When Liverpool lost to Manchester United at Old Trafford in December, it seemed like the Red Devils are firm favourites to secure the Champions League places.
From November to early week of January, they were unbeaten in 11 consecutive games, of which they won first six games in a row.
It seemed like they have an outside chance of challenging for the Premier League title, as United were giving the impressions of a team that were gelling as an unit under their new manager.
However, with two defeats and a draw in their last five Premier League games, the pressure has shifted on the shoulders of the Dutchman, and there is now a genuine fear whether they can make it to the top four.
Some of his profile players have largely under performed, which should be his biggest concern, while his tactics and team selections have also come under scanner.
One of them is the record summer signing Angel di Maria, who joined for a British record fee, and earns about £280,000-a-week. The Argentine has looked sluggish in recent weeks and has been a shadowy figure to what he looked like at the start of the season.
With just one goal in last 17 matches, although has eight assists to his name (six of those coming before December), United fans certainly expect lot more from the talisman.
Jamie Redknapp, writing in his Daily Mail column, notes that Di Maria has been cutting a frustrating figure and “looks like he’s not interested.”
“At the start of the season, di Maria was gliding across the field, but at the moment he looks weak and sluggish. We all know what he is capable of and the United fans deserve better.”
Di Maria’s shooting accuracy has dropped to 25% while he has been not effective enough in creating chances for others.
What has gone wrong him? Injuries have played a part, but is he doing enough to collect his hefty wages per week? Is he lacking in confidence?
His crosses from the flanks haven’t found the target man on a regular basis, although many think that strikers are not doing enough to get to the end of his delivery.
Against Swansea on Saturday, Di Maria managed 14 crosses, but only four of them had found the right players.
Put it in a nutshell, Di Maria needs to play better, but he needs help from his fellow team-mates, and most importantly his manager.
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