Ten Hag said to be ‘one defeat away’ from Old Trafford ‘crisis’ as INEOS chiefs demand a drastic turnaround

Just three months after INEOS affirmed their faith in Erik ten Hag to stay at Manchester United long-term, there’s already speculation that his position in the dugout is under threat.

Per Football Insider, the Dutchman is reportedly ‘one defeat away’ from entering a ‘crisis’ at Old Trafford, which would see club chiefs forced to reconsider their decision and begin scouting potential successors.

It comes after the Red Devils largely picked up where they left off in the Premier League when returning to action in August, initially overseeing a cagey and narrow 1-0 win over Fulham before falling to a 2-1 injury-time defeat vs Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex.

The following week, United were comfortably overturned on home soil by arch-rivals Liverpool, conceding three goals without offering as little as one in response.

Read more: Liverpool chief hoping to use previous ties to pip United to ‘explosive’ fullback eyed as long-term Shaw successor

A drastic turnaround is required from Ten Hag

Ten Hag’s men responded with a 3-0 victory against Southampton last Saturday and, on Tuesday, hammered Barnsley 7-0 in the Carabao Cup. However, it must be noted that the former are yet to claim a point since returning to the top flight, and the latter sit seventh-placed in League One.

On paper, the Reds’ forthcoming fixtures pose something of a favourable run – away to a struggling Crystal Palace followed by their first Europa League clash at home to FC Twente. Then things look considerably trickier, though, with Tottenham Hotspur, Porto and Aston Villa all on the horizon.