Another humbling by bitter rivals is testing patience of fans - and Ineos

THEY had played two-and-a-half minutes of the second half when Erik ten Hag shook his head on the back row of the home dugout at Old Trafford.

- TYRONE MARSHALL

It was as clear a sign as any that United's hopes of a rousing comeback against Liverpool were closer to impossible than implausible.

Ten Hag took decisive action at half-time but this already felt like damage limitation. The Dutchman was arguably fortunate to get the chance to start a third season occupying that dugout. This result has seriously damaged his chances of finishing the season in that role.

As bad a look as this was for Ten Hag, it was equally bad for Ineos.

The glum faces in the directors' box from Ratcliffe, Sir Dave Brailsford, Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox reflected a desperate day for United and the thought of as humbling a decision as it might be possible to make lying further up the road.

Ten Hag survived an end-of-season review by Ineos to cling to his position.

Three games into the new season, that is already beginning to look like a mistake. When it comes to footballing decisions, the new sporting structure installed by Ineos has exuded authority, except for this one. They spoke to other managers, weakened the position of Ten Hag, took the option in his contract after signalling they planned an extension and now must seriously consider how much longer this can go on.