Midweek hits & misses: Man Utd misery; Liverpool flying

'Man Utd's predictable exit on dismal evening

"Too many years without a trophy, without really fighting for trophies," said David de Gea afterwards. "We need to be clear, we want to be fighting for trophies, not fighting for top four, and going out before quarter-finals. This club is too big for where we are now."

There was little realistic chance of Manchester United pulling off something extraordinary in this Champions League. The Premier League table reveals the gulf between them and their domestic rivals even before the best clubs from continental Europe are considered.

However, this was still a dismal evening for United because it was so predictable. Punished on the counter-attack after being exposed in the wide areas, what followed was grim. United trying to find a way through Atletico Madrid's defensive block. Ideas lacking.

"One thing we cannot do against Atletico is concede the first goal," said Ralf Rangnick. "From normal play, we did not produce enough chances. We brought all the offensive players we had off the bench, but it was difficult against this wall of defensive players."

Rangnick knew what he could not do. Diego Simeone knew what he could. "In the second half, we controlled the game and that made us more comfortable. We knew the opponent likes to play on the counter-attack so we decided to deny them the spaces."

Sit back and let United have it, in other words. They passed it to one side and then to the other. Crosses came in. Fodder for these centre-backs. An increasingly desperate Cristiano Ronaldo tried to knock it past a defender and run round him. Maybe 10 years ago.

The fans at Old Trafford were vocal in their support at the start, seeing their side press their opponents. There was a real sense