Having been responsible for Liverpool’s initial two goals—both netted by Luis Diaz—Casemiro, 32, was substituted midway through United’s 3-0 crushing defeat. Prior to being dispossessed in midfield seven minutes later, the Brazilian made an errant pass forward that led to Diaz’s opening goal, thus allowing the Liverpool striker to score a second goal.
After Casemiro was withdrawn for the second half, 20-year-old academy prospect Toby Collyer became a focal point on social media due to claims that the United midfielder had left Old Trafford while the match was still ongoing. However, Ten Hag clarified in his post-match press conference that this was not the case.
“I saw him in the locker room after the game,” said the United manager, whose team had lost two of their first three Premier League matches. “We needed to take risks because we wanted to stage a comeback; being 2-0 down against a team like Liverpool required us to make that substitution.”
