Manchester United's deep-rooted issues brutally exposed once again in derby humiliation

For Manchester United, the scoreline had unfortunate symmetry. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign ended with a 4-1 defeat. Ralf Rangnick had cited defensive improvement among his achievements. Then United lost 4-1 on Sunday and if it was against superior opposition – Manchester City rather than Watford – another injury-time goal was also a picture of a shambles. Rather than a straight line, United’s offside trap was a triangle when Riyad Mahrez raced away to score.

There could have been a second common denominator. Harry Maguire was sent off a Vicarage Road. A hideously late lunge at a flying Kevin de Bruyne only drew a yellow card at the Etihad Stadium but provided an image of a player way off the pace.

Maguire’s derby could be encapsulated in the goals: nutmegged for the first and just before the second, the third deflected off him. He can look hapless, a haunted figure weighed down by the twin burdens of the United captaincy and his £80 million ($105.4m) transfer fee.

Maguire can be the personification of a problem, but it is not confined to him. United have conceded more goals than Burnley. As David de Gea has made the most saves in the Premier League, that tally could be considerably higher than 38. City had 24 shots on Sunday, but Leicester had 22 and Watford 20 in scoring four against United.

A sense forged against lesser opponents that Rangnick had brought more solidity looked an illusion when City were rampant. Perhaps the most effective sticking plaster is not the interim manager but a summer signing: United have only conceded twice in one match that Raphael Varane has completed. Sadly for them, the Frenchman is injury prone.

In his place, Phil Foden left Victor Lindelof looking “like a fire engine racing to the