United were given a huge opportunity to take control of the game just 22 minutes in when Phil Foden was shown a red card for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes. Despite playing against 10 men for most of the match, United couldn't capitalise on their numerical advantage, and the sides went into half-time level.
United came out strongly after the break, dominating possession and producing more attempts than their opponents, but they struggled to find a way through City's defence. Then, on the hour mark, Haaland put City ahead in controversial fashion. The striker appeared offside both in real time and in the subsequent replays, but after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was eventually given.
United couldn't mount a meaningful response after falling behind and struggled to create clear-cut chances for the rest of the match. Their best opportunity came deep into stoppage time, when Bryan Mbeumo's close-range effort was brilliantly kept out by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Despite playing against ten men for three quarters of the match, United failed to unlock the Manchester City defence, hitting the post twice, once in the first half and once in the second, before Mbeumo's missed chance at the end of the game.
Speaking after the game on Match of the Day, Wayne Rooney spoke about Manchester United's issues going forward, and how perhaps they should have targeted a forward in the summer.
“Well, when the transfer window closed, I felt that Manchester United and Michael Carrick as manager was left a bit short, especially up top.
“You've got Šeško, who's done well the last couple of games, but whether there's that trust in him there to play from the start.
“Then you've got Cunha, who's coming too DEEP. He's never really in the penalty box. So what they're having, they're having half-opportunities from the edge of the box.
“And when you're starved of chances at goal, if you see the sight of the goal, whether you're from 18 to 30 yards out, you end up thinking.
“Do you know what? I'm going to take my chance and try to have an opportunity to try to score, when really it's a low percentage of scoring.”
Manchester United spent heavily on the midfield in the summer, bringing in three new midfielders to address a position that has needed reinforcing for a few seasons, with the midfield pivot of Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans impressing against City.
While United are still waiting on the likes of Carlos Baleba, Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt to return to full fitness, which will certainly greatly benefit Carrick's starting side, you can't help but feel United have been left lacking depth in a couple of areas.
It was evident that the club needed left-back and striker cover this season, with Luke Shaw, who has an extensive injury record since joining Manchester United, being the club's only senior left-back option, and Joshua Zirkzee showing that his best position is not at striker.
INEOS' transfer recruitment has centred on addressing one area of the pitch each summer, as seen by the transformation of the attack last summer and the midfield this summer, with all signs pointing towards the defence being addressed next summer.
While United's recruitment has been much better in recent seasons, it's perhaps no coincidence that this transfer strategy isn't widely adopted across the football world, with clubs usually looking to add depth where needed rather than pursuing a full transformation in one area of the pitch.
BestNewest firstOldest first
