This archive report was first published on 8 January 2020.
Manchester United's League Cup semi-final defeat against Manchester City has laid bare the club's desperate need for reinforcements to salvage their stuttering season.
United conceded three first-half goals at Old Trafford for the first time since May 1997, losing 3-1 to Pep Guardiola's men on January 7, 2020.
Manchester City's Bernardo Silva scored a wonder strike, Riyad Mahrez finished coolly, and Andreas Pereira's own goal put City on course for a third straight final before Marcus Rashford gave the hosts faint hope for the second leg on January 29.
Manchester United's defeat serves as a stark reminder that they are light years behind Premier League pacesetters Liverpool and defending champions City.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer acknowledged that there would be no easy solutions as United attempt to claw their way back to the top of English football.
"I've said before it is not going to be a quick fix and the two teams you are talking about are probably two of the best teams in the world," Solskjaer said.
He added, "That's the task we have ahead of us, it's something that we've started. You can see we are still a way off but we've started something that needed doing."
Manchester United have had some impressive performances this season, including a 2-1 victory at City in the league last month, wins against Chelsea and Spurs, and a draw at home against Liverpool.
However, they have stumbled badly against sides they would expect to beat, losing to Watford, Bournemouth, Newcastle, and West Ham, and face a tough battle to qualify for next season's Champions League.
United's midfield looks desperately short of creativity in the absence of the injured Paul Pogba, and with Jesse Lingard struggling to find his best form, Scott McTominay is also currently sidelined with a knee injury.
Despite boosting their defence with the signings of Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the summer transfer window, United do not look like a cohesive unit at the back, recording just three clean sheets in the Premier League this season.
Solskjaer did not sound over-confident that the January transfer window would yield obvious solutions, saying, "We are a young team and with the injuries we've had and illness it shows more and that's something we are looking at."
He added, "If there is something there for us I've got the backing to do something but if it is not the right thing we won't do anything."
