BREAKING NEWS:Sir Alex Ferguson advised Erik ten Hag that firing him won’t fix the issue. Instead, if Ten Hag starts benching three players to make room for young talents, things could change dramatically. Ferguson mentioned that this was a strategy he successfully used during his own tenure.

Casemiro made critical mistakes leading to both of Liverpool’s opening goals, first by misplacing a pass and then by allowing Diaz to win the ball from him. Consequently, Erik ten Hag substituted Casemiro at halftime, bringing on Toby Collyer, a young midfielder making his Premier League debut.

Manuel Ugarte, a recent signing, was unavailable for the Liverpool match as he hadn’t been registered before the Premier League’s deadline of Friday at noon. When Ugarte becomes eligible, Casemiro’s role as a guaranteed starter could be in jeopardy.

Ten Hag now faces a decision about Casemiro’s future, who still has two years remaining on his four-year contract signed in 2022. He might consider adopting a strategy similar to that of Sir Alex Ferguson, who emphasized the need for decisiveness in managing players who are past their peak.

Ferguson recounted his experience with his 1994 squad, noting that as his key defenders—Paul Parker, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, and Denis Irwin—aged, it became increasingly clear that their performance levels were dropping. Despite their contributions over many years, Ferguson recognized the need for change to maintain team performance.

He facilitated moves for these players, acknowledging that while it was challenging to communicate this transition to them, it was necessary for the team’s future success.