Manchester United might have beaten Liverpool last weekend in the FA Cup but Reds legend John Aldridge has a different take on what the result means.
United scored in injury time through Amad Diallo to win the game. In was, in fairness, one of the best games all season and befitting of such an intense rivalry.
For United, the FA Cup is one of their only realistic chances of success this season. While for Liverpool, it was simply one of four trophies they now cannot win, having already captured the League Cup.
Liverpool are into the last eight in the Champions League and joint top of the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp’s final season, then, could end in delight.
Over at United, though, there remains an uncertainty when it comes to Erik ten Hag’s future. And while the Dutchman saw his team beat Liverpool last weekend, former Liverpool forward John Aldridge has suggested it’s actually a good thing for Liverpool.
John Aldridge on why Erik ten Hag is good news for Liverpool
Speaking to Sunday World, Aldridge said that while the result hurt from a Liverpool perspective, Ten Hag staying round is a good thing for Liverpool.
“They’re not in a good place, we are. And you know, it was their cup final and it all happened for them and I don’t want to be sour about it but it really hurt. And you know, Ten Hag, he’s just papering over cracks for me. They are in a place now where they’re miles away. They might not be in terms of the league position or the points or whatever but they are overall in the structure of the club and the team. They’ve got Ratcliffe now who could change it but Ten Hag for me is on borrowed time. And from a Liverpool point of view, the only good thing from Sunday was that it keeps him going,” Aldridge said.
Ten Hag is facing a fight to keep his job with Jim Ratcliffe and team now in place. Indeed, just this week, Gareth Southgate has been heavily linked with the role.
Ten Hag walking a tightrope
Aldridge is right really here. You do get the feeling Erik ten Hag is hanging onto his job and in an ideal world, United would replace him.
For now, he will stay and if he wins the FA Cup, he might just get a stay of execution. But the football on offer at Old Trafford has been poor at times and he’ll need more days like the one against Liverpool to win fans over completely.
Of course, he could well prove to be the man needed at United.
But for now, there is a real sense that Ten Hag loses his job at some point in the not to distant future.
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