Manchester United's Premier League trip to West Ham was the 57th match of a gruelling season and former Old Trafford defender Rio Ferdinand feels fatigue is one reason behind Erik ten Hag's side shipping so many second-half goals.
United are battling for a top-four spot in the Premier League having already won the Carabao Cup, while they have an FA Cup final derby with Manchester City to come next month. Ten Hag's men also progressed to the last eight in the Europa League.
With Liverpool and Brighton, who beat United at the Amex last week, putting the pressure on in the race for the Champions League places, the Reds must ensure they don't allow their campaign to tail off. United have dropped points in four of their last eight league matches since the 7-0 trouncing at Anfield, with poor performances in the second 45 minutes a theme.
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Six of those Liverpool goals were scored after the break while of the 12 goals United have conceded since then, 10 have come in the second period. And Ferdinand, who spent 12 years at Old Trafford, points to a combination of factors behind an apparent drop-off as games progress.
“I think it could be a combination of things," said Ferdinand, speaking on BT Sport. "It could be mindset, fatigue, squad depth, but whatever it is they’ve got to get it right and get it out of their system.
"The problem you have with stats like that is they creep into the dressing room and you get to later stages in games, it’s tight and you see a nervousness creep into that team. Man United have got to stay away from that.”
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