Shaw admits Man Utd defeat "was coming" in damning assessment of crisis

Luke Shaw admitted Manchester United 's humiliation against Liverpool had been coming in a brutality honest response to the Old Trafford horror show.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men were thrashed 5-0 by their most bitter rivals on what the United boss described as his 'darkest day' in football.

The Red Devils were 4-0 down to Jurgen Klopp's rampant Liverpool side before the break and Mohamed Salah completed his hat-trick five minutes after the pause to make it five.

It was the Anfield side's biggest victory over United since 1925 and the result has left Solskjaer fighting for his job.

England international Shaw and captain Harry Maguire were heavily criticised for their roles in the dramatic collapse as Liverpool cut the hosts open at will.

Shaw suggested Manchester United's humiliation had been coming ( Image:

Stadium Astro)

The Reds relented from inflicting further damage as they kept possession after the break but the humiliation had already been completed.

Despondent Shaw believes United's players need to take responsibility for their performances, after further calls for boss Solskjaer to be sacked.

"I think it's ourselves that we need to look at, first and foremost, in the mirror," Shaw told Stadium Astro. "Are we doing everything right and preparing right for the games in ourselves?

"Of course we have the tactics and how the manager wants us to play, but I think at times we're way too easy to play against.

"I think, for example, you look at the first goal, it can't be possible that they can have sort of three running through in the first five minutes.

"We need to be more compact, we need to be better and we know that."

Liverpool inflicted their biggest victory over United since 1925 ( Image:

Michael Regan/Getty Images)

United were fortunate to earn a comeback victory over injury-hit Atalanta in the Champions League and were convincingly beaten 4-2 in their previous league outing against Leicester.

Shaw admitted the result could have been foreseen based on abject recent performances.

"I think also maybe we can say this result was coming," he added. "I think in past games where we've won, we haven't been at our best and we know that.

"We felt that inside the dressing room and today we need to reflect and we have to move on from this because it hurts."

Solskjaer is under huge pressure in the wake of Sunday's embarrassment with his inability to solve United's glaring defensive issues exposed.

"I do believe in myself, that I am getting close to what I want with the club," the Norwegian vowed after the defeat.

"The results lately haven't been good enough, that brings doubt in anyone's mind, but I've got to keep strong and believe in what we've been doing."

"We've come too far as a group and we're too close to give up now," he added, when asked about the possibility of losing his job.

"I've heard nothing else and I'm still thinking about tomorrow's work, of course. We're all low. I can't say now that I've felt any worse than this."