Erik ten Hag urged to drop huge Manchester United star for Liverpool clash

Erik ten Hag urged to drop huge Manchester United star for Liverpool clash

For Manchester United’s Premier League match against Liverpool this weekend, Erik ten Hag has been urged to bench a crucial player.

On Sunday, United will host their bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford in an attempt to avenge their loss to Brighton the previous weekend.

The Red Devils started their 2024–25 campaign with a close 1-0 victory over Fulham, but on Saturday they lost 2-1 to formidable Brighton after giving up a goal in injury time.

Arne Slot, Jurgen Klopp’s replacement, will want Liverpool to win three straight games.

With a 2-0 victory over recently promoted Ipswich Town, Slot started his Anfield career on a winning note. In his first home game as manager, Brentford was defeated by the same score.

Ten Hag will already be busy preparing for the visit of Liverpool and has been told to make at least one change from the side that lost to Brighton by dropping Marcus Rashford.

Rashford endured a poor 2023-24 campaign and has failed to get going this season, making way at the Amex Stadium after 65 minutes and being replaced by Alejandro Garnacho.

Garnacho thought he had scored a late goal for Manchester United only to see his effort ruled out by VAR for an unfortunate offside.

But ex-England striker Darren Bent saw enough from Garnacho against Brighton – and in his second-half cameos against Fulham and Community Shield opponents Manchester City – to believe he should be starting ahead of Rashford.

‘Garnacho has got to start,’ former Premier League star Bent said on talkSPORT. ‘He’s got to start.

‘If that means dropping Marcus Rashford then so be it. He has to start. I would play Garnacho, [Amad] Diallo and [Joshua] Zirkzee as the front three.

‘Erik ten Hag can only protect Rashford for so long. He’s giving him every opportunity to succeed even though he’s not been playing well for a while.

‘Garnacho changed the game in the Community Shield final, he was incredible. The energy against Fulham was great. He had a goal against Brighton that was unfortunately ruled out for that offside.

‘He is now ready to go. As a manager, I get he’s trying to be loyal and give Rashford the chance to find his form again. But you risk losing a part of Garnacho if you keep overlooking him