Manchester United's 7-0 Liverpool Defeat Still Haunts Old Trafford
Manchester United and Liverpool have long shared one of football's fiercest rivalries, and the next chapter will be written when Anfield hosts the pair in November. Yet as the clubs prepare to meet again, a striking reality remains: much of United's current squad still bears the scars of their darkest recent afternoon, the 7-0 humiliation at the hands of Liverpool in March 2023.
That day at Anfield, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah each scored twice, with Roberto Firmino adding a late goal to complete a rout that left United reeling. It was the club's heaviest defeat in Premier League history and their joint-worst result in all competitions. Remarkably, it came just days after Erik ten Hag had lifted the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle.
Three Years of Turmoil at Old Trafford
Since that chastening afternoon, United have spent more than £1 billion in the transfer market, cycled through three managers, and lurched from one crisis to the next. The club has now settled on Michael Carrick, who impressed during an interim spell after Ruben Amorim was dismissed in January. However, after a stuttering start to the current campaign, Carrick is already feeling pressure from the supporters.
Despite the vast expenditure and constant upheaval, United's starting lineup now looks strikingly similar to the one that limped away from Anfield three years ago. Five players who featured in that fixture started against Fulham last week, an eerie resemblance that underscores how little has truly changed.
Which Players Remain From the 7-0 Defeat?
Marcus Rashford, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez all played a part in the recent 1-1 draw with Fulham, and all five were on the pitch during the Liverpool humiliation.
Other familiar faces from that day have since moved on. Casemiro left the club in the summer after agreeing a free transfer midway through the 2025/26 campaign and now plays for Inter Miami. Raphael Varane departed for Como in 2024 before retiring due to a knee injury. David de Gea remains in Serie A, captaining Fiorentina after 12 years at United. Fred returned to Brazil months after the rout and now plays for Atletico Mineiro. Wout Weghorst, who started in the No. 10 role that day, joined Twente in the Eredivisie after two seasons with Ajax. Antony spent two more years at the club before a successful loan at Real Betis earned him a permanent move to La Liga.
What Has Changed at Manchester United Since 2023?
The revolving door at Old Trafford has kept turning, with seven new arrivals this summer, including Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. Yet with five players still remaining from that 7-0 defeat, it is clear that United's problems run deeper than squad turnover. The club remains very much in a state of back to the future, still searching for the stability that has eluded them since that fateful afternoon on Merseyside.