Manchester United rebuild might rely on four players

They didn't need one, but Manchester United were administered another painful reality check on Tuesday night. The manner of their defeat to Liverpool at Anfield left little debate about the amount of change required this summer, nor did it hide away from the fact that their current issues go far beyond a rotten spell of form.

After the match, interim manager Ralf Rangnick admitted that as many as 10 new players might be needed to implement the type of change required. You could make a case that the number needs to be even higher.

It's hard to envisage a time when United fans felt so disillusioned by the direction of the club and the fanbase felt quite so detached from those who don the shirts on a weekly basis. This team is anything but united.

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Rangnick arrived as a breath of fresh air and although his hard-hitting truths have been a welcome arrival at Old Trafford, he appears to have lost hope of ever actually being able to solve the problems he's identified.

United have been guilty of making hollow promises in the last few years, and Rangnick's role as an advisor going forward might be another, with the belief he will only have limited duties and no guarantee his recommendations will actually be taken on board.

When the club do eventually announce Erik ten Hag as their next manager, the Dutchman needs to ensure he has an honest and open discussion with Rangnick about what exactly to expect and a chance to gather intel on the players he will be tasked with trying to orchestrate. He, like the interim boss, might well agree on the number of players needed this summer. They both might also agree on the players integral to rebuilding the shattered dreams