Liverpool have been beaten at Old Trafford.
The balmy days of this historic derby have passed for Liverpool fans, whose rivals have completed the double over them this season.
Though the Reds remain in control of their own destiny in the race for Champions League qualification, this is a damaging result that has opened the door for Aston Villa and the trailing pack to take fourth place from them in the Premier League.
A top-five finish should be enough for Arne Slot's side, but they continue to look so laboured and stodgy, uncertain at times and simply out of ideas at others.
Liverpool's worst performers vs Man United
Liverpool were steamrolled in the first half by Manchester United, who are now on board the Champions League train. Slot will maintain faith in his fourth-place side's chances, but this was a blow.
Too many stars have flattered to deceive this season. At Old Trafford, it was the usual suspects, with Ryan Gravenberch and Jeremie Frimpong both failing to channel their Dutch technical quality against a robust Red Devils side.
Jeremy Frimpong for Liverpool
There's no question that Liverpool improved after the break, but Liverpool's problems in midfield are severe, as are their fundamental structural issues.
Where is the high-energy, fast-tempo football that Slot inculcated so smoothly last season? His controlled passing game differs from Jurgen Klopp's heavy metal brand, but now it has become laboured and ponderous.
Changes are needed this summer, and with Slot expected to continue in the dugout, tweaks are needed on the field, with Anfield's new version of Darwin Nunez putting in a disastrous display against United.
Slot must bin Liverpool's new Nunez
Nunez was abundantly talented, but how many times did he frustrate the red half of Merseyside across his three years at the club?
Darwin Nunez Liverpool record (timeless)
Liverpool had a wonderful player, but he didn't fit the system, didn't bring it all together. Now, Alexis Mac Allister is becoming the new version of the Uruguayan.
The 27-year-old's decline has been startling and it has been detrimental to Slot's system. Liverpool lack physicality and intensity in the middle of the park, and Mac Allister is at the epicentre of their troubles.
Alexis Mac Allister's Premier League Decline
Stats (* per 90)
Matches (starts)
Goals + Assists
Touches*
Accurate passes*
Big chances created
Key passes*
Possession lost*
Succ. dribbles*
Ball recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Clearances*
Duels won*
He lost the ball in the build-up to Benjamin Sesko's goal, and even when contributing toward Cody Gakpo's equaliser, it was a poorly-hit pass that Dominik Szoboszlai did well to control for the assist.
This was another slow and unconvincing midfield performance, and you have to question why Slot persisted with the Argentine throughout the contest, Mac Allister playing the full 90. On co-comms for Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher said that he was "really poor", and that's hard to contest.
Slot has had his flaws this season, but the manager has been dealt a tough hand, and how was he to anticipate such a staggering and baffling drop-off from a star who was hitherto among the finest midfielders in Europe.
Unlike Nunez, Mac Allister has actually reached high levels for Liverpool and sustained them, but he has fallen so heavily from the expected standards this year that a clean break feels like the only way forward.
Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister during training
It was the same toward the end of last term in Nunez's case. Let's hope that the Reds get his replacement right.
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