Even so, this is a title-winning result.
To play so badly, to be so dysfunctional for so long and come away with a result like this is remarkable.
Lallana, sent on in place of Jordan Henderson, connected when Andy Robertson’s cross was diverted by Roberto Firmino.
It was a remarkable turnaround. United were convinced Marcus Rashford’s 36th minute goal had been enough to win it. Based on the level of performance, it probably was.
Wherever Pep watched this, he will have seized on the signs of fatigue, of wear and tear in this Liverpool side. They were poor, really poor. Jurgen Klopp’s side are supposed to be problem-solvers and yet this was a puzzling performance by the league leaders.
They are six points clear of City and yet Pep’s players will feel a lot closer to them this morning.
He will take a draw, anything to stop Liverpool steaming clear after a quarter of the season.
At first it looked like one of those frustrating days for Rashford.
Every time the ball fell at his feet in that opening half hour he seemed to run into trouble.
Andy Robertson whipped the ball off his toes too easily and Joel Matip made things look very easy back there indeed.
When Rashford finally wriggled clear of VVD, Andreas Pereira wasted the chance.
At least the United forward was willing.
He got his goal 36 minutes in, losing an entire Liverpool defence with a clever blindside run.
It needed some VAR-induced tension before the goal was finally given, with the tape wound back to a collision between Victor Lindelof and Divock Origi.
If you wear United red, you will swear it was a clean challenge, the sort of tackle you see a hundred times in a rivalry as passionate and fiery as this.
Liverpool, especially Klopp, will view it very differently.
They were convinced Lindelof went through him, leaving his studs on Origi’s calf close to the halfway line.
United pressed home the advantage, with Scott McTominay sending a ball into the feet of Daniel James out on the right.
He played a smart ball across the Liverpool defence and Rashford applied the finishing touch.
Klopp was livid, tucking into fourth official Jon Moss down in the technical area.
DISJOINTED AND UPSET
He was entitled to be miffed.
It looked like the goal that would make United fans fall in love with Solskjaer all over again.
They were on their feet chanting “Ole, Ole, Ole”, with this stadium reacting to the latest United revival.
The gods were with them in that first half because Sadio Mane’s 43rd minute equaliser was ruled out by VAR.
The goal had been given by referee Martin Atkinson, but he had to press reset when the vid showed the Liverpool forward handled during his skirmish with Lindelof.
Klopp’s players looked disjointed, upset by the tempo and the rhythm of this United side.
They were unbalanced, shorn of the silky touches and smooth touches of Mo Salah through injury.
Origi, notwithstanding his goal in the Champions League final against Tottenham, is not like-for-like.
Klopp shoved him up front for the second half, moving him into the centre as part of a tactical switch.
Henderson, another Liverpool player struggling to get into the game, was sent out to the right.
Klopp was soon ripping it up to start again.
He took off Origi after 59 minutes and sent on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in his place.
It was pretty much old-school 4-2-4, with Ox and Hendo on either wing, and Mane and Firmino down the middle.
Klopp sent for more reinforcements, with Adam Lallana next in the queue 20 minutes from time.
Henderson, inevitably, was sacrificed.
Naby Keita was Klopp’s final gamble, sending him on eight minutes from time.
Even then, this was United’s day.
They held out, easily as it happens because Liverpool were lacking their customary composure and will to win.
The place was crackling by the end, with Rashford walking off to a standing ovation five minutes from time.
He had barely sat himself down when Lallana crept in at the back post to equalise for Liverpool.
No comments:
Post a Comment