Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal cannot afford to even draw with Liverpool, claims Alan Shearer

Under pressure: Shearer believes Van Gaal needs to justify his investment
John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images
James Benge7 September 2015

Louis van Gaal cannot even afford to draw against Liverpool on Saturday after spending so heavily on revamping his squad, Alan Shearer has claimed.

A £36 million deadline day deal for 19-year-old striker Anthony Martial took Manchester United’s spending in the past three transfer windows beyond £250 million. This includes several unimpressive but high-profile additions, most notably Angel di Maria, who last just a year at Old Trafford before departing to PSG.

Van Gaal achieved his first objective in guiding United back into the Champions League, however his side has rarely impressed and looked far from potential title challengers in last week’s 2-1 defeat to Swansea.

With a game against old rivals Liverpool to come on Saturday Shearer has warned Van Gaal it is time to make improvements.

Writing in his column in the Sun, Shearer described the north west tie as “one neither can afford to lose. I would argue Van Gaal cannot even afford to draw it.

“He has been asking for more time to blend, for young players to develop etc. Time is up I’m afraid, the time is now.

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“You cannot oversee the changes he has made, backed by hundreds of millions, and then claim you are a victim because it needs time to blend. It is your job to mould a side and I would suggest a year is plenty for a club of Manchester United’s standing.”

Shearer also criticised a transfer policy that has left United with four goalkeepers and just two strikers, with the departures of Adnan Januzaj and Javier Hernandez late in the window leaving Van Gaal even shorter on options up front.

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“He tells Javier Hernandez he has another chance and then sells him. A rather baffled Robin van Persie is also dispensed with,” he wrote.

“Then in comes a relatively untried teenager in Anthony Martial upon whom there is now a huge expectation after a deal which will eventually be worth £57.6 million. Yes he is only 19 and yes it might be unfair, but he needs to hit the ground running, have no doubts about that. Manchester United can’t wait any longer.”

Both United and Liverpool are currently on seven points after their first four games of the season. The visitors will be without Philippe Coutinho, who picked up a red card in a 3-0 defeat to West Ham last week.

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