Cristiano Ronaldo didn't look like a winner.

With a grim expression, the star left the pitch at Old Trafford after Manchester United's 2-1 win over Liverpool.

Because the 37-year-old, who would like to leave the club as soon as possible, spent almost the entire game on the bench on Monday evening – almost an insult to majesty.

During the game, the five-time world footballer often stared into space while his teammates talked – Ronaldo seemed isolated.

He was only substituted on in the 86th minute.

In Manchester's last Premier League game, the striker was in the starting XI and lost 4-0 at Brentford.

Ronaldo came on as a substitute in the 2-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion in the first league game and played 37 minutes.

United coach Erik ten Hag had a simple explanation for Ronaldo's elimination: the tactics against Liverpool.

"You have to push against her.

You have to do that in a block,” said the 52-year-old Dutchman.

Ronaldo is not considered a pressing machine and only works a little backwards.

Coach ten Hag takes the risk

"The mentality and the team spirit tonight were excellent," added ten Hag, who had banished captain Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Fred to the bench alongside Ronaldo.

He took the risk and was rewarded, Manchester played like a substitute.

Liverpool was under a lot of pressure due to the high pressure and only rarely showed their feared switching moments.

"Well done @manchesterunited.

Thanks for supporting Old Trafford," Ronaldo wrote on Instagram.

His dogged facial expression in the picture just didn't fit in at all.

Ronaldo absolutely wants to leave, but a buyer for the big earner has still not been found.

Manchester United emerged from the crisis with a well-deserved prestige win, while Jürgen Klopp's concerns grew.

The Red Devils won the explosive Premier League duel with Liverpool 2-1 (1-0) on Monday evening with goals from former Dortmund Bundesliga professional Jadon Sancho (16th minute) and Marcus Rashford (53rd).

It was Manchester United's first three points of the season after two defeats.

For the still winless Klopp team from Liverpool, which slipped to 16th place, Mohamed Salah (81st) met late to catch up.

A larger group of ManUnited fans had protested before kick-off.

Her displeasure was once again directed at her own club owners.

A large number of police officers were deployed around the stadium.

Before the duel against the Reds in May 2021, supporters had entered Old Trafford during their protest and had ignited plenty of pyrotechnics.

The game was the first in Premier League history to be postponed due to fan protests.

How things will continue with Ronaldo remains open.

Sports director Sebastian Kehl has recently rejected the rumors that have been circulating despite some denials about a possible move to Borussia Dortmund.

"Cristiano Ronaldo will not move to Borussia Dortmund.

That's the way it is," Kehl told the TV station "Bild" on Sunday.

"There was still no contact," Kehl also clarified: "And to be honest, we didn't deal with it.

The number of clicks was certainly outstanding.

But we have already done a lot in the last few days to classify this rumor." Ronaldo is "certainly a fantastic player, a world footballer.

But if it is said that he is still missing the Bundesliga, that is not our issue."

Shortly thereafter, Bayer Leverkusen's club manager Fernando Carro also said on "Bild-TV" that he did not expect Ronaldo to end up in the Bundesliga at all.

"If a club has the money and wants to take on the challenge of a CR7 in the dressing room, that would do the Bundesliga good," said Carro: "Since Germany works with a lot of reason and a lot of common sense, I can believe that don't imagine anyone will do that."

Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann is not surprised that Ronaldo, who is no longer happy in Manchester, is being offered to clubs in Europe by his advisor Jorge Mendes.

"I think the consultant gets ten percent of Cristiano Ronaldo's annual salary, so he can make a few phone calls.

I think that's Mendes' job," Nagelsmann said on Friday, adding: "It's part of the game that he tries it." The Munich team had waved off the topic of Ronaldo some time ago.

Nagelsmann also commented that it is apparently difficult to find a Champions League club for the aging top star and top earner Ronaldo in Europe: “I think you have to be able to afford it.

I don't think he dribbles open for an apple and an egg.

He's not the youngest anymore either.

And you tie up a lot of capital there.

This is an economic issue.

I think a lot of clubs would like to take him on.

But I guess for 15 Bundesliga clubs it will be a tight number with the annual salary.

I don't think he does it for 500,000 euros a year."

In the event of a change of club, Ronaldo would certainly also have a "certain monetary claim to his new working paper," said Nagelsmann.

The multiple world footballer and Champions League winner is still under contract with Manchester United up to and including June 30, 2023.

But if he sits on the bench more often than he did on Monday night, his desire to leave Manchester is likely to increase.

The transfer window closes on September 1st.

Until then, changes are still possible.

The clock is ticking.

Against Ronaldo.