Man Utd boss Ten Hag gives damning reason for ditching Maguire for Varane

Erik ten Hag has suggested that Man Utd captain Harry Maguire lacks the 'mobility and agility' to play behind his back four after dropping him against Liverpool.

The Red Devils have been terrible so far this season, with Ten Hag losing his first two Premier League games as Man Utd boss.

Their opening weekend loss to Brighton was bad enough, but alarm bells were ringing after an embarrassing 4-0 humiliation against Brentford in London.

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Maguire has been under pressure from fans and pundits for about a year after a number of poor performances and Ten Hag dropped him for today's game against Liverpool.

Fred, Luke Shaw and Cristiano Ronaldo were also dropped and Ten Hag explained the reasoning behind his changes.

Speaking to reporters after Casemiro's announcement, Ten Hag said: "Casemiro is the glue between the stones - that's what we were looking for this summer, we found it and I'm really happy.

"You look at the approach to this game, we have a team, a lot of games to cover, and we thought for this game it was best to make these changes. It doesn't mean anything going forward.

"Varane is a really experienced player, he has won everything in his career and will bring communication in the back four, but that's also what Harry does.

"We want mobility and agility in the back four, which is also why we decided to play with the other three."

On Ronaldo's absence from the starting XI, Ten Hag added: "Liverpool are a great team in possession and out of possession, you have to press them, and you have to do it out of a block, so you have need a lot of energy.

"In transition you can beat them, that's why we signed Rashford, Elanga and Sancho."

And former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes being 'out of the firing line' could do Man Utd captain Maguire some good.

Carragher told Sky Sports: "I think Maguire and Ronaldo will be really disappointed.

"I think in a way for Maguire it's something he needs just to get out of the line of fire, I think some of the criticism has been way overdone.

"With Ronaldo, the manager now has an opportunity because there are a few returning players to say 'I want you on the bench'.

"If I'm being honest I don't think the manager wants Ronaldo around, he was supposed to play him at Brentford but as soon as he had options he benched him and I think that in two weeks Ronaldo will move on.”