In a week’s time Manchester United return to action for the club’s first Premier League away game since the 7-0 loss to Liverpool.
The fixture is an important trip away to top four rivals Newcastle, and it will be almost a month to the date since the defeat at Anfield.
With club action paused for the international break, now is a timely moment to reflect on what we have learned since the chastening defeat suffered against our bitter rivals.
And yes, this reflects remarkably well on Erik ten Hag and his side…
It was a freak result – just ask Liverpool
Make no mistake about it, Manchester United’s 7-0 loss was a freak result. It was completely out of context with the team’s form this season, particularly since the World Cup.
Sure, it followed a trend of poor results at Anfield, but this was a performance which was remarkably uncompetitive, the second 45 minutes.
In 2023, United have lost only two games. One was courtesy of a last minute goal at Arsenal. The other was this, a horrific record breaking defeat.
And while it will stick in the history books, that is all it will do. It won’t change the fact Erik ten Hag’s first season has been a success.
It won’t change the fact Liverpool’s season has been a failure. This was a freak result for Jurgen Klopp’s side in 2023 as much as it was for United.
They followed it up with a 1-0 loss at Bournemouth, negating the points advantage from the win. And day later, it was confirmed Liverpool will finish the season trophyless after their elimination from the Champions League.
Since the defeat, Manchester United have actually extended the gap over Liverpool to eight points, rather than collapsing.
Ten Hag’s players will always bounce back
There was a danger that the scale of this defeat could scar Manchester United’s players and wreck the season. This has not happened.
United have rallied by winning three games and drawing one, extending an unbeaten home record which goes back to September.
Aside from the double loss which began the season, any time the Red Devils have lost a match this season, they have bounced back with a victory.
The response to this one was strong, scoring four goals against Real Betis, the joint highest number the team has netted in a single game this season.
If anything, this defeat has sharpened United, erasing any feeling of complacency which may have been creeping in after the Carabao Cup final win.
The players look extra focused, and keen to make amends. Even if there are further hiccups along the way, this season or any other, the response to this loss demonstrates Ten Hag’s men will always bounce back.
Bruno Fernandes is stronger for it
No player took more flak after Manchester United’s loss than Bruno Fernandes. Erik ten Hag has stuck by him and been rewarded.
Fernandes scored one and provided an assist in the win over Betis, and then bagged a brace against Fulham to reach double figures for the season.
The Portuguese star has 23 goal contributions this season already, and it is clear he also has the backing of his teammates, with Marcus Rashford talking him up in the wake of the defeat.
Fernandes deserves credit for the way he has led United’s fightback, and he will be stronger for the chastening experience of the record setting loss.
The relentless charge for silverware continues
It would have been easy for the loss to Liverpool to have a knock-on effect by impacting one of Manchester United’s subsequent cup fixtures.
Instead the club’s relentless charge to add more silverware continues, arguably even more focused by the loss.
United are now into the Europa League quarter-finals after beating Real Betis, and have reached the FA Cup semi-final after beating Fulham.
The team’s path in both competitions is not straightforward, but there is a real chance of the team ending the season with another trophy, perhaps even two, and that would really underlined the defeat as a freak aberration in a successful campaign.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka may now be first choice right-back
Erik ten Hag has largely stuck by the team he selected at Anfield. In some cases, up front, he has not had much choice.
The one selection shift he has made is at right-back. He hooked Diogo Dalot after 45 minutes against Real Betis, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka has taken over since.
Not selecting Wan-Bissaka at Anfield is probably an error Ten Hag looks back on. The former Palace defender appears to be establishing himself as a first choice.
The hectic run of fixtures over the next month means Dalot and Wan-Bissaka both get games, but it is the latter who may get to play in the most important ones.
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