Manchester United rounded off an up and down pre-season with their worst result and performance of all 5 games across the 3 countries. United have had 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat prior to the game with Liverpool, but under their new Dutch manager, they showed a level of quality well above United which perhaps signals some worrying signs ahead of the new campaign.

With United rounding off their pre-season, attention now turns to the Community Shield clash with another rival in Manchester City, a chance to shake off the pre-season ups and downs, and return to Wembley at a chance at back-to-back silverware to start their new season in style.

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Teams

Manchester United: Onana, Amass (Oyedele 73′), Lindelof (Bennett 46′), Evans (Fish 46′ – Murray 73′), Wan-Bissaka (Scanlon 83′), Collyer (Eriksen 62′), Casemiro, Sancho (Mather 73′), Mount (Antony 62′), Amad (Wheatley 62′), Rashford (McTominay 46′)

Subs: Vitek, Heaton, Mejbri, Fletcher

Liverpool: Kelleher (Jaros 46′), Tsimikas (Chambers 65′), Konate (Van den Berg 46′), Quansah (Phillips 65′), Bradley (Stephenson 73′), Jones (Nyoni), Gravenberch (Bajcetic 65′), Elliott (Morton 65′), Carvalho (Endo 65′), Jota (Doak 65′), Salah (Blair 65′)

Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool

Liverpool rounded off their U.S. pre-season tour in commanding fashion, bouncing back emphatically from earlier slipped results to secure a 3–0 triumph over Manchester United at a packed Williams‑Brice Stadium on Sunday. Fabio Carvalho broke the deadlock in the 10th minute with a crafty left‑footed strike that cannily eluded Casemiro before deflecting into Andre Onana’s net, an incisive opener that set the tone for Liverpool’s dominance. Curtis Jones doubled the lead just before the break, capitalising on a sublime Mohamed Salah cross to slot home, a textbook example of sharp movement and alert finishing.

In the second half, Liverpool’s balance and intensity remained intact. Diogo Jota forced Onana into a sharp save before Kostas Tsimikas flicked home the rebound around the hour mark to wrap up a clinical victory. Head coach Arne Slot praised the resolute display but cautioned that the team had “given away too many chances” despite the score line reflecting a comfortable win. United, by contrast, left the pitch frustrated as they created several opportunities through Mount, Rashford and McTominay yet failed to find the target, while injuries to Will Fish and Aaron Wan‑Bissaka added to their late‑tour woes.

This emphatic win marked Liverpool’s third successive victory on tour and underlined their readiness ahead of the competitive season, with Slot signalling progress on squad cohesion and fitness. For Manchester United, the match was a stern reminder that creating chances is only half the battle, their lack of cutting edge in front of goal combined with an injury malaise poses early questions for Erik ten Hag. As Liverpool return to Anfield buoyed by momentum, United must regroup quickly ahead of the Community Shield and the Premier League opener.

Talking Points

Manchester United suffered a sobering 3–0 defeat to fierce rivals Liverpool in their final pre-season outing in South Carolina, ending their U.S. tour on a flat note. The result was not just a blow in terms of the score line but also in the manner of the loss, with Liverpool sharper in every department. United found themselves a goal down early through Fabio Carvalho’s deflected effort and never quite recovered. Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas added to the damage, leaving Erik ten Hag’s side searching for positives after a bruising evening. In what was billed as a test of United’s pre-season progress, Liverpool looked a step ahead in intensity and cohesion.

The defeat leaves United with little time to regroup as attention now turns to Saturday’s Community Shield clash with Manchester City. With fitness levels still being fine-tuned and several key players only just returning to match action, Ten Hag will be hoping the team’s sharper focus and competitive edge can emerge under the Wembley arch. However, there were further headaches in South Carolina, with injuries to Will Fish and Aaron Wan-Bissaka raising concerns over depth in defence. The Dutchman will be looking for a quick response, both in performance and mentality, after a tour that started promisingly but ended with questions rather than conclusions.

Perhaps most worrying for United was their persistent lack of cutting edge in the final third. Despite moments of promise from Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay, the Red Devils failed to convert any of their chances and lacked composure in key attacking moments. Liverpool, in contrast, were clinical and precise when openings came their way. Ten Hag has spoken of developing a more ruthless United, but this display suggested that efficiency in front of goal remains a glaring weakness. As competitive fixtures loom, converting chances will be crucial if United are to avoid a sluggish start to the new season.