The “wrong appointment” made by Liverpool serves as warning to Manchester United about their next manager target

Erik ten Hag was finally rejoicing at keeping Manchester United’s season alive as Liverpool’s quadruple dream came to a tragic end at Old Trafford last weekend. The FA Cup is United’s sole chance to win a trophy, even though there is still a remote chance of making it into the Champions League.

Before the game, ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher put a lot of pressure on Ten Hag by implying that a loss might be the start of the end for the Dutchman. Even if he won in the last seconds of extra time, there are still rumors that something might be changing in the Old Trafford dugout.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has completed his investment deal at United and he reportedly remains unconvinced about Ten Hag, with England boss Gareth Southgate emerging as his number one target.

Southgate will lead England into a fourth major tournament at the European Championships and with his contract up later this year, a mutual parting of the ways seems likely. The Mail claims Ratcliffe is confident of luring Southgate to Old Trafford, where he could link up with former FA chief Dan Ashworth.

As Liverpool continues to be linked with the likes of Xabi Alonso and Rúben Amorim as Jurgen Klopp’s replacement, Southgate is hardly an appointment that will get United fans off their seats. Former Reds striker Stan Collymore isn’t convinced either and fears it could turn out to be a repeat of a managerial mistake at Anfield.

“I could see the England boss being treated by Man United fans in the same way Liverpool supporters viewed Roy Hodgson,” he told Caught Offside. “He has a good CV but they will always be perceived as not being very good as a result of being British, not playing the ball out from the back, and they don’t have that huge personality that many managers at big clubs have.

“Southgate hasn’t managed a club or taken a team through a full season since leaving Middlesbrough back in 2009. I think a club like Man United should be targeting a manager who is currently doing very well at his club and has a strong body of work behind him, which includes winning trophies.”

Hodgson took over as Liverpool boss in 2010 to replace Rafael Benítez. He had just led Fulham to the final of the Europa League and won the LMA Manager of the Year award, but some supporters were not convinced he had the managerial credentials.

The transfer dealings under his stewardship left much to be desired too, with Javier Mascherano among those to depart, while Christian Poulsen, Joe Cole and Paul Konchesky came in. None are remembered particularly fondly on Merseyside.

On the pitch, Liverpool got off to a dismal start and dropped into the relegation zone after winning one of its first eight matches. Hodgson alienated himself to the fanbase further when he criticized the Anfield support and was sacked in January 2011 after just six months as Sir Kenny Dalglish returned.

Carragher has been among his former players to reflect on the difficult tenure and admitted Liverpool and Hodgson were simply not the right fit. He told the Diary of a CEO podcast: “Roy just wasn’t the right manager for the club and they moved him on for about six months. He just didn’t get the club, he didn’t say the right things in the press. He had success in his career playing that way and he wasn’t going to change that when he was in his sixties. It was just the wrong appointment.”

Liverpool.com says: The Reds will be watching developments closely at Old Trafford amid reports Southgate will be targeted. The England boss has done well in his tenure but has not delivered a trophy and his side will be favorite for the Euros. Whether or not he could handle being United manager remains to be seen. Hodgson simply wasn’t the right man for Liverpool and a repeat of his spell will bring more issues for the Red Devils.