they will be confident of making it deep into the competition. A Europa League trophy would also secure United’s place in the Champions League for next season, although everything seems to point towards Ten Hag’s men finishing in the top four of the Premier League.
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Betis will come to Old Trafford having gone unbeaten in their last four outings, including three wins and most recently a draw against Champions League holders Real Madrid. The Spanish side sit fifth in La Liga, three points behind fourth-placed Real Sociedad who won 1-0 at Old Trafford earlier this season.
Real Betis also recently beat United 1-0 in a friendly match played during the World Cup break. The side fielded by the Reds was far from their strongest, but Ten Hag and Manuel Pellegrini will have learnt valuable lessons to take into this week's clash.
Despite how both sides will be coming into the game, United remain favourites to make it to the next round and Ten Hag will have to instil confidence back into the likes of Marcus Rashford, whose form in front of goal has been so important for United.
Ten Hag will have to wait until Sunday for the chance of Premier League redemption, with another game the Reds will be expected to win against relegation-threatened Southampton. The Saints, though, will be no pushovers as they come to Old Trafford scrapping for their top-flight lives after a win over Leicester City.
If United are to drag the mood in camp back to where it was prior to Liverpool, they will have to try and completely block the result from their minds. Players like Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro - who have been equally as important to United’s form as the free-scoring Rashford - will have to dust themselves down after both being substituted at the weekend following error-ridden performances.
It is a very important week in Ten Hag’s United career, and how he handles his players could shape the Reds’ season. Do you drop those who weren’t good enough, or do you stay loyal to the team that has performed so well since the restart? Will a player like Alejandro Garnacho, who has proven to be a match-winner on multiple occasions for United this season, be trusted despite his lacklustre substitute performance at the weekend?
In his short reign, Ten Hag has already shown how ruthless he can be if players aren’t living up to the standards he sets.
If United get this week right, they could be straight back into the rhythm that saw them lift the Carabao Cup and go on an 11-match unbeaten run before Anfield. However, if the team continue as they left off on Merseyside they could seriously be in danger of their season unravelling in front of them, with victory in their Europa League tie crucial for United’s remaining trophy hopes.
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