Manchester United's defender Luke Shaw has voiced his concerns about the team's inconsistent performance this season, emphasizing that such inconsistency is "not acceptable" for a club of Manchester United's stature. His comments came in the aftermath of the team's goalless draw against Liverpool at Anfield, a result which halted Liverpool's 100% winning record at home this season.
Shaw, who played the entire game, stressed the need for the team to build upon the foundation laid in the Liverpool match. He highlighted the discrepancy between their strong performance against Chelsea and the subsequent disappointing 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford. "It's not acceptable, we can't accept that and it's something that needs to be addressed and changed very quickly because we can't keep doing this," Shaw stated.
The draw with Liverpool saw the Reds drop to second place in the 2023-24 Premier League table. The match also featured a heated moment between Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana. Van Dijk confronted Onana, accusing him of time-wasting tactics. The interaction, which occurred in the tunnel, ended with Onana smiling at Van Dijk's remarks and walking away.
Manchester United have been grappling with injury issues, which were evident during their 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich, leading to their Champions League exit. Both Harry Maguire and Shaw sustained injuries during the match. Maguire, who had been in excellent form, winning the Premier League Player of the Month for November, suffered a groin injury. Shaw, on the other hand, had a hamstring strain. These injuries have prompted the club to review its medical department, especially in light of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's anticipated purchase of a significant stake in the club.
As the team prepares for their next Premier League fixture against West Ham, they face a growing injury list that includes players like Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro, Lisandro Martínez, Christian Eriksen, Mason Mount, Victor Lindelof, and Amad Diallo. Manager Erik ten Hag and his team will be looking to address these challenges and find the consistency that Shaw rightly demands.
