Erik ten Hag accepts he and Manchester United must improve (Martin Rickett/PA)
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Erik ten Hag has insisted he is not worried he will lose his job as Manchester United manager.
Former Chelsea head coach Graham Potter has been tipped to succeed Ten Hag while the imminent investment of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos will bring a different power structure at Old Trafford.
United have lost 12 games this season, including their last two, and crashed out of the Champions League with just four points.
But Ten Hag brushed aside talk of the sack. “I am not concerned about that,” he said. He has enjoyed the backing of the current regime, including football director John Murtough, and said: “I feel that and they tell it but actually that is fine and that is OK but I am focusing on the process, to make this team play better, make the individuals better and that is my concern.”
Luke Shaw should be fit to play for United at Anfield on Sunday and Marcus Rashford is fit again but Ten Hag will be without Harry Maguire for several matches.
The centre-back came off in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich and United are likely to be without him for forthcoming games, with United facing West Ham and Aston Villa after they visit Liverpool.
But left-back Shaw, who was withdrawn at half-time against the German champions, has made a rapid return to training to spare manager Ten Hag another injury problem.
Forward Rashford has only started one of United’s last four games, due to a combination of suspension and illness, and missed the Bayern match.
Maguire seemed to have come from fifth-choice centre-back to Ten Hag’s preferred option in the middle of the defence.
And the Dutchman said: “Harry will not be available for the coming games but we don’t think it is a long term. Luke Shaw trained this morning so we think he is available for Sunday. Marcus Rashford [is back], [Anthony] Martial not.”
United will be without the suspended Bruno Fernandes and Ten Hag chose not to reveal who will captain his side at Anfield, where they lost 7-0 last season.
Ten Hag said his side will use their heaviest ever defeat to Liverpool as fuel, adding: “Everyone is highly motivated. When you go to Anfield, it is a great place to go. We know it is going to be tough, that is what every top footballer wants to have the challenge so we have to look forward. Last year we take that in our memory but you have to also take the benefit from it and learn from it and on Sunday we can prove it.”
Ten Hag has not watched back the 7-0 hammering, explaining: “I don’t think it is the right thing [to do]. Last year is last year and the past. What we can change is the future.”
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