Manchester United showed us that, for all their promise this season, they still have a long a way to go following their loss on Sunday.
The Red Devils headed to Anfield with plenty of optimism but left with their tail between their legs as Liverpool ripped them apart to record a statement 7-0 victory. United's players have been accused of giving up - which Marcus Rashford has quickly rebuffed.
Erik ten Hag got into his players on Monday and the emphasis is now on them to prove that their Merseyside nightmare was a seriously bad day at the office and nothing more. Defeats of that magnitude either set teams on a downward spiral or can in fact invigorate them.
Real Betis are next up for the Red Devils before they take on Southampton in the league. Ten Hag has managed the difficult periods this season impressively and often maintained composure when things threaten to boil over.
We take a look at how United teams of the past have responded to humiliating losses.
Newcastle 5-0 Man Utd - 1996
The St James' Park hammering is best remember for Philippe Albert's chip, which bought up the Magpies' fifth, to send the home fans into heaven. They'd been toppled in the title race by United months earlier, so it felt like sweet revenge, albeit it wouldn't count for much come the end of the season.
Ferguson's life didn't get any easier a week later though as they travelled to Southampton. An away day at The Dell is by no means the easiest game on the fixture list, but it won't have been one they feared. As it was though they would concede even more as the Saints hit six.
Sandwiched in between their two league hammerings though was a third round League Cup clash against Swindon.
The Robins headed to Old Trafford and were on level terms until the 72nd minute, when Paul Scholes scored the winner for the home side, who wouldn't have been able to accept anything less than a win given the circumstances.
Chelsea 5-0 Man Utd - 1999
It was rare blot in an otherwise stellar season for the Red Devils, but it equalled Ferguson's worst ever league defeat as the Blues enjoyed themselves at Stamford Bridge. Gus Poyet opened the scoring in the first minute and set Chelsea on their way.
Poyet's goal owed to a blunder from Massimo Taibi in the United goal. His list of errors was growing with Matt Le Tissier famously profiting at the Italian's expense. Signed as a potential replacement for Peter Schmeichel, he would never play for United again after shipping five in London.
United didn't rest on their laurels though when their next game came almost a fortnight later. They hosted Watford and showed no signs of any hangover as they smashed four past the Hornets, who would grab a late consolation at Old Trafford.
The three points didn't cover up all the cracks though as the Red Devils were undone, once again in London, just a week later. This time it was Tottenham who recovered from 1-0 down to secure a 3-1 win. Scholes would put through his own net before half-time.
Man Utd 1-4 Liverpool - 2009
It was the game that blew the title race wide open - and worse was to come. Losing at Old Trafford is bad enough, but when its your arch rivals it stings even more. Ferguson's side had taken a 1-0 lead before Liverpool came roaring back with Fernando Torres enjoying his usual dominance over Nemanja Vidic.
Seemingly the only forward who had the Serbian's number, he would rob him to score the equaliser. Gerrard, Fabio Aurelio and Andrea Dossena would all go on to notch on an afternoon to forget as Vidic was sent-off.
It allowed Liverpool to get their tails up as they looked to chase down United - and their charge gathered more momentum seven days later as United lost 2-0 at Fulham. Danny Murphy scored the opener as Scholes was sent-off before the 20 minute mark.
Zoltan Gera made it two with minutes remaining before an angered Wayne Rooney picked up a second yellow to earn himself a red - and a subsequent suspension - meaning the visitors finished with nine men.
Man Utd 1-6 Man City - 2011
Three goals in stoppage time for the noisy neighbours only allowed their fans to ramp up the volume but also saw Ferguson declare it as his "worst day ever". It was the true emergence of a City side that would go on to pip United in the final minute of the season, claiming their first ever Premier League title.
Roberto Mancini headed to Old Trafford early in the campaign in what was a true litmus test of their credentials. Mario Balotelli asked everyone 'why always me' as he notched a brace with Sergio Aguero making it 3-0. A late consolation was then overshadowed as United's goal difference was torn to shreds - which proved crucial.
Just days later Ferguson's side faced a unique trip to Hampshire to take on then League Two side Aldershot in a League Cup tie. They recorded a routine 3-0 win with the scars of their defeat still on show.
Their next league game was a gutsy 1-0 win at Everton courtesy of a Javier Hernandez goal. It would set them on a nine-match unbeaten run, in which they would win eight and remain very much on City's heels.
Man Utd 1-6 Tottenham - 2020
Unfortunately for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, this wasn't the first time he'd be humiliated on his own patch. The only consolation for him is that no fans were present as the season was played behind closed doors. The man he replaced, Jose Mourinho, came to town with his north London outfit.
Solskjaer got the ideal start when Bruno Fernandes put United ahead after two minutes, but by the seventh minute they were 2-1 down. Anthony Martial was then sent off and by the break Tottenham had four. Come the full-time whistle Tottenham had strolled to a 6-1 success.
The Norwegian was already being questioned given his credentials and this did little to help. United responded by going 1-0 down in their next fixture at Newcastle but roared back to secure a 4-1 success in the north east.
In fact, following their defeat to Tottenham, United would only lose once in their next 16 league games. A run that would take them from 15th to the top of the table, albeit briefly. They also gained revenge against Mourinho and co in April as they won 3-1 in the capital.
Man Utd 0-5 Liverpool - 2021
Ferguson's worst day was a five-goal loss to City, Solskjaer's was the same margin of defeat, but to Liverpool. He said: "It's not easy to say something, apart from it's the darkest day I've had leading these players."
For many, the drubbing had been coming, with the Red Devils without a win in three leading into the game. The ruthless Reds took absolute advantage as they found themselves 4-0 up by the interval. United's defence wilted in front of their home fans as they conceded a fifth in the second-half.
The location for their response operation was Tottenham, who themselves were not in the greatest form. United, who tweaked their formation to go with a 5-3-2, such were their defensive issues, produced a performance full of character to record a 3-0 success.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring to set them on their way as the north Londoners were booed off by their own fans - with manager Nuno Espirito Santo sacked just ten games into his tenure.
Brentford 4-0 Man Utd - 2022
Another new manager at the helm in Erik ten Hag, but the same old issues - or so it seemed. United were shocked in their first game of the season as Brighton got a memorable win at Old Trafford and things got even worse when they travelled to Brentford.
The Bees took the lead thanks to a David de Gea blunder and added three more before half-time. Ten Hag was in desperate need of answers early in his tenure, but produced them in surprising fashion.
Liverpool were next up for United and, despite the Reds only drawing their first two games, there was talk of another Old Trafford massacre. Instead the hosts stood up with Jadon Sancho scoring early before Rashford doubled their lead in the second-half.
They would hold on to record a 2-1 win - the first of the Ten Hag era - and it set them on a run that would see them win 12 of their next 16 games.
