Ralf Rangnick says Man Utd ‘just have to admit’ Liverpool are better than them
Ralf Rangnick admitted he was embarrassed after watching his side be thoroughly overplayed by Manchester United as Liverpool returned to the top of the table with a 4-0 win.
nited barely touched the ball as Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah put Liverpool under control before the break and although a change of formation briefly helped United improve after the break, further goals from Sadio Mane and Salah ended them.
It was another disappointing result for United who have lost 9-0 on aggregate to Liverpool this season and have now conceded more goals than relegated Burnley.
At Anfield too often they seemed to lack the struggle or effort necessary to pursue their goal of a top four finish.
“I don’t think they’re checked out mentally, it’s just a different level,” Rangnick said. “(Liverpool) have better players than us and that really showed in the result today.
“There will definitely be a change, that was clear to me in the first three or four weeks. It’s extremely embarrassing for us as a coaching staff to be sitting here and having a press conference like this. We just have to admit that they are better than us.”
Fred was absent through injury and Scott McTominay was only fit enough for the bench so Rangnick included Phil Jones in a makeshift back three but then saw his plans thwarted again when Paul Pogba limped away with a calf injury just eight minutes from time.
But while the injuries played a part, Rangnick admitted they weren’t the whole cause.
“We have to be critical of ourselves,” said Rangnick. “The way we played for the first 45 minutes wasn’t in any area what we wanted to see or play. Since we didn’t have all of our defensive midfielders available, we went for the back five… I don’t think the first half had anything to do with our formation.
United conceded four times (Mike Egerton/PA)
“The way we conceded the first goal was definitely not part of our game plan. It affected our confidence. The first half wasn’t good enough.
“We switched from a chain of five to a chain of four. The first 25 minutes of the second half were much better, but the story of those 25 minutes was that we didn’t score. The third goal was on the blacklist of what not to do against Liverpool.”
United’s 9-0 cumulative defeat by Liverpool was the second-worst in club history, surpassed only by the 11-0 in two games they suffered against Sunderland in 1892/93.
However, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists he is not content with dishing out such blows.
“I’m not here to humiliate opponents. We did what we had to do,” he said.
“They played without their central midfielders and when you’re in a difficult situation like United before the game, Paul (Pogba) has to go and it’s not easy to play against us.
“Nine zero? I’m not interested. It’s something for the fans if they want to party. I know it won’t last forever, they will fight back.”
In the seventh minute, all the fans gathered at Anfield to applaud as a gesture of support for Cristiano Ronaldo, who was absent on pity leave following the death of his newborn son.
“Pure class at the moment when everyone has known since yesterday that so many things are much more important in life. That was my moment of the game,” added Klopp, who doesn’t think he’ll be watching City’s home game against Brighton on Wednesday.
“But other football moments, excellent yes, Luis prepared Sadio, Diogo (Jota) came on, Thiago made a good game.
“Nothing to complain about, we don’t take these things for granted. If our counter-pressing hadn’t been as sensational as it was tonight, I think United could have played a much better game.”
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/ralf-rangnick-says-man-utd-just-have-to-admit-liverpool-are-better-than-them-41568543.html Ralf Rangnick says Man Utd ‘just have to admit’ Liverpool are better than them
