Football News: Liverpool v Manchester United Match Review - A Liverpool Perspective

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Liverpool v Manchester United

You could pretty much call this game before it even kicked off, hours of build up only to be let down by the event being a snoozefest due to Jose Mourinho's 9 man defensive line. Lukaku must have been gutted, he has struggled every time he has faced Liverpool and here was a chance for him to finally show what he could do, only to be left isolated for 90 minutes.

There really is little to say about this game, there was not a lot to discuss, a good chance for each side, both of which should really have been goals and a possible penalty for Liverpool. A lot of timewasting and dragging it out from Jose's men, particularly in the 2nd half when they just went further and further back into their shell, made for a dull game.

Jose will go home thinking he got a good point and a clean sheet, while Klopp will go home thinking that his team should have won, but be mollified by the clean sheet at least.

Oh actually there was one thing to discuss, the referee! What on earth was he doing? The actual clear bookings he should have given, when Lukaku booted Gomez in the air and Salah dived in the box, he gave nothing, then spent the end of the match handing out bookings for nothing. The guy is hopeless, utterly completely and totally hopeless. I understand that refs are human and make mistakes but it is not too much to ask for consistency. If a bad foul is not a yellow card, then you give one for a nothing foul, that is not even because of persistent fouls, then you are a fool.

Klopp - to be honest, this is not the kind of game to judge Klopp on. There is no need for him to motivate the players, there was little choice in terms of subs, he had to bring off players whose legs were going, rather than make changes to affect the game. Not a lot he could do tactically, bar ensure his team did not go all gung ho and lose a soft goal.

Mignolet - not exactly worked hard, one save was the sum total of his defensive contribution, decent save but Lukaku should have made sure, rather than hitting it pretty much right at him. Apart from that, his kicking still scares me.

Gomez - did well. While he was not exactly stretched by wave after wave of attacks or numbers overloading him, what he did have to do he did well. Martial was made to look even more average than he actually is as a winger and Gomez also managed to get forward in support of attacks. Looks by far and away the best option at the club in the right back slot.

Matip - I doubt he will have many easier games in his career. Not a lot to do defensively but did not do enough with the ball. There is no point just playing it to Lovren for him to pass back if it is not moving the opposition around at all.

Lovren - as usual he marshalled Lukaku well. Some players just have an opponent they struggle against, for Lukaku it is obvious he just does not fancy it when up against Lovren, for some reason.

Moreno - well he tries, he gets up and down and gives his all, but he still has that rash lunge in him and the odd silly error. However, it is hard not to love his enthusiasm and desire.

Henderson - far too much time passing it around at the back, but, on those few times we lost possession he was leading the press and constantly organising. He was the one trying to win the ball back high up the pitch so the break could happen. Looked far more of a captain at times, particularly when United made subs and he was on the players to remind them who to pick up.

Wijnaldum - broke forward well, worked hard and showed why he has gained a reputation for being a hometown player. He looks so much better in home games than away ones, has to be a worry for the club that he seems to be intimidated by away grounds.

Can - mixed game for him, some mistakes, some poor choices but also some excellent work and one good driving run forward which was let down by his final ball across. However, he did not do enough of that. Can never even threatened to make another charge forward, never even made the opponents have to worry about it and alter their positioning to cover for it, possibly creating spaces.

Salah - the most threatening player until he tired in the second half. Darmian will have nightmares about him, as he had no idea how to cope with Salah at all. He really should have scored a goal to cap off the performance.

Firmino - did some great things, but it really does not matter unless a goal comes of it. Sadly.

Coutinho - still looks a long way short of his best.

Subs:

Oxlade-Chamberlain - replaced the tiring Salah in the 78th minute. Finally the Ox offers a glimpse of something good. Darmian was struggling anyway and the arrival of Ox gave him no respite. However his balls into the box were not finished off. Shame, as it would go a long way to rebuilding his clearly shattered confidence if something came from a good piece of play by him.

Sturridge - with Coutinho also tiring, Sturridge came on for him in the 79th minute and then promptly vanished. Offered nothing in the centre at all. Looked slow, lethargic even.

Solanke - with Firmino looking out on his feet, Solanke was brought on for the last few minutes in the 87th minute. Looked so much more lively than Sturridge, but had no time or opportunity to produce anything.

Written by Tris Burke October 15 2017 07:42:43