Man Utd have a three-part to-do list this week to avoid instant disaster under INEOS

Manchester United concluded their pre-season fixture schedule with a 3-0 defeat against Liverpool at the Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. Erik ten Hag will have taken some positives from a match in which his side crafted the majority of the chances and showed promising signs in and out of possession.

However, United’s below-par defending and wastefulness in front of goal were among the concerns that followed the Dutchman and his squad back to Manchester immediately after the clash.

Express Sport runs through three developments that simply must unfold ahead of Saturday’s season curtain-raiser against Manchester City in the Community Shield.

Casemiro can’t be a starter

United’s reported priority to recruit a second centre-back and a right-back ahead of a central midfielder has been a significant cause for concern among fans.

Casemiro proved once again in the Liverpool defeat that he can’t be relied upon to start regularly alongside Kobbie Mainoo in Ten Hag’s midfield this term.

A swoop for Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte and the return of Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat appear to be United’s leading options.

Regardless, a move to bolster the engine room must progress this week to at least ensure Mainoo has a more-suited partner for the Premier League opener against Fulham on August 16.

Centre-back crisis prevention

United will have been desperate to leave their unprecedented centre-back injury crisis behind them, but the early signs are worrying.

New £52million man Leny Yoro is out for three months with a broken foot, while Harry Maguire missed the Liverpool friendly as a precaution.

Lisandro Martinez is due back at Carrington on Monday, so he won’t be fully fit for Saturday’s meeting with Man City. At this rate, Victor Lindelof – who is up for sale – and 36-year-old Jonny Evans may start.

Bayern Munich have already rejected one approach for Matthijs de Ligt. United must return to the table and attempt to push through a deal so Ten Hag has sufficient depth at the heart of his defence.

Prepare Joshua Zirkzee

Rasmus Hojlund has added to the early-season injury woes as he faces six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.

It leaves £36.5m arrival Joshua Zirkzee as United’s sole natural senior striker, but he only returned from holiday a few days ago and will need time to gain match sharpness and adapt to English football.

Ten Hag has suggested that Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho or Bruno Fernandes can fill in. However, the volume of missed chances against Liverpool in the absence of a natural striker was alarming.

United and Zirkzee need to work hard to ensure he is ready to start against Fulham, if not in the Community Shield game at Wembley.