Man Utd board have four reasons to sack Erik ten Hag already after nightmare Liverpool defeat
Erik ten Hag sack: Man Utd board could act in the wake of their nightmare 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday
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As Manchester United crashed to a nightmare 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, fans on social media called for the head of Erik ten Hag.
After all, life at Old Trafford was meant to be different under the 54-year-old. With Sir Jim Ratcliffe choosing to stick, rather than twist, Ten Hag was meant to focus on football and get his players fully firing.
However, United continue to look similar to the team that finished eighth in the Premier League last season.
It is an open secret that Ten Hag was spared from the sack because he won the FA Cup, common knowledge that successors were sounded out to gauge whether they'd be the right fit.
Erik ten Hag sack: Man Utd board could act in the wake of their nightmare 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday
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United touched base with the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Roberto Martinez, Thomas Frank, Roberto De Zerbi and Marco Silva as they pondered their options.
Yet they chose to stick with Ten Hag, believing he was certainly the right man to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford.
Fast-forward to now, with just three points from a possible nine and two defeats under their belt already, United are back to being a team in crisis.
We'll now take a look at the four reasons the club have to dismiss Ten Hag despite it being so early in the season.
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No set style of play
Liverpool were a class above against United on Sunday and, despite Arne Slot only taking charge of his third competitive game, it's clear what the Reds are trying to do.
The same cannot be said of Ten Hag and his team.
There is still no set style of play, nothing that makes them distinctive like many of their fiercest rivals. At times it looks as though there are no tactics at all - the way United players left such space in between their defence and midfield was proof of that.
Ten Hag is still in his third season but the Red Devils remain a far cry from the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. At least some of his predecessors, like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho in particular, were clear in what they wanted.
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Stats make for grim reading
Old Trafford used to be a fortress. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, most teams were beaten before they even stepped onto the field.
The same cannot be said for Ten Hag's United, however.
The 54-year-old guided the Red Devils to their lowest-ever Premier League finish last season. They conceded more goals than ever before and struggled in front of goal, too.
Ten Hag is also the only manager to lose three home games by three goals in the space of a year, too. The defeat against Liverpool came after 3-0 defeats to Manchester City and Bournemouth last season.
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Top managers are out there
Erik ten Hag sack: Thomas Tuchel would be one option to take over at Man Utd
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There are a number of top managers out there who would relish the chance to manage United.
Tuchel is on the market, having left Bayern Munich by mutual consent earlier this summer. He is widely considered the frontrunner to take over, especially given his record as a serial winner and one of the best managers in the world.
So too is Gareth Southgate. Though a divisive manager, his work at England speaks for itself. Barring Alf Ramsay, he is arguably the best boss to ever take charge of the Three Lions - at least when it comes to major tournaments.
Though not available right now, Frank, Silva and Martinez would also be in the running to take charge. INEOS, behind the scenes, may just be drawing up a contingency plan...
The season can still be saved
Erik ten Hag sack: Man Utd boss is back in danger after Liverpool defeat
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If INEOS did decide to axe Ten Hag, few would actually blame them.
And now might just be the time to wield the axe, should they feel it's best to bring someone new in instead.
We are just three games into the campaign. Though Ten Hag will likely say that means it's too early for him to be judged, the mixed results over the last two years - and terrible performances last term - wouldn't give him much of a defence.
The season can still be salvaged. What ultimately happens remains to be seen.