Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has warned his players they cannot afford to lose concentration in the latter stages of matches.
United fell victim to a late defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion on Thursday night when Luke Shaw was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. The resulting spot kick was neatly dispatched by Alexis Mac Allister as the Reds' advantage in the top four was cut.
The loss on the south coast was not the first time United have conceded in the dying stages this season. Last month, conceding late goals cost them against both Tottenham Hotspur and Sevilla.
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While Ten Hag accepts United's schedule has been tough, he has promised his players will be up for the fight against West Ham despite another Sunday fixture for the Reds. "That’s the great advantage of playing in the Champions League: you have a better week," he explained.
"You need so much energy, you need a good game plan and, every game, you have to go again. You can’t do it at 99 per cent. You have to do it at 100 per cent.
"You have to do it over the full 95 minutes and that’s why we like it. Top players like it, to have huge challenges, but that costs energy.
"That’s our job, that’s our responsibility. We have to take it and we lay this [defeat at Brighton] aside. On Sunday, we go again and I’m sure we will be there."
Following Mohamed Salah's only goal against Brentford on Saturday evening, Liverpool now sit just a point behind United in the table. The Reds do have two games in hand though, the first of which is played tonight at the London Stadium.
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