By Kalu Onyemaechi
Manchester United against Liverpool is unarguably the greatest rivalry in the Premier League and one of the greatest games in European football with an amazing 39 League trophies between them.
For nearly all of the past 20 years, United have gone into these fixtures as favourites and chasing a league title but roles seem to have been reversed with United having some faint hope of finishing in the top four whilst Liverpool are one of the league favourites.
Today, Liverpool were deserved 0-5 winners, but the game is full of quite a number of talking points and here are five of the best…
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has to get off the wheel
The Norwegian initially signed a new three year contract, keeping him at the club till 2024 with an option to extend by one year. However, after this humiliation at the hands of Liverpool, it is now clear that United has been tolerating mediocrity rather than being patient with the process. He appears clueless with the materials he has at his disposal.
- Old Trafford is no longer a fortress
10 years ago, Manchester City crushed Manchester United at Old Trafford 1-6. Today,
Mohammed Salah becomes the first ever opposition player to score a hat-trick at Old Trafford in the Premier League after a 0-5 rout. They have no clean sheet at home this season. In fact, only Watford and Newcastle United (10) have conceded more Premier League goals at home than Manchester United (9) this season. Both of which are 14th and 19th respectively on the table. It is not inappropriate to say that Old Trafford, which was once feared, is now just any other ground.
- Harry Maguire is a weak leader in defence
Manchester United have boasted with top defence leaders in the past including Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Jaap Stam, and Steve Bruce. Those were centre backs with brawn and brains. For a defender that cost United 91.5 million euros, making him the most expensive defender in the history of football, Maguire has not lived up to his billing so far. He doesn’t look confident with the ball at his feet. He always looks like he’s going to commit a blunder whenever he is with the ball. A player with that price tag should not end a match with a 2/10 rating.
- Ronaldo’s inclusion is more of a burden than a remedy
Cristiano Ronaldo has now gone goalless in four league starts in a row, he doesn’t like playing central, causing the manager to occupy the central opening with a winger and that reduced the number in midfield during a defensive transition. He hardly tracks back to help create chances or facilitate a counterattack. Same thing Juventus suffered while he was there. But look at them now since he left.
Perhaps, one can argue that he’s not properly managed under Ole but only time will tell.
- Liverpool are never satisfied with slim margins
Liverpool are now the first Premier League team to win consecutive away matches by a margin of 5+ goals without conceding. The Reds are ruthless would tear apart any defence. With a deadly frontline of Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Mohammed Salah, with the current form of Naby Keita, Liverpool plagued United with a torrent of goals. They’re not looking like a team that would stop any time soon, and we can agree that they will give Chelsea and Manchester City a run for their money this season.
