Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has questioned Erik ten Hag's decision to play Marcus Rashford as a central striker following Sunday's 7-0 hammering at the hands of Liverpool.
United, who will be looking to get back on track when they face Real Betis in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie at Old Trafford on Thursday evening, capitulated in the second half at Anfield, conceding six times without reply. It marked their heaviest defeat in almost a century and left Ten Hag trying to make sense of an unforeseen collapse.
The Reds, who are still third in the Premier League table, had been the better side for long periods in the first half and had carved out the best chances. However, they failed to take them when they came their way.
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Ten Hag deployed the exact same starting line-up that had beaten Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final a week earlier, but made the decision to move Rashford inside and deploy Bruno Fernandes on the left wing, meaning he was tasked with running at Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
That meant Wout Weghorst dropped deep and started in the attacking-midfield berth. And for former Reds ace Hargreaves, Ten Hag's decision to start Fernandes out wide instead of Rashford cost his team dearly.
"I was surprised that Bruno was on the left wing the whole game," said Hargreaves. "I didn't quite understand that. Weghorst, I don't think he affected the game.
"I thought Trent played magnificent, by the way, as a right-back. But I don't think anybody tested him. I think they should have let Marcus stay on the left-hand side and get after Trent. But it just didn't work. The game plan didn't work."
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