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Published 13:11 7 Mar 2023 GMT
Updated 13:11 7 Mar 2023 GMT
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Wout Weghorst of Manchester United lines up at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)[/caption]
To Ferguson, Rashford is at his best playing on the left side of the United attack, taking on opponents and cutting inside to score. Ten Hag would side with that opinion but he opted to start Rashford as United's sole striker against Liverpool. That was not the worst choice in the world - Rashford had United's two best scoring chances in their defeat - but he stubbornly started Weghorst and played him in a deep No.10 role that was more like a No.8. Jamie Carragher pointed out, on Monday Night Football, that Weghorst was tasked with trying to stay on top of Fabinho and pressing him for space. The 30-year-old is a willing runner but he was dragged all over Anfield without getting many touches of the ball. For the fourth time in his seven Premier League starts, the big man failed to have a single effort on goal.Liverpool have shown, all season, that they are vulnerable to teams that play with pace and who play balls over the top of their defence or who have attackers directly running at them. Martial is injured (again) but United had Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Anthony Elanga all on the bench. Starting Sancho or Garnacho ahead of Weghorst would have made a lot more sense. If Erik Ten Hag wanted someone as a No.10, why not deploy Bruno Fernandes there and start either Scott McTominay or, preferably, Sabitzer? Instead we had the sight of Weghorst flogging about like those poor Barca academy players experiencing their first rondo session with the big boys. The signing of Weghorst is not working and he is unlikely to stay beyond his loan spell, this season. United may have new owners by the summer and they are being linked with Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen. Many United supporters will be watching closely, on Thursday then Sunday, when Erik ten Hag names his next two starting XIs (for Real Betis and Southampton). There will be some players that started at Anfield that we will not see getting much minutes over the following weeks. Weghorst may be willing runner and harrier but he is not providing enough in attack (one goal, two assists). Ten Hag has proved stubborn on plenty of occasions, this season, but surely he must realise Weghorst is a squad player, at best. Related links:
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