Harry Maguire had a night to forget as Manchester United were comprehensively dismantled by Liverpool at Anfield.
Liverpool regained top spot in the Premier League with a crushing 4-0 win over their bitter rivals.
Goals from Luis Diaz, Sadio Mane and a brace for Mohamed Salah secured a comfortable victory for Jurgen Klopp's side, who repeatedly exposed United's frailties in defence.
It took the home side just five minutes to break the deadlock, Salah capitalising on a disjointed United back five to set up Diaz for an easy finish from close range.
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United captain Maguire came under fire for his positioning in the build-up the goal.
The England international broke out from United's defensive line to close down Sadio Mane in midfield but was unable to get close enough to pressure the Liverpool forward.
Mane was able to look up and play a simple through ball to Salah with Maguire stranded in midfield.
Salah then had the easiest of tasks to square the ball for Diaz, who made no mistake with the finish.
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Maguire was guilty of another lapse of judgement in the closing stages of the match as Liverpool were pushing for a fourth goal.
As Diogo Jota went to play a through ball to Salah, Maguire pushed out from defence in an attempt to trap him offside.
But he got his timing all wrong, allowing Salah to latch onto the ball and chip a neat finish over David De Gea.
United fans took to social media to criticise Maguire's positioning and decision-making for the two goals.
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“Maguire always pushes up so much it’s ridiculous how he plays in the Premier League knowing nothing about positioning,” wrote one fan on Twitter.
Another wrote: “Maguire positioning is awful. For a player that can't run you should be able to read the game very well.”
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Speaking ahead of the match, Maguire defended himself from critics and said "there is reason why" he hasn't been dropped by interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
"I wouldn’t be playing every game for Manchester United in the starting eleven if I’d been playing bad every game or not playing well enough,” Maguire told Sky Sports.
"There’s a reason why both managers have put me in the starting eleven every game.
"But I do also understand that I'm the captain of this club, I cost a lot of money, and when things aren't going too well and we're conceding goals, I'm going to get criticised."
Featured Image Credit: PA Images & Sky SportsTopics: Football, Liverpool, Manchester United, Premier League, Harry Maguire
