‘Devils can’t cope when injuries hit’

MICAH Richards made an unfavourable comparison to

Liverpool in analysing Manchester United’s recent form.

United claimed a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on

Wednesday night in the FA Cup to set up a quarter-final tie with Liverpool at Old Trafford later this month.

Erik ten Hag has come under increased pressure in recent months as United boss.

The Dutchman responded to that pressure by guiding the

Reds to a four-game winning streak in the Premier League that included victories over Wolves, West Ham, Aston Villa and Luton Town.

However, United lost 2-1 at home to Fulham last weekend that saw Ten Hag’s future come into question once again.

The defeat was also the first game that saw Rasmus Hojlund on the sidelines with an injury, and Richards has compared United and Liverpool’s ability to compete with key players absent.

Struggled

Richards, who made 246 appearances for City, has explained why he thinks United have struggled when key players have been absent due to injury.

“Analysing Man United and scrutinising all the time because of the size of them, sometimes it’s a little bit of an overreaction,” Richards said on the Rest is Football podcast alongside Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker.

“They were in good form but even when they were winning, it wasn’t like ‘Oh my god, they look amazing. This is a style of play, this is how they’re playing, all the strikers were on fire.’

“[Rasmus] Hojlund was on form but as soon as he came out, the whole dynamic changes.

“Take Liverpool, for example, no matter who they have in the team, even if it’s the young pups, they’ve been conditioned in a way to play. Yes, of course it helps when things are going but they know the roles.

“If Liverpool are going to press, young players are going to run around.

“With Man United, it only takes one or two to come out the team it just falls apart. That’s the bit which I can’t grasp with Man United at this moment.” well,