"Sources close to the club..." - Journalist claims Arsenal are partly to blame for Man Utd's 7-0 defeat

Manchester United's chase to catch Arsenal in the Premier League is said to have contributed to the side's 7-0 defeat to Liverpool, a new report has claimed.

United conceded six second half goals in a capitulation at Anfield, having gone into the half-time break still with the opportunity of getting back into the match.

But Darwin Nunez scored just two minutes after the interval, with Cody Gakpo adding a third goal on 50 minutes to, at that point, effectively put the game beyond United.

But it would get far worse for Erik ten Hag's side, with Sky Sports senior reporter Melissa Reddy claiming he told his players the performance was a 'disgrace' - in more colourful terms - after the game.

United were considered as outsiders to win the Premier League title, having only lost one league game in their last 11 prior to Sunday's clash, but the 7-0 defeat appears to have put paid to those chances.

And The Athletic claim that Arsenal played a part in the loss.

Arsenal 'partly to blame for Man Utd loss'

Sources close to United presented a theory that Arsenal's 3-2 win over Bournemouth on Saturday contributed to the side's capitulation at Anfield.

It is claimed that players were sending each other 'encouraging messages' after the Gunners went 2-0 down at the Emirates Stadium, with United still in with a chance of winning the title.

But Arsenal produced an incredible comeback, with Reiss Nelson potentially turning the title race on its head with a 97th-minute winner.

The report describes the impact of that win on United as a 'psychological blow', as they knew they had to beat Liverpool to retain any hope of winning the Premier League for the first time since 2013.

Ten Hag's side are now 14 points behind the Gunners in third place, with a game in hand, meaning their chances of winning this season's title are almost certainly over.

They will look to get back to winning ways on Thursday evening when they take on Real Betis at Old Trafford in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie.