Ralf Rangnick, the interim manager of Manchester United, believes his team was not good enough in the first half of Tuesday’s 4-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield.
Rangnick’s side conceded twice in each quarter, despite the German admitting that United improved for 25 minutes after the break, until Sadio Mane scored the third goal.
It was Manchester United heaviest defeat at Anfield since the era of Premier League.
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Rangnick while speaking after the game admitted it was a disappointing game for the Red Devils.
“Very, very disappointing first half.
“The goal we conceded after six minutes was not part of the game plan.
“To be that high up and to open up that much space for one of the biggest strengths this Liverpool team has – the transitional moment – it was just ridiculous and we shouldn’t have done that. Then the early injury for Pogba.
“We didn’t have many natural ball winners to start with.
“That’s why we decided to play with a back five.
“We changed that at half-time, the first 25 minutes of the second half was better.
“Still we didn’t make a lot out of the moments we had in their half.
“At least it was a game that was open in the first 25 minutes of the second half and then the third goal that we conceded killed and finished the game off.”
“Had we scored a goal it might have changed the game but we didn’t.
“As I said, we had our moments in and around the box but we couldn’t finish any of those moments and the third goal again was a pressing invitation.
“To play a ten or twelve-yard short pass into Anthony Elanga just doesn’t make sense.
” Everyone knows he is a player for the ball behind the backline and not into his feet.
“They were just waiting for that ball. It was quite similar to the goal we conceded at Everton.
“Six seconds later the ball was in our net.”
“They are one of the best teams in the world and we are just not physical or athletic enough.
“Against teams like this, if you want to cause them problems, you have to have a few counter-attacking moments yourself but we couldn’t and that’s why we lost 4-0.
“I’m pretty sure any of the players in the starting XI knew about the importance of the game – not only with regard to the league table but also with regard to our fans and supporters.
“To be able to get something out of a game like this you have to be on them.
“You have to attack them and cause them problems. In the first half we didn’t do that at all, in the second we did for 25 minutes.”
Manchester United will now turn their focus to this weekend game against Arsenal.