Erik ten Hag reportedly fired a warning to his Manchester United players in the aftermath of their Anfield capitulation.
Manchester United arrived on Merseyside as one of the in-form sides in the Premier League, and arguably had two of the best chances in the first half.
They were however punished for a mistake just before the interval as Cody Gakpo fired home, before Liverpool put United to the sword in a devastating display as they added a further six goals without reply.
United’s mauling saw them suffer the joint-heaviest defeat in the club’s history, and according to the Mirror, Erik ten Hag made his players sit in silence in the dressing room and endure hearing the jubilant scenes emanating from the hosts’ dressing room.
The report says that the United boss told his players that ‘they were lucky to be getting on the team bus back to Old Trafford and not made to travel back with the fans’.
He is then said to have ‘warned’ his players if there were to be a repeat of what he described as an ‘unprofessional’ display, then there would be no more chances and that they will be ‘put in the under 21s’.
The no-nonsense United boss arrived for work at the club’s Carrington training ground at 7am on Monday morning, with the players being made to report at the earlier time of 9am.
United seemed to crumble under the intensity of English football’s most high-profile clash, and Ten Hag is said to have told his players to ‘expect more sessions with sports psychologist Rainier Koers’.
Ever since his arrival at Old Trafford, the Dutchman has repeatedly outlined the importance of mentality, and brought in the performance psychologist a few months ago in a bid to improve his side’s mental resilience.
