Jurgen Klopp admission should act as a warning for Erik ten Hag and Manchester United

Erik ten Hag has seen his side endure a dismal start to the season and the Manchester United manager needs to find answers.

Tuesday's 3-2 Champions League defeat at home to Galatasaray was United's sixth defeat in just 10 games across all competitions, signalling their worst start to a season in 37 years. After Rasmus Hojlund twice gave his side a lead, the Turkish champions responded to win with the help of some calamitous home defending.

The problems facing Ten Hag are multiple. Injuries in key areas are piling up, last season's top performers are not performing and the major summer arrivals - barring Hojlund - are yet to find their feet. From just the second week of the season and a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham, questions started to be asked regarding fitness levels. Roy Keane was particularly vocal, suggesting the players already looked tired - which may come as no surprise, given their 62 games last season was more than any other team in Europe's top five leagues.

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It was a similar problem faced by Liverpool last season after they endured a mammoth 2021/2022 campaign. Jurgen Klopp's side racked up 63 games as they reached the finals of the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Champions League which, coupled with a short turnaround, undoubtedly affected energy levels.

“Could anybody know how the last season of 63 games could influence this season?” Klopp admitted in January. “I don’t think anybody could know.

"It must have. We can say that now. We had holiday, not too much, there were games here and the boys all looked fine. Then it started with Diogo