[Klopper76]

The team has been over-hyped and over-praised (largely driven by your own support) because of some one-sided games against poorly drilled sides.

The team is a fraud because it’s not really a proper team. It has three good attacking players papering over all manner of cracks, namely an average midfield, defence and goalkeeper.

I think we had the opportunity to expose this to a greater degree yesterday but did not. And I imagine Liverpool fans are somewhat relieved about that.

Right, so the only reason we’ve beaten so many sides by large goal margins is because they’re all crap? It’s nothing to do with how Klopp sets his team out or how we play as a team, it’s all because every team we play is crap and poorly drilled.

That sounds like an unbelievably childish argument, sort of like saying that the only reason United are so good defensively is because the opposition usually has crap players.

 

[Kraftwerker]

Right, so the only reason we’ve beaten so many sides by large goal margins is because they’re all crap? It’s nothing to do with how Klopp sets his team out or how we play as a team, it’s all because every team we play is crap and poorly drilled.

That sounds like an unbelievably childish argument, sort of like saying that the only reason United are so good defensively is because the opposition usually has crap players.

You’re making a strawman.

Obviously you beat sides because you’ve got excellent attacking players. That’s what I said.

But a well drilled side should be able to shut them down, and get a result because there’s just not much else there in the side.

You are so front loaded with talent, whilst the rest of the team wouldn’t look out of place at a mid-table outfit.

 

[MrBest]

Bailly was amazing. Feel so much assured with him there. Yeah there were a couple of moments of craziness but the guy has not played 90 minutes in ages! It's like a new signing.

 

[klayton88]

 

[Nakhon Phanom]

Wow,that second half seemed to last 450 minutes never mind 45 !
But,overall,a very good performance.I suppose I would have to give MOM to Rashford for his goals but I thought the two centre backs,Bailly and Smalling,were excellent today.I'm not normally Smallings biggest fan but praise where its due for yesterday.
Sanchez still not fitting in.I guess it will take time and it could be next season before we see the best of him.I do rate him so just have to be patient.

 

[Klopper76]

You’re making a strawman.

Obviously you beat sides because you’ve got excellent attacking players. That’s what I said.

But a well drilled side should be able to shut them down, and get a result because there’s just not much else there in the side.

You are so front loaded with talent, whilst the rest of the team wouldn’t look out of place at a mid-table outfit.

By that logic you’re suggesting that most sides in the league are really poor, which I suppose there’s an argument for.

I admit that we need to improve certain areas of the defence and midfield in the summer, but I genuinely think that the way Klopp sets us up is the biggest reason for why we score so many goals and dominate a lot of teams.

The way Mourinho sets up United from back to front is why you don’t concede many. I don’t think much of the likes of Jones, Smalling and Young but Mourinho sets his team up in a way that doesn’t expose them, and so they look like a solid unit.

It’s about more than just names on a team sheet.

 

[pauldyson1uk]

 

[desmondisback]

Sorry but

That's Ok. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

 

[desmondisback]

You could not post and take solus that City will be champions soon? What do you expect our response to be? Why should we let this bullshit go unchecked?

You are entitled to your opinion. I fail to see how it's "bullshit" to raise the issue of whether people are entitled to criticise Jose on the basis of certain results or not.

I also happen to think that sitting on our 2-0 lead yesterday wasn't a great tactic and could have allowed them back in to the game. We always look a better team when we are more on the front foot. Being overly cautious and protective of a lead can be a poor tactic. It's a subtle thing that might have gone unnoticed amid all the euphoria of the win.

 

[mitchmouse]

We were very good in the first half, very annoying in the second. No idea why we allow teams to build pressure and pin us back. Top teams in Europe will punish us severely; so will the likes of City. Positives: lots of good, battling performances from Rashford (obviously), Lukaku and Bailly (despite the ridiculous own goal). Although Young and Smalling had good games, both give me the creeps. The look just a sneeze away from a mistake but credit where credit is due, on the day they kept the much-heralded Liverpool front line quiet: for all their possession they didn't really work DDG. Negatives: their passing and keeping of possession was much better than ours and they looked much more comfortable on the ball. The Liverpool goal was like watching clowns at a circus (and part of me thinks DDG on the form his is in might have been expecting to save it, his positioning seemed a bit strange). Finally, I have no idea who Wenger sold us but it isn't Alexis Sanchez. The booing of Scott McT's back pass shows how little some fans know about a game plan. Yes, of course I'd have like defensive=splitting forward ball but I can pretty much guarantee he'd have got a pat on the back by Jose and United's defenders for keeping possession, giving them a breather and taken some of the sting out of Liverpool

 

[cyril C]

Did Liverpool have a shot on target in the 2nd half?

Good point. I recall the stats was something like MU 4 shots attempt 2 on target, Liverpool 14 attempts 3/4 on target.

Mourinho was right, we were in control and our defence was in good shape, apart from the own goal. Liverpool couldn't do much except making Moyes cross into the box, in fact they created more threats on set pieces than anything else. Fellaini fixed that. Disappointment was own goal, and lack of counter-attack runs to kill the game.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

Every time Liverpool acts all big and mighty, pumped up by the media like they're second coming and god given gift to football they crash to the land hard.

It's a never ending comedy show.

 

[Android1974]

Good point. I recall the stats was something like MU 4 shots attempt 2 on target, Liverpool 14 attempts 3/4 on target.

Mourinho was right, we were in control and our defence was in good shape, apart from the own goal. Liverpool couldn't do much except making Moyes cross into the box, in fact they created more threats on set pieces than anything else. Fellaini fixed that. Disappointment was own goal, and lack of counter-attack runs to kill the game.

BBC has it 5/14 shots, and 2/2 on target. So, the same on target as us. A graphic posted before showed they had as many shots in the area as United.

 

[clarkydaz]

why were their away fans so shit yesterday? they were supposed to be eclipsing us with their better manager, and best strike force in Europe

 

[borrays]

Good point. I recall the stats was something like MU 4 shots attempt 2 on target, Liverpool 14 attempts 3/4 on target.

Mourinho was right, we were in control and our defence was in good shape, apart from the own goal. Liverpool couldn't do much except making Moyes cross into the box, in fact they created more threats on set pieces than anything else. Fellaini fixed that. Disappointment was own goal, and lack of counter-attack runs to kill the game.

Yeah they've completely fallen into jose's game plan. infact had baily not scored the own goal we might get another goal as klopp grew more and more desperate and more space left to be exploit.

 

[King Kana]

My first baby was born yesterday. So I didn’t go to the game, watched at the hospital (costing £15!!!) holding him. Considering naming him Marcus!

What an amazing weekend! Hopefully the guy I gave the ticket to bought me a program as a souvenir for the baby.

Class. Congrats mate & welcome to the newborn lad.

 

[el3mel]

My first baby was born yesterday. So I didn’t go to the game, watched at the hospital (costing £15!!!) holding him. Considering naming him Marcus!

What an amazing weekend! Hopefully the guy I gave the ticket to bought me a program as a souvenir for the baby.

Congratulations.

 

[Andy_Cole]

Thanks all! Been an amazing few days. I have an amazing video of the screen showing Rashfords goal then turning to the baby who’s facing the screen. Tempted to name him Marcus!

 

[TMDaines]

Thanks all! Been an amazing few days. I have an amazing video of the screen showing Rashfords goal then turning to the baby who’s facing the screen. Tempted to name him Marcus!

I think you should all go in and make Rashford a first name!

 

[Roosney]

Did DDG was ever stretching today? Their only goal came from us scoring for them. We had everything totally in control. Perfect Mourinho masterclass.

Say what?

 

[Sky1981]

You are entitled to your opinion. I fail to see how it's "bullshit" to raise the issue of whether people are entitled to criticise Jose on the basis of certain results or not.

I also happen to think that sitting on our 2-0 lead yesterday wasn't a great tactic and could have allowed them back in to the game. We always look a better team when we are more on the front foot. Being overly cautious and protective of a lead can be a poor tactic. It's a subtle thing that might have gone unnoticed amid all the euphoria of the win.

The reason why we're 2 ahead is defending deep and hitting them on the counter

 

[Android1974]

The reason why we're 2 ahead is defending deep and hitting them on the counter

Not even counterattacks, it was more just direct long balls.

 

[Sky1981]

Not even counterattacks, it was more just direct long balls.

Thats the plan. They have lovren we have lukaku. They gegenpress or whatever the feck they call it, why take them head on when we can bypass the whole shits and punch them where it hurts.

 

[JohnnyKills]

Great results but definitely some cracks being papered over.

The fact that we scored two goals from goalkicks is fine - every team takes goalkicks - and Maria's chance would have been a great goal. But we completely sat back in the second half and let them back into it. It's kind of understandable given we've got Sevilla on Tuesday but when we play like this it smacks of Mourinho over-complicating things to prove his own intelligence. Had Liverpool been given a penalty we'd be slaughtering Mourinho on here and rightly so.

Mou has definitely improved us and we've had some great results lately but the hoofball is tough to watch and we should be better with the resources we have. Liverpool fans are right about that.

At the end of the day though, Liverpool barely created a chance with all the pressure we gave them and that reflects well on our defence. Salah's been one of the best players in the league this season and barely had a kick yesterday.

 

[Ramshock]

You are entitled to your opinion. I fail to see how it's "bullshit" to raise the issue of whether people are entitled to criticise Jose on the basis of certain results or not.

I also happen to think that sitting on our 2-0 lead yesterday wasn't a great tactic and could have allowed them back in to the game. We always look a better team when we are more on the front foot. Being overly cautious and protective of a lead can be a poor tactic. It's a subtle thing that might have gone unnoticed amid all the euphoria of the win.

Fergie has done it before too, you forget that?

 

[JohnnyKills]

The reason why we're 2 ahead is defending deep and hitting them on the counter

No it wasn't mate. Both goals were scored from ddg's clearances, not counters.

 

[Sky1981]

No it wasn't mate. Both goals were scored from ddg's clearances, not counters.

... so it's not a counter attack? Okay.

 

[JohnnyKills]

... so it's not a counter attack? Okay.

No mate. A counter is when you win the ball and go on the attack instantly and catch the opposition unprepared.

Both goals came from standard goal kicks against a set defence.

 

[JohnnyKills]

Good point. I recall the stats was something like MU 4 shots attempt 2 on target, Liverpool 14 attempts 3/4 on target.

Mourinho was right, we were in control and our defence was in good shape, apart from the own goal. Liverpool couldn't do much except making Moyes cross into the box, in fact they created more threats on set pieces than anything else. Fellaini fixed that. Disappointment was own goal, and lack of counter-attack runs to kill the game.

Yeah Fellaini was a great sub. Completely stopped their momentum and tightened us up on set pieces.

 

[TakeMeHome]

I'm still fecking buzzing

 

[Kazi]

The reason we won the game and actually looked decent for large parts of it is because our players were up for it and a actually applied themselves close to their full potential. Just a shame this doesn’t happen more often.

 

[jackofalltrades]

Great results but definitely some cracks being papered over.

The fact that we scored two goals from goalkicks is fine - every team takes goalkicks - and Maria's chance would have been a great goal. But we completely sat back in the second half and let them back into it. It's kind of understandable given we've got Sevilla on Tuesday but when we play like this it smacks of Mourinho over-complicating things to prove his own intelligence. Had Liverpool been given a penalty we'd be slaughtering Mourinho on here and rightly so.

Mou has definitely improved us and we've had some great results lately but the hoofball is tough to watch and we should be better with the resources we have. Liverpool fans are right about that.

At the end of the day though, Liverpool barely created a chance with all the pressure we gave them and that reflects well on our defence. Salah's been one of the best players in the league this season and barely had a kick yesterday.

I agree and the most frustrating thing for me is that when we did win a ball in the second half we were unable to set up a decent counter. After they scored Alexis did some great work down the wing late on and put in a low cross. Almost led to a great goal which would enable us to say - look, we take a two goal lead, defend and concede so we go up and score again. Easy.

 

[Nik70]

With a high pressing team like Liverpool (who do it very well) it's almost suicidal to try and play out from the back. The long ball/direct tactic is one that works well against them. Why not use it? Not saying I condone long ball tactics but being tactically flexible in this instance paid off.

 

[Ramshock]

With a high pressing team like Liverpool (who do it very well) it's almost suicidal to try and play out from the back. The long ball/direct tactic is one that works well against them. Why not use it? Not saying I condone long ball tactics but being tactically flexible in this instance paid off.

exactly, but you cant tell that to people like @desmondisback

 

[Nik70]

- Bailly makes such a difference to our defence. Even with the self nutmegging own goals and Zidane turns into opposition players. Honestly, he makes our whole team look more assured in what it's doing because when he's there you have confidence in our defence to deal with basic situations (with the exception of corners, where every single game it's like we didn't know they existed befoe hand).

- De Gea, best goalkeeper in the world without doubt, but why does the ball have to be literally within a 1m radius of him before he'll come out and collect it?

- McTominay...thought that was easily his best game for us. Yeah Liverpool controlled the midfield, but he didn't get caught out once, was calm on the ball, and read the game really well. He's been pronne in other games to sleeping and letting players run off him. Today he was proactively seeing and cutting off things you wouldn't necessarily say were even his responsibility.

- When Rashford is direct he's often our best attacking player. He does things before defendeers can react.

- We have a better record against the top six now than anyone other than City, so that's that Mourinho beating stick out of the window. Paul Pogba also interrupting Mourinho during his MOTD interview to give him a hug/attempt to rip his arm off...so that's that stick to beat him with out of the window too.

- I do kind of admire Jose's conviction even when I don't agree with or like what he's doing. He must have known the Rashford/Fellaini sub wouldn't have gone down well. He'd take off Martial and Rashford for a courgette and a painting of Hitler if he thought it was the right thing to do. He doesn't give a feck.

Stormzy - bullied Lovren. Stayed prayed up. Got the job done.

I agree. Not his biggest fan in previous games but he was outstanding against Liverpool.

 

[Fergus' son]

... so it's not a counter attack? Okay.

I think you've got it.

 

[kouroux]

And may they never change.

Not wrong tbh. I prefer a pundit who is brutally honest about the team he likes or dislikes than one who tries his best to remain "neutral" while being bitter.

 

[Hughie77]

It was a proper performance from a Jose side, defended well give them no room to play, out foxed there press by going long, and got 2 goals should have had 3..Mata I'll give him the benefit of trying the spectacular because in last 3 games he made a difference. Grasping at a few straws moaning about the pens they should have had but the one that probably was Valencia hand ball not much about that one....never mind 3pts 4 clear of spurs ...

 

[King Kana]

We were very good in the first half, very annoying in the second. No idea why we allow teams to build pressure and pin us back. Top teams in Europe will punish us severely; so will the likes of City. Positives: lots of good, battling performances from Rashford (obviously), Lukaku and Bailly (despite the ridiculous own goal). Although Young and Smalling had good games, both give me the creeps. The look just a sneeze away from a mistake but credit where credit is due, on the day they kept the much-heralded Liverpool front line quiet: for all their possession they didn't really work DDG. Negatives: their passing and keeping of possession was much better than ours and they looked much more comfortable on the ball. The Liverpool goal was like watching clowns at a circus (and part of me thinks DDG on the form his is in might have been expecting to save it, his positioning seemed a bit strange). Finally, I have no idea who Wenger sold us but it isn't Alexis Sanchez. The booing of Scott McT's back pass shows how little some fans know about a game plan. Yes, of course I'd have like defensive=splitting forward ball but I can pretty much guarantee he'd have got a pat on the back by Jose and United's defenders for keeping possession, giving them a breather and taken some of the sting out of Liverpool

Seems to me that this just what all fans need to accept about football. That sometimes you will concede territory and be under some pressure. Even Barca was pinged back by Chelsea at times. Some say Barca were lucky to leave The Bridge with a point.

System teams (City, Pool, Spurs) play in such a way that opponents are denied any sniff, but when managers who only give a feck about the business side of things i.e bloody winning (Jose) then they could come unstuck, naturally.

To expect to play a system team, that we universally agree don’t give anyone a sniff, for 90 minutes and not expect them to have periods of joy in possession etc is a bit naive.

All due respect.

 

[ash_86]

Say what?

DDG never had to make a difficult save.