Liverpool Legend: Moyes May Regret Failed FA Cup Tactics

Liverpool legend Alan Hansen has claimed that David Moyes may live to regret fielding a weakened team against Swansea in the third round of the FA Cup as Manchester United lost 2-1.

United were coming off the back of a home loss to Tottenham as they prepared for their cup clash and with Sunderland to play in the Capital One Cup semi-final on Tuesday Moyes' selection options were stretched over the weekend.

And the Red Devils were made to pay the price for not playing their best against the Welsh side and Hansen believes that Moyes may regret such a decision if his side fail to beat the Black Cats during the week.

He said in the Telegraph: "Manchester United are out of the FA Cup and David Moyes was obviously focusing on the Capital One Cup semi-final against Sunderland.

"He clearly sees that as a better chance and if he wins that trophy this season at least he can say he's got one.

"If Moyes can win the Capital One Cup and finish in the top four that would represent salvation for the season. The flipside of the coin is that one chance of a trophy is gone and should United lose to Sunderland he will look back and regret it."

One of the big issues surrounding the FA Cup weekend has been whether managers of Premier League clubs are justified in playing weaker teams as they prioritise other competitions.

West Ham and Aston Villa were both made to pay the ultimate price for taking such risks as they suffered losses to Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United respectively.

And Hansen, who won the FA Cup twice with Liverpool as well as coming runner-up in the competition twice, believes that the controversies this weekend show how much time has changed since he was playing.

"Playing weakened teams never used to happen in the FA Cup when I was playing," he explained. "It was all about fielding your strongest team and attempting to go all the way. Even if Liverpool were the title holders and drew a non-League club at Anfield there is no way we would have sent out a weakened team.

"Staying in the Premier League is the absolute priority now and if you were to ask most chairmen if they would take an FA Cup win over survival I think we know the answer.

"There's possibly only Dave Whelan who would prefer the FA Cup at Wigan, but that is because he has got a history with the competition."