MANCHESTER UNITED VS LIVERPOOL (1-1) FT

[wiseone]

1) Strange as it seems that Pogba handball was unsurprising. It had been coming. In the 5 minutes before the handball he had an utter nightmatre: misplaced passes, giving the ball away… Carrick was unlucky to be subbed off at half time instead of Pogba. Liverpool's players had clearly been instructed to close Carrick down and harried him like rabid dogs. That said, Carrick coped with it quite well (considering that he is 35 and was being mauled by fit players 10 years younger than him). Pogba had a ‘mare today (and should have been subbed off in the second half too). Very talented player but his carelessness in possession nearly put Liverpool 2-0 up when the score was still 1-0.

2) Andrew Smith's baby face belies the fact that he is capable of some acts of great bastardry. That shirt pull on Firminho was simply The most blatant and cynical foul you will ever see right in front of the ref, then he went down with an angelic innocent look on his face.

3) Jonesy and Mark Red continue to look good in central defence. Red had a very good game today. So good that Mike Smalling cannot get into the team.

4) Liverpool's manic pressing was really impressive. Ther stamina must be off the charts to press maniacally like that for 90 minutes. I have not seen pressing like that since Bielsa's Bilbao.

5) The next time Fellaini makes a mistake I hope everyone remembers that it was he who made the decisive contribution that led to Man Utd's equaliser (and that it was he who scored Man Utd's second goal a few days ago in a cup semi-final).

[tfco]

Disappointing draw, game should have been won. Too many wailers but....

We are Manchester United and that's the real deal!

Not too bad.
In the coming weekends we will have the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal playing each other, so United really has to win it next fixtures and soon they will be in the mix with top 4

Stoke away next

It's no longer the same tough Tony Pulis Stoke, I will be hugely dissapointed if United comes out with anything less than 3 points, especially on a weekend where City and Spurs will be trying to annihilate each other.
The team has no choice but to win, it's becoming urgent

IIRC they beat us last season at the Britannia, or was it the season before. 1st game of the new year

di Maria called in sick.

[wiseone]

Last season. Mitigating circumstances though: Depay was playing for Stoke that day:

IIRC they beat us last season at the Britannia, or was it the season before. 1st game of the new year

di Maria called in sick.

[txj]

Those criticizing Herrera failed to see the play. That was a professional foul he was fine with taking one for the team even if a red. Wijnowdumb would have been released one on one with DeGea. Herrera acted like a true professional while Firminho behaved like a dumb thug.

You're on point. Ironically, I thought that firminho should've seen red for retaliating off the ball with the hands to face shove. Conversely, no matter how bad ferrera's professional foul looked - and it looked real bad -it was never a red.

Hands to the face???? what game were watching homie???

Herrera has been playing that trick from back in the day in Bilboa. A real low don dirty player...

Err.... he has no such reputation.

Actually he does....

[benteke]

Disappointing draw, game should have been won. Too many wailers but....

We are Manchester United and that's the real deal!

Not too bad.
In the coming weekends we will have the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal playing each other, so United really has to win it next fixtures and soon they will be in the mix with top 4

Stoke away next

It's no longer the same tough Tony Pulis Stoke, I will be hugely dissapointed if United comes out with anything less than 3 points, especially on a weekend where City and Spurs will be trying to annihilate each other.
The team has no choice but to win, it's becoming urgent

IIRC they beat us last season at the Britannia, or was it the season before. 1st game of the new year

di Maria called in sick.

It was Season before.
We have to win.
Some teams above Man U still have to face Liverpool at Anfield.
And City vs Liverpool at Etihad will be exciting

[marko]

Pogba needs to learn how to adjust his game, sometimes all that is needed is the simple pass, safety first, he does not need to display skills and not be able to back track when he loses the ball, Liverpool came with a plan to close down man united and dont let us settle into our usual play, they nearly did that but of course Zlatan is Zlatan, he knows where the back of the net is, he must be the joint top scorer in the premiership, besides, we missed several chances, the martial miss was really bad, this was a game we could have won and we created several chances, overall I am impressed with our resilience, in the old LVG era, we would have lost the game, our next few games are ones we can win, we have to keep on winning to keep up pressure, I believe we can get the top 4 spots, there is not much difference between the top teams, we have definitely improved

[marko]

forgot to add, Wayne Rooney is finished as a player, we better buy in the summer!!

[icee]

Very disappointed at the draw. Liverpool should have won.

On Goalkeepers: About three games into the season, I shared my thoughts on two goal keepers - Karus (Liverpool) and Bravo (City). At the time, I was of the opinion that two very good coaches - Klopp and Pep had made mistakes in their decisions on Goalkeepers and their intent to play from the GK at all cost. One of the coaches changed the other is still stuck - the results speak today. KLOPP's decision quality and ability to change in the face of convincing evidence is the reason why a Liverpool GK is being talked off as MOM today. #decisions

[benteke]

Pogba needs to learn how to adjust his game, sometimes all that is needed is the simple pass, safety first, he does not need to display skills and not be able to back track when he loses the ball, Liverpool came with a plan to close down man united and dont let us settle into our usual play, they nearly did that but of course Zlatan is Zlatan, he knows where the back of the net is, he must be the joint top scorer in the premiership, besides, we missed several chances, the martial miss was really bad, this was a game we could have won and we created several chances, overall I am impressed with our resilience, in the old LVG era, we would have lost the game, our next few games are ones we can win, we have to keep on winning to keep up pressure, I believe we can get the top 4 spots, there is not much difference between the top teams, we have definitely improved

In the LVG era Man United was beating Liverpool for fun, the man always came up with the correct tactics to deal with Liverpool pressing. It would have been a win.
Agree with you on the rest.

[benteke]

Very disappointed at the draw. Liverpool should have won.

On Goalkeepers: About three games into the season, I shared my thoughts on two goal keepers - Karus (Liverpool) and Bravo (City). At the time, I was of the opinion that two very good coaches - Klopp and Pep had made mistakes in their decisions on Goalkeepers and their intent to play from the GK at all cost. One of the coaches changed the other is still stuck - the results speak today. KLOPP's decision quality and ability to change in the face of convincing evidence is the reason why a Liverpool GK is being talked off as MOM today. #decisions

So Gary Neville was actually right about Karius

[txj]

Anyone watching the cracker at the Sanjez Pijuan

2-1 Sevilla.

What a comeback

[wiseone]

Age is cruel. Watching Rooney's raw power as a teenager was a terrifying sight. He has lost pace and power after 15 intense years in the spotlight as an EPL player, captain of his country, and captain of his club (yet he is still only 31!). People tend to forget that Rooney became a Premier League player at age 16. He still has a (different) role to play. He would be better off playing deeper as a regista (he still has an eye for a pass) like Scholesy did when he could no longer do the lung bursting runs.

forgot to add, Wayne Rooney is finished as a player, we better buy in the summer!!

[The YeyeMan]

Draw probably a fair result. I'm impressed with how Klopp has managed his resources and how he effectively took Carrick out of the game.

[tfco]

[tfco]

Pogba needs to learn how to adjust his game, sometimes all that is needed is the simple pass, safety first, he does not need to display skills and not be able to back track when he loses the ball, Liverpool came with a plan to close down man united and dont let us settle into our usual play, they nearly did that but of course Zlatan is Zlatan, he knows where the back of the net is, he must be the joint top scorer in the premiership, besides, we missed several chances, the martial miss was really bad, this was a game we could have won and we created several chances, overall I am impressed with our resilience, in the old LVG era, we would have lost the game, our next few games are ones we can win, we have to keep on winning to keep up pressure, I believe we can get the top 4 spots, there is not much difference between the top teams, we have definitely improved

In the LVG era Man United was beating Liverpool for fun, the man always came up with the correct tactics to deal with Liverpool pressing. It would have been a win.
Agree with you on the rest.

LVG would have won this game...but

lost to Hull this past Wednesday...and to WHU last week

[Coach]

@Wise, the issue is, Rooney doesnt have the cortical capacity to be a Scholes and too attacking an instinct to either fake Carrick. The idea if playing him deeper and deeper is no more than denial. The game must accept that he is closing in on finished, it would come as no surprise were part of his lethargy due to weary sinews and spent cartilage. He's been a warhorse for over a decade and a half, rather than run him into the ground, take him out back and make Tesco's beef. Its for the best.

[wanaj0]

0

[theYemster]

Pogba needs to learn how to adjust his game, sometimes all that is needed is the simple pass, safety first, he does not need to display skills and not be able to back track when he loses the ball, Liverpool came with a plan to close down man united and dont let us settle into our usual play, they nearly did that but of course Zlatan is Zlatan, he knows where the back of the net is, he must be the joint top scorer in the premiership, besides, we missed several chances, the martial miss was really bad, this was a game we could have won and we created several chances, overall I am impressed with our resilience, in the old LVG era, we would have lost the game, our next few games are ones we can win, we have to keep on winning to keep up pressure, I believe we can get the top 4 spots, there is not much difference between the top teams, we have definitely improved

In the LVG era Man United was beating Liverpool for fun, the man always came up with the correct tactics to deal with Liverpool pressing. It would have been a win.
Agree with you on the rest.

How many times did he face Klopp?

[theYemster]

Flawed comparison. You're comparing Pogba playing well with KDB scoring. Isn't it possible KDB Might've had good games since September despite not scoring?

Also, KDB has had many great games for City already. So him going through a "slump" is understandable. Can we say the same for Pogba? How many great games has he had for United?

Besides, only one was bought for about 90 million.

[Chief Ogbunigwe]

Flawed comparison. You're comparing Pogba playing well with KDB scoring. Isn't it possible KDB Might've had good games since September despite not scoring?

Also, KDB has had many great games for City already. So him going through a "slump" is understandable. Can we say the same for Pogba? How many great games has he had for United?

Besides, only one was bought for about 90 million.

Mour is still trying to justify getting rid of KDB at Chelsea, instead of just moving on and wishing the kid well.

[metalalloy]

that was all fellaini

...the Fellaini you no want

ol boy i am gradually accepting the fact that he is a (good) player

i would have put in rashford, but oh well

Jose said he opted for the direct route having noticed that Klopp didn't have any option on the bench to counter that approach. Explains choosing fellaini over rashford

[tfco]

that was all fellaini

...the Fellaini you no want

ol boy i am gradually accepting the fact that he is a (good) player

i would have put in rashford, but oh well

Jose said he opted for the direct route having noticed that Klopp didn't have any option on the bench to counter that approach. Explains choosing fellaini over rashford

actually mugu, if you watched the game, you would understand that makes perfect sense.

Watch again how the equalizer came about. It was all on The Big Fella (as much as it pains to admit)

The intricate passing was not working - route 1 did the trick

[metalalloy]

that was all fellaini

...the Fellaini you no want

ol boy i am gradually accepting the fact that he is a (good) player

i would have put in rashford, but oh well

Jose said he opted for the direct route having noticed that Klopp didn't have any option on the bench to counter that approach. Explains choosing fellaini over rashford

actually mugu, if you watched the game, you would understand that makes perfect sense.

Watch again how the equalizer came about. It was all on The Big Fella (as much as it pains to admit)

The intricate passing was not working - route 1 did the trick