Liverpool pair targeted by Man Utd as Matthijs de Ligt comes clean - 'They're weaknesses'
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Harry Maguire scored a late winner for Ruben Amorim’s men as Arne Slot’s side fell to a fourth successive loss and a first home defeat to their bitter rivals since 2016.Bryan Mbeumo scored an early opener for United, slotting past Giorgi Mamardashvili after play was not stopped following a head injury to Alexis Mac Allister.And while Cody Gakpo struck a deserved equaliser for Liverpool in the 78th minute, Maguire headed home a Bruno Fernandes’ cross only six minutes later to inflict further misery on the Reds.READ MORE: National media make Liverpool point after Man United misery - 'What exactly is the plan?'Liverpool did create a plethora of chances against United, with Gakpo hitting the woodwork three times, both the Dutchman and Mohamed Salah missing glaring chances, and Alexander Isak being denied by Senne Lammens when one-on-one.But once again they were suspect defensively, as they conceded twice in a game for the seventh time from just 12 matches in all competitions so far this season.Summer signing Milos Kerkez again struggled at left-back, as he found himself up against Amad Diallo, as well as both Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha at times.And De Ligt has revealed that United deliberately targeted the Hungarian, as well as right-back Conor Bradley, as the Dutchman admitted the Red Devils considered Liverpool’s full-back positions a ‘weakness’."We knew that Liverpool had weaknesses, and that's their full-backs," he admitted to ViaPlay. Today was a game that you really have to be concentrated in."Kerkez completed the full 90 minutes at left-back against United, while Bradley was replaced after 62 minutes for Florian Wirtz, with the introduction of the German resulting in Dominik Szoboszlai moving to right-back.Jeremie Frimpong was later introduced in place of Mohamed Salah as a right-winger, with United's winner coming from the Liverpool right-hand side after their opener had come from being played in down the left of the Reds' defence.Kerkez came in for widespread criticism following the loss as former Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp labelled the left-back a ‘nervous wreck’."Kerkez is very nervous.
He's like a nervous wreck out there,” he said on Sky Sports. Learn moreSky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.Meanwhile, former Reds defender Stephen Warnock would also take issue with Kerkez’s performance as he questioned his relationship with Virgil van Dijk on the left-hand side of the Liverpool defence."Kerkez and Van Dijk's relationship on this left-hand side is not working,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Far too vulnerable to the turnover of possession."And Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was also left bemused at the Reds’ struggles defensively down Kerkez’s flank.“Normally the right hand side of Liverpool’s defence gets punished. But today it’s the left hand side,” he said on Sky Sports.