7:35 p.m. ET
Rob Dawson correspondent
Ralf Rangnick called Manchester United’s performance in the 4-0 defeat by Liverpool “embarrassing, maybe even humiliating” and said up to 10 new players may need to come to rebuild the club.
United were hammered at Anfield on Tuesday night, just six months after Liverpool won 5-0 at Old Trafford.
Rangnick didn’t pull any punches in his post-match assessment, saying the new manager – likely Ajax Amsterdam coach Erik ten Hag – would have to tear up the squad in the summer.
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“It’s embarrassing, it’s disappointing, maybe even humiliating,” Rangnick said. “Especially in the first half we just weren’t up to par.
“If you want a chance against a team like this you have to cause them problems and take advantage of those few counterattacks ourselves, and we couldn’t do that and that’s why we lost 4-0.
“If you analyze the team, it needs to be rebuilt. There are six, eight, maybe ten new players and before you sign them you have to be clear about what kind of football the new manager wants to play and then fit that profile.” .”
While United are on course to record their worst-ever Premier League score, Liverpool are still in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple, having won the Carabao Cup and secured places in the FA Cup final and Champions League semi-finals has booked.
Liverpool’s win put them first ahead of Manchester City in the table, with Pep Guardiola’s side set to take on Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, where a win could see them regain the Premier League lead.
“They have better players than us and that really showed in the result today,” added Klopp’s Rangnick. “There will definitely be a change, that was clear to me in the first three or four weeks. It’s extremely embarrassing for us. We just have to admit that they are better than us.”
Mohamed Salah, who scored twice for Liverpool against United, said the visitors made their life easy by passing the ball in advantageous positions.
“They make our life easier in midfield and in defence, they always try to give us the ball in a one-on-one situation, it makes our life much easier,” said Salah. “When we defend, we conceded a goal here and there, so they make life easier for us.
“We just want to score one goal and if we get the first we’ll try for the second, if we get the second we’ll try for the third. It was a top performance from us here and away too. Hopefully it continues like this.”
United midfielder Bruno Fernandes agreed with his manager that the performance was far below the standard expected by the club’s supporters.
“The fans don’t deserve us playing like this. You deserve more from us. The way they stay and applaud us, they deserve more didn’t try.
“I think everyone is running. I think there is an effort from everyone. I don’t think anyone doesn’t give 100%. We have to do it for ourselves, the clubs, the fans and everyone.
“We have to say things, but that is kept in the dressing room. It’s over now, we have to think about the next game.”
The Portuguese playmaker said the difference between the two teams is obvious.
“Liverpool are ready for the title. We’re not. I don’t have to be here and talk about the difference in level. We have to look at ourselves from top to bottom and understand what’s wrong,” he said.
United slipped to sixth in the Premier League and are three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur after playing a game more.
“We will fight to the end,” said Fernandes. “No one can lie down and think it’s over. We have something to fight for.”
Information from Reuters was used in this story.