Slot must finally bin Liverpool's new Darwin Nunez

Liverpool were beaten at Old Trafford.

The cool days of this historic derby are long gone for Liverpool fans, whose rivals have completed the double this season.

Although the Reds are still in control of their future in the Champions League qualification race, this poor result has opened the door for Aston Villa to take fourth place from them in the Premier League.

A top five finish should be enough for Arne Slot's side, but they continue to look tired and tight, unsure at times and out of ideas at others.

The worst players of Liverpool vs Man United

Liverpool were blown away in the first half by Manchester United, who are now on the Champions League train. Slot will keep faith in the fourth-placed team's chances, but this was a blow.

There are too many stars who flatter themselves to cheat this season. At Old Trafford, it was the usual suspects, Ryan Gravenberch and Jeremie Frimpong both failing to channel their Dutch technical quality against a strong Red Devils side.

There is no doubt that Liverpool improved after the break, but Liverpool's problems in midfield are dire, along with their fundamental problems.

Where is the powerful, fastball that Slott planted so smoothly last season? His controlled passing game is different from Jurgen Klopp's heavy metal product, but now it is laborious and difficult.

Changes are needed this summer, and with Slot expected to continue in the dugout, tweaks are needed on the pitch, Anfield's new version of Darwin Nunez putting on a disastrous display against United.

The slot must include Liverpool's new Nunez

Nunez was full of talent, but how many times did he frustrate the red side of Merseyside during his three years at the club?

Liverpool had an amazing player, but he didn't fit the system, he didn't put it all together. Now, Alexis Mac Allister is becoming a new version of Uruguayan.

The 27-year-old's decline has been surprising and disastrous for the Slot system. Liverpool lack physicality and solidity in the middle of the park, and Mac Allister is the root of their problems.

He lost the ball in the build-up to Benjamin Sesko's goal, and although he contributed to Cody Gakpo's equaliser, it was a poor pass that Dominik Szoboszlai did well to control for the assist.

This was another slow and unsatisfying performance of the field, and you have to wonder why Slot continued with Argentina throughout the competition, Mac Allister playing full 90. In co-comms of Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher said that he was “really poor”, and it is difficult to compete.

Slot has had his share of mistakes this season, but the manager has been treated harshly, and how could he have expected such a surprising and surprising demotion for a star who was among the best midfielders in Europe.

Unlike Nunez, Mac Allister has reached the highest levels at Liverpool and supported them, but has fallen so far short of expectations this year that a clean break feels like the only way forward.

It was the same late in the final quarter in Nunez's case. Let's hope the Reds get him right.