Liverpool v Manchester United A Liverpool Perspective
After such a fantastic performance last time out, this performance was a massive disappointment. Even more so as it came against Man Utd. The worst thing was seeing the players completely out fought and out battled. Not for the first time this season either. Like last time, against Nottingham Forest, this game felt like it was crying out for Endo in the midfield to give it a bit of bite. Mainly though, the big miss was Szoboszlai, whose energy and pressing were badly missed.
The failure to press was something that stood out starkly, like a crow in a field of snow. At one point, out on the right wing, Gravenberch pressed, but the rest of the midfield just dropped off, making it easy for United to just play around him. The only time the team did press as a unit was out on the left, with Gakpo leading it and it led to Robertson winning the ball back in the opposition half. While they were much better in this game than they have been previous, it was obvious they were still susceptible to being pressed.
The press was not the only problem with the Liverpool performance, it was more of a symptom of a general malaise running throughout the team. All season Liverpool have played like a team, all pulling together and that has got them through games when they were not playing well. Against Man Utd it was absent. The players all looked to be on different wavelengths completely. There was no cohesion, not just in the press, but in general play, which led to so many passes going astray with balls aimed for places they were expecting someone to run into, only for no one to make a run.
It was an all-round dreadful performance by the whole team, and I do mean whole team, up against a team that were giving their everything to win. The only real positive, from a Liverpool point of view, is that the result ended in a draw, rather than a defeat, despite playing so badly, and could easily have been a win they really did not deserve.
Manchester United
If there was any question left about whether there are attitude problems in the Manchester United squad, this game put them to bed. If they had shown this endeavour all season, they would be much higher up the table, but they have not bothered turning up unless it is a ‘big’ game. They were clearly up for this match, running themselves into the ground in an effort to win. You have to question where that effort has been the rest of the season. They will have no excuse for lack of work rate for the rest of the season now.
The improvement was particularly noticeable in their defensive organisation, they looked organised and showed they can press as a unit and out-battle an opponent – when they want to.
Up until this game, there have been just glimmers of hope, periods of play where they looked much improved under Amorim. This game showed that the problems of the last season or so have to be laid at the feet of the players and it is time a complete rebuild of the playing squad was done. Admittedly, that is not news, but it was a blatant reminder of how poor the attitude has been in far too many games.
Liverpool
Alisson – had surprisingly little to do. Could he have done better with either of the goals? I am sure he will think so, though one did go through a player’s legs, which made it more difficult.
Alexander-Arnold – had a stinking game, but was just one of an entire team that did.
Konate – looked really rusty and was a bit all over the place, similar to when he was in and out of the team under Klopp. Needs a run of games to get going, I believe.
van Dijk – not at his best, but could so easily have scored the winner apart from his header being extremely weak.
Robertson – it is pretty much the same story every game now, sadly. He is struggling so badly it is a shame to see, because he has been a great servant to the club and deserved to go out at the top.
Gravenberch – his worst game of the season, all over the place defensively, but he was still very good going forward, apart from the final pass.
Mac Allister – did some great stuff, but he was woefully at fault and lazy minded on the opening goal. He has tracked Martinez into the box, so Gravenberch and Alexander-Arnold stay further forward facing up in midfield, believing him to be behind them. Instead, he has just wandered off, not handed Martinez on, just walked off and left him in the box, in a dangerous position. All he had to do was bring someone over to take his place first, but he just switched off. That is why I am unable to say he had a good game, that was truly awful play. Such a shame because the rest of his game was excellent, but that was so costly that it negated all the good he did.
Jones – very poor, a pretty anonymous performance by him. I really expect much more from him in a game like this. As a Scouser, he should be right on the top of his game in these matches. Even when playing poorly, you expect him to at least work harder to make up for it, but he offered little.
Salah – not the best game he will ever have, but he still added another goal, albeit a penalty.
Diaz – he was not at it at all, completely messing up a chance on the break ahead of Gakpo’s equaliser.
Gakpo – was about to be taken off, when he scored a great goal, but he did not have a good game other than that.
Nunez – replaced Diaz in the 60th minute. After he first came on, he did well leading to De Ligt being booked, but that was the only good thing he did. His stupid challenge on the same player was symptomatic of the whole team’s performance.
Jota – came on for Jones in the 60th minute. The whole team was all over the place and bringing him on to replace a midfielder, just created more gaps for United to run through.
Bradley – was brought on in the stead of Alexander-Arnold in the 86th minute. Really should have come on much sooner.
Elliott – took Gakpo’s place in the 86th minute. Similarly to Bradley, the team needed his energy and desire much sooner.
Written by Tris Burke January 07 2025 23:04:36
