[Matty7]

The international break was the main problem today.

Both teams lost players through injury who would of played today. It also meant that players were tired coming into this game. Some players only got back on Thursday... gives them one training session to prepare for a game of this magnitude.

The international break also kills any momentum that teams have. If this game was a few weeks down the line then both teams would have a chance to be back at full strength and would of had a weeks preparation for the game.

I'm not saying we would of set up differently. But having Fellaini back and maybe even Pogba would of strengthened up our midfield. Liverpool would of had Mane and he alone can change games.

Overall A point isn't the worse result, but I'm not worried about the performance because of the situation.

 

[Theonas]

We are the current Europa League champions, have started our CL group in style, and Mourinho has won the CL twice with different sides, so not sure your point about Europe stands to be honest.

Because my point is about approach, not merely winning. The best in Europe are not only known for winning are they? Real just won back to back CLs and did you see what Zidane was talking about at the start of the season? He was talking that they need to learn how to keep possession in order to be able to play a pro active game against everyone, even Barcelona. That shows you how big clubs think, they are ambitious to not only win but win playing on the front foot. My point was that Fergie also thought like that even if he could not always deliver it. Mourinho is absolutely incapable of producing a team that can do that which is why the best we can be under him, is the level of Chelsea or Atlético; a solid, well oiled winning machine. Admirable? Yes but hardly puts you in a position where you can claim to be as good as the very best.

Your earlier about tribal allegiance is an interesting one. Now that I think about it, it might be at the heart of why I am annoyed with our approach. The idea that bloody City are looking to build a team to win AND play and we are not is seriously annoying. When did they become the standard bearers and we, the ones content with doing enough? Of course it might not work for them and they end up winning nothing but the idea that they are more ambitious in their planning is not a nice one from a tribal perspective.

 

[GeorgieBoy]

Why is Arsenal the bench mark of what will happen if you have a go at Liverpool? We are people saying this is what will happen if you attack?

I'm not saying they are; just giving an example of a good team who went to Anfield and played naively. Look at their results against the big teams at Anfield, they up their game no end and I wouldn't bet on any of City, Chelsea or Spurs to win there.

 

[Catt]

I expected this so a point is decent.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

We don't even know how much the Fellaini injury has impacted on how we were going to play. Then Bailly injury on top of that. Then Rashford not being able to start. He might even have played both Martial and Rashford. We don't know.

 

[ash_86]

I wasn't happy with the performance , but i'll take a point away at Liverpool. Our midfield was severely depleted and we had no one to bring on to change the game in the middle.

 

[Summit]

I'm not saying they are; just giving an example of a good team who went to Anfield and played naively. Look at their results against the big teams at Anfield, they up their game no end and I wouldn't bet on any of City, Chelsea or Spurs to win there.

That is Arsenal though, they have done it over the years time and time again. We have come to places like anfiled during the Klopp years and won. It can be done.

Actually scratch that point, it was Rodgers

 

[Oldham]

Good point.
Incredibly boring performance. Not how United should play.

 

[SwansonsTache]

He made it sound like Matic and Ander were tired you cant make up this shit.

Perhaps he would be wise to have rested Matic after 60 minutes when we've been comfortable then. But he never takes him off, even when we are in total control and the match is won.

How Herrera can be tired after being sat on the bench for the whole season I don't know.

 

[red_john]

The international break stopped out momentum. The tactics where spot on imo. Unfortunately the majority of our players where off the boil which didn't help the tactics. Im sure Jose was expecting a few more chances to come our way and for us to take one of them. This is a poor Liverpool team and we should of created a few more chances. That's the only negative. A draw at Anfield is not the end of the world.

 

[wolvored]

Like when City drew with Everton? A team we later beat 4-0. Oh okay then.

We'll see. No team will go through the league winning every game. If Mourinho is going to shut up shop against all the top 5 teams he will come unstuck, and probably more than once. Why dont he just play to our strengths instead of letting the opposition have wave after wave of attacks?

 

[OneUnited24]

We don't even know how much the Fellaini injury has impacted on how we were going to play. Then Bailly injury on top of that. Then Rashford not being able to start. He might even have played both Martial and Rashford. We don't know.

I think only having two senior CMF available limited our options greatly. I still think Jose would have gone defensive but the personal we had missing probably would have made it easier on the eyes

 

[Andycoleno9]

I'm sure Mourinho would be banned on here several times.



Trying to figure out how this work, the only objective of the game is to score goals which both teams failed to do, yet you manage to conclude liverpool win 15-11

It was sarcasm. You didn't read whole post or posts before

 

[GeorgieBoy]

That is Arsenal though, they have done it over the years time and time again. We have come to places like anfiled during the Klopp years and won. It can be done.

Fair enough I appreciate your point. Its probably me getting sick of the thought of losing to them; so perhaps adopting Mou's style of being a bit more cautious.

 

[R'hllor]

Perhaps he would be wise to have rested Matic after 60 minutes when we've been comfortable then. But he never takes him off, even when we are in total control and the match is won.

How Herrera can be tired after being sat on the bench for the whole season I don't know.

Oh tell me about, was even called a drama queen few days ago. Games for Serbia didnt help, more like lost gave vs Austria.

 

[Summit]

Fair enough I appreciate your point. Its probably me getting sick of the thought of losing to them; so perhaps adopting Mou's style of being a bit more cautious.

I got it wrong, it was Rodgers the manager when we last won here

 

[Rusholme Ruffian]

Your earlier about tribal allegiance is an interesting one. Now that I think about it, it might be at the heart of why I am annoyed with our approach. The idea that bloody City are looking to build a team to win AND play and we are not is seriously annoying. When did they become the standard bearers and we, the ones content with doing enough? Of course it might not work for them and they end up winning nothing but the idea that they are more ambitious in their planning is not a nice one from a tribal perspective.

Again you show a complete lack of understanding of the notion of 'tribal' rivalry. Tribal rivalry dictates that even if a team absolutely destroys you for 92 minutes and then you score a deflection with the last kick of the game then you are overjoyed. Nothing else matters. You clearly don't have that, which is fine - it takes all sorts. :-)

 

[GeorgieBoy]

I got it wrong, it was Rodgers the manager when we last won here

Ah right I did wonder, but cba to look it up haha.

 

[Foxbatt]

We didn't counter attack not because of any tactical plans by Jose but because the players kept losing the ball. Any team that had Martial, Lukaku and Mikhi cannot be said is an ultra defensive team. The reason he played Young instead of Mata was that Young is a better defender and has a lot more pace than Mata and is the right decision.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

I got it wrong, it was Rodgers the manager when we last won here

Nah Klopp was manager last time we won at Anfield.

January 2016 I think.

 

[Baby Groot]

It was sarcasm. You didn't read whole post or posts before

Sorry my bad. Shame on me.

 

[Tincanalley]

What the hell was that!? Mourinho's coward tactics didn't even give us a chance to go for it. Don't get me wrong I'm happy with a draw but not like this... I'm a big fan of Mourinho and I know he plays like this sometimes and I thought I would be able to handle it but I can't... Absolute shit, no ambition to win it, man I'm so dissapointed...

Sigh.

 

[AXVnee7]

The international break stopped out momentum. The tactics where spot on imo. Unfortunately the majority of our players where off the boil which didn't help the tactics. Im sure Jose was expecting a few more chances to come our way and for us to take one of them. This is a poor Liverpool team and we should of created a few more chances. That's the only negative. A draw at Anfield is not the end of the world.

The thing is, everybody has an international break. I don’t disagree that it does stop our momentum, but that applies to everyone. Liverpool are coming off an international break too. It can’t be used as an excuse, although I’m not saying you were. I do think Jose deserves a bit of leeway because of injuries. But if we are coming off an international break and being sluggish then it’s a serious concern because there will be more breaks across the season.

 

[tidraKS]

Disagree about Young. If we had any intent to win the game we would have continued with Young and Valencia as our wingbacks.

Darmian is the only player that has no future here. Herrera and Smalling definitely should not be starters. Miki was so so woeful today and really now needs to fight for his spot.... had a couple of chances to play through balls, his major strength, and served up utter dross.... which totally screws with our tactics if we plan to sit deep.

Yeah, but if we played him and Valencia on a 3-5-2 it would have been different. Playing him on a 4-2-3-1 on the right side is a bad decision imo.

 

[Summit]

Nah Klopp was manager last time we won at Anfield.

January 2016 I think.

What was the score?

 

[AngliaRed]

The international break was the main problem today.

Both teams lost players through injury who would of played today. It also meant that players were tired coming into this game. Some players only got back on Thursday... gives them one training session to prepare for a game of this magnitude.

The international break also kills any momentum that teams have. If this game was a few weeks down the line then both teams would have a chance to be back at full strength and would of had a weeks preparation for the game.

I'm not saying we would of set up differently. But having Fellaini back and maybe even Pogba would of strengthened up our midfield. Liverpool would of had Mane and he alone can change games.

Overall A point isn't the worse result, but I'm not worried about the performance because of the situation.

Completely agree.

Bailey & Fellani would of came in for us (both in form) same goes for Mane!

I hate internationals!

 

[sullydnl]

Yes exactly that. We are not talking here about performance, we are talking about who "deserved" to win. Final score is only that counts. If not what is left? We will have 5 or 10 refs who will watch the match from the stands and who will give points for performance, shots, possession, fair play, etc...
"Possession: man utd 1 point, liverpool 3
Shots: man utd 2 points, liverpool 3.
Goals: man utd 0 points, liverpool 0 points
Etc...
Overall: liverpool wins 15-11. "

Performance is exactly what I'm talking about.

I'm saying that they deserved to win based on their performance, they just didn't achieve that outcome.

Whereas you seem to be suggesting that outcome and performance are one and the same, which is simply incorrect.

The final score is indeed ultimately what matters but there's a reason coaches put more focus on performance levels rather than simply judging their teams based on scorelines. Even arch-pragmatist Mourinho repeatedly claimed we "deserved" more from many of our games last season.

 

[FC Ronaldo]

 

[Woodenlung]

We set up to play shithouse and we played shithouse.

Rubbish game to watch.

 

[Peanut Butter]

one shot on target and you are happy with the performance. I agree about being happy with the result, and the league position, but noway would I agree on being happy with the perfromance. We are as you know so much better than that. I actually think you are just digging your heels in now to back up your initial post in this thread, because I can't believe you are happy with how we played today.

Very happy with performance. We have showed two sides to our team this season. We can be flashy and score loads but we can also be dogged and keep clean sheets at our rivals.

Fergie used to make sure we beat the 'small teams' and don't lose away at the 'big' teams.

It's a good tactic. The league isn't won in October. We're a good side at both ends of the pitch again.

And again, I look at the bigger picture, not just one performance in isolation.

Very happy with Jose and the boys today.

 

[Peyroteo]

Missed the physicality of Pogba and Fellaini in midfield. Pogba especially as you lost too many balls when you should be breaking away on the counter. Good game for United nevertheless and it's a good point, as much shit as Mourinho is getting the truth is Liverpool played a great match.

Also, I like Smalling but he isn't good enough on the ball.

 

[Trizy]

I don't get the Liverpool deserved to win comments. They had 1 proper goal scoring chance just like us. Apart from that they never looked like scoring.

The only thing we need to take away from this game is the players need to take a long hard look at themselves. You can play defensive and non-risk football without being complete shite and cowardly. Everyone bar De Gea was fecking shocking.

 

[Theonas]

Again you show a complete lack of understanding of the notion of 'tribal' rivalry. Tribal rivalry dictates that even if a team absolutely destroys you for 92 minutes and then you score a deflection with the last kick of the game then you are overjoyed. Nothing else matters. You clearly don't have that, which is fine - it takes all sorts. :-)

I think you are trying to narrow this discussion to a very, very limited perspective. Yes if someone asks me what was the best feeling as a United fan apart from title and cup wins, it probably would be something like O'Shea's winner at Anfield or Giggsy's solo run vs Arsenal. Those are one offs that you don't even need to be a rival to enjoy. That's a bit of an obvious one as far as I am concerned which makes it a boring thing to discuss. Of course I would have been happy to sneak one in at the death today because it would mean a very enjoyable evening at the pub. I am not commenting about today though, I am commenting about our direction as a club under Mourinho.

 

[Tincanalley]

Now that we have banned sexism (great) from the Caf could we ban ‘my bad’ too. Very un-Man Utd if you ask me.

 

[RAVred]

Was an awful match, but didnt expect anything better.


Right now our midfield is the most pressing problem, and why we couldnt form any good attacks.

The only way for our midfield to operate well attacking wise right now seems to be with fellaini or pogba in it. Herrera has been very poor so far this season, and I honestly think he doesnt work with Matic at all (and instead should be played instead of matic in certain cup fixtures and off games)

 

[Yorkeontop]

The international break stopped out momentum. The tactics where spot on imo. Unfortunately the majority of our players where off the boil which didn't help the tactics. Im sure Jose was expecting a few more chances to come our way and for us to take one of them. This is a poor Liverpool team and we should of created a few more chances. That's the only negative. A draw at Anfield is not the end of the world.

Go back to last season as well though, we can't seem to make this approach work. José loves it against big sides and I support it as well but we are awful at the attacking part of it, putrid!

 

[tombombadil]

Not a pretty match but I'm not surprised. Once I found out about the injuries to Bailly and Rashford to compound the injuries to Pogba, Fellaini and Carrick, I knew it was only going to go one way. Mourinho would play to stifle Liverpool and hope for a counter. I felt it was a reasonable result against a strong attacking team in a tough arena. The team needs to do far better on the counter though.

A little lucky with that Matip shot, but we also had a good chance of our own from Lukaku. I think a draw was a fair result for both sides despite Liverpool having the slight upper hand. The team looked ragged towards the end with Darmian, Young, even Matic looking tired so it was a relief to hear the whistle blow.

For those crying doom and gloom, the league isn't won by trashing the top 6. That is only for bragging rights. The league is won by gathering the most points over the long run and a majority of those come from the other 14 teams. Considering the circumstances (the injuries, playing away, the Anfield effect, Liverpool being a strong attacking team whose key strength is playing against teams that attack, the international break disrupting preparations) I thought the team did what they could.

 

[Tincanalley]

Recommend we focus more on the result in light of the circumstances than on the quality of the performance.

• Anfield is a difficult ground to win three points from.
• We're notoriously poor after an international break.
• We were without three key players.
• It was the first start for the Jones+Smalling partnership.
• It was our first real test of the season.

Disappointment isn't out of order but viewed in the larger picture a draw is actually a good result for us.

Very grown up. You won’t last long in here

 

[Roosney]

Happy with the away point from Anfield but damn what a shocking performance.
I get the tactic side of it but our players were awful. Soft and stupid performances all around.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Recommend we focus more on the result in light of the circumstances than on the quality of the performance.

• Anfield is a difficult ground to win three points from.
• We're notoriously poor after an international break.
• We were without three key players.
• It was the first start for the Jones+Smalling partnership.
• It was our first real test of the season.

Disappointment isn't out of order but viewed in the larger picture a draw is actually a good result for us.

Good post, but the problem is that we went in playing for a draw...which is not really where we want to be after all the spending/rebuilding. Go for a win and come out with a draw, now that's acceptable. But this is just the defensive mentality of Mou, that we'd never see under Fergie.