Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's work rate warning haunted Manchester United vs Liverpool

For many Manchester United fans, the worst part of their latest humiliating defeat to Liverpool was that they anticipated it long before kick-off. Those who arrived at Anfield on Tuesday night did so in the faint hope United might be able to salvage a heroic draw, rather than any belief they actually would.

It would only take five minutes before those dreams were dashed as Liverpool tore United's defence apart like a child opening their first present on Christmas morning. There would be plenty more gifts before the match — effectively a broadcasted training session — was finally put to an end.

United's season relies on trying to finish fourth in the Premier League, while Liverpool's relies on trying to finish it with four trophies to their name, an unprecedented quadruple. There are levels to this game, and United's is far below that of their most fierce rivals.

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Supporters will have no shame in admitting that Liverpool currently have a much better squad and manager — as Ralf Rangnick conceded after the game — but one thing they won't accept is the perceived lack of effort and defeatist attitude which has been adopted by their players.

At Anfield on Tuesday night, the gulf was not only in talent but in work ethic, with United seemingly resigned to the fact that they were going to lose with players looking to go through the motions and take their contractually obliged beating.

Once again, this is by no means a new issue at United and it was even touched upon by former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer earlier in the season.

"Football is a simple game and it’s about making good decisions and being in a team,” the Norwegian stated