vs. The Bin Dipping Scum (H) (PL) - Sat 10/03/18 12:30 GMT

[On a break]

Sourness is complete and utter cock and Sky are a disgrace for employing him, even Carragher had to step in and bring the sour bastard into line...hilarious.

[caino]

Klopp trying to make out it should have been a pen on wijnaldum because it was the best play of the game. a quick 1 - 2. hes such a self righteous arrogant prick. but imo that was the only pen shout they could have had. the others weren't. and based on the game they didn't deserve the draw anyways. would have been sickening for us to drop points from them scabby pens.

[Sméagol]

Best thing Rashford did yesterday.

[caino]

from Joe:

Manchester United claimed three very big points on Saturday afternoon.

Jose Mourinho's side beat Liverpool 2-1 thanks to two goals from Marcus Rashford to open-up a five-point lead over their rivals in second place.

Here are five talking points from the game:

Mourinho gets it right

A 'Mourinho masterclass' is a term has been incorrectly used in relation to Jose Mourinho setting-up United for a goalless draw in away games, often followed by praise for his 'pragmatism'. On those occasions, it was neither a 'masterclass' or a display of 'pragmatism', but rather a needlessly defensive approach with some luck due to David de Gea saving them – like, for example, against Sevilla a few weeks ago.

However, the victory over Liverpool on Saturday was a 'masterclass', particularly in the first-half. Liverpool have been vulnerable at right-back at times this season, and Trent Alexander-Arnold was noticeably targeted from the first-whistle. Just before the first goal after 14 minutes, 66 percent of United’s attacks had come down their left-hand side, exploiting Liverpool’s weakness on the right-side of their defence. Alexander-Arnold was exposed for Marcus Rashford’s first goal, and Dejan Lovren was poor for the second goal, both undone by a rudimentary goal-kick and some good centre-forward work by Romelu Lukaku.

Bringing Rashford back into the starting line-up for this game was a shrewd move by Mourinho. He could have stuck with Alexis Sanchez wide-left but was repaid with two goals by giving Rashford his first Premier League start in 2018. The 20-year-old has now scored seven of his 16 Premier League goals against teams in the top six clubs and is clearly a player for the big occasion.

Mourinho’s team only had two shots on target in the game and they were the two goals. Other than Eric Bailly’s own-goal, it was a perfect afternoon for the United manager, and a display his supporters will argue vindicates his approach. His long-ball tactics proved very effective against a team that presses high with vulnerabilities in defence. While retreating into a back-six with two defensive midfielders in front of them would be too much for most sides to break down – never mind a midfield with Oxlade-Chamberlain.


This was arguably the most impressive victory of Mourinho's time at Old Trafford so far.

Oxlade-Chamberlain struggles

Oxlade-Chamberlain has received praise for his performances in recent weeks, but those displays came against opponents Liverpool would have beaten with or without him on the pitch. His performance at Old Trafford showed his true level, and how far he is from being an effective central midfielder at an elite level.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was dreadful. He was awful in possession, he needlessly misplaced several passes and lost the ball 19 times in the game. Even before United took the lead, the England midfielder was sloppy on the ball. His limitations were really exposed when United retreated to their 18-yard line and challenged Liverpool to break them down. Oxlade-Chamberlain plodded around, looking bemused and proved completely incapable of playing any incisive passes.

There are serious questions to be asked about Liverpool’s midfield going forward. Can they realistically challenge for major honours with a player of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s quality in the midfield? He's an athlete, but they need someone with craft. Some might argue that he’ll improve, that he’s young and he can overcome the current deficiencies in his game. However, he’s 25 in August, he can no longer be considered a young footballer and it’s extremely unlikely that’ll he’ll develop the technique and game intelligence required to be a top central midfield player. A useful squad player for Klopp, but he looked out of his depth on Saturday.

Young did brilliantly to keep Salah quiet

You would have forgiven Ashley Young for being anxious up against Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian is usually incredibly elusive but the experienced United left-back kept him in check remarkably well at Old Trafford. Young's concentration and work-rate remained undimmed throughout and it proved enough to reduce Salah to one of his quietest games in a Liverpool shirt.

Young was exceptional. The 32-year-old won all nine of his duels, made five clearances and landed four out of six attempted tackles. He also made four interceptions and Jose Mourinho will have been delighted with his focus and positional discipline until the final whistle. (Matt Gault).









United didn't seem to miss Pogba that much

When it was confirmed that Paul Pogba was ruled out through injury, United fans perhaps feared the lack of creativity in their midfield. However, lining up with a 4-2-3-1 allowed Alexis Sanchez and Juan Mata to drift into central areas and remain involved, with Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic both putting in commanding displays to shield the defence.

It seemed like a game that may have added ammunition to Pogba's critics. Without the Frenchman's raking passes and galloping drives from deep, United looked a lot more cohesive and solid. McTominay and Matic were extremely well-organised so it certainly would have been interesting to see how Pogba would have coped when United were under the cosh in the second half. (MG).

Rashford makes decisive impact in rare start

It had been a gnawing issue for Mourinho. Since Sanchez's arrival from Arsenal, Rashford has had to be content with a place on the bench. Indeed, this was the 20-year-old's first Premier League start since December 30 but he seized an opportunity to stake his claim for a regular starting berth with two cracking finishes.

Sanchez, once again, did not enjoy his finest game, but it mattered little in the grand scheme as Rashford displayed his clinical edge to fire United into a 2-0 lead before half-time.


Jose Mourinho blames Gary Neville for decision to substitute Marcus Rashford




The first was Rashford in a nutshell, too, racing onto Romelu Lukaku's flicked-on header, producing a nice piece of skill to change direction and beat Alexander Trent-Arnold before lashing a right-footed shot into the far corner. His second came thanks to his predatory instincts, slotting home after Virgil van Dijk had failed to clear the danger.

The tempo of United's game quickened markedly when Rashford was introduced against Crystal Palace and, following his deadly display here, he will surely line out on Tuesday as United bid to reach the last eight of the Champions League. (MG).

[caino]

what carragher had to say :

Not for the first time in his career, Jose Mourinho's tactics worked a treat.

After watching Marcus Rashford brilliantly fire Manchester United into a 2-0 lead before half-time, Mourinho was content to watch his side defend after the break.

While Liverpool got on the scoresheet thanks to an Eric Bailly own goal, United soaked up the vast majority of their rivals' pressure in the dying moments and Mourinho employed every trick in his locker to run the clock down and kill Liverpool's intensity.

The Red Devils manager has clearly rubbed off on his players as we saw several engage in some classic Mourinho time management techniques throughout the second 45.

Wave after wave of Liverpool attack was dealt with adequately by the home side and, following the full-time whistle, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher claimed that his former side would do well to learn how to be a bit more streetwise on the pitch.

After stopping short of saying he enjoyed watching how United eat up the visitors' pressure, Carragher suggested that Liverpool were naive in how they approached the second half of the game.

"I think Jurgen Klopp made a statement a few months ago where he said that he doesn't believe at times in the dark arts of football," Carragher told Sky Sports.

"I'm saying this as a compliment to Manchester United for the way they slowed the game down.

"There was a challenge on Smalling in the box and there wasn't too much in it but he stayed down, he had a little look up. And I'm not criticising that.

"They sort of killed the game at the end. Yes Liverpool had lots of the ball and Graeme mentioned the actual possession that they had but Man United allowed them to have that possession.

"I don't look at that as great football from Liverpool because United allowed them to have possession. They didn't look like scoring really. They looked dangerous on the edge of the box but I don't remember David De Gea making any saves.

"Man United allowed Liverpool to play well with the ball and it was Liverpool's big job in that second half to create chances and open them up but they weren't good enough to do it.



"The stupid fouls that Liverpool gave away in that second half just played straight into United's hands. The one Dejan Lovren did on Marouane Fellaini was unbelievable, when he fouled him twice. His head was completely gone.

"I've mentioned being streetwise a few months ago when I was talking about Liverpool but they have to bring that into the game because what what happened there in that second half was that they kept giving stupid fouls away.

"That's where you need someone on the pitch to say: 'Just keep moving the ball, there's plenty of time and wait for an opening.'

"Don't play into United's hands and let them slow the game down which they did brilliantly in that second half."

[Stew]

I’ve seen Salah a few times and he’s decent. The claims he’s near Messi/Ronaldo levels are laughable. I think you’re seeing a good player hit a purple patch where everything he tries comes off. I doubt he’ll sustain it.

[RAZ]

i'd like to give some credit to fellaini aswell. considering he came back from surgery,with no match fitness and thrown into this kind of high intensity game,he did exceptionally well.
we actually played more offensive after he replaced rashford,got stuck in,won us headers,kept the ball well,got fouled a lot and started some "slow motion" counter attacks.

he might not be united quality but no one can say he doesnt show commitment and desire and pure fighting spirit for club and the manager.

that said,every single player was phenomenal yesterday. including de gea who had nothing to do but was the starting point for both goals.

[_]

Mar 10, 2018 15:34:18 GMT Stew said:

Mar 10, 2018 15:24:43 GMT WhatsTheMata said:

Yeah but did we deserve to go up afterwards? Defensive subs were made, Stewart.

That’s fine but I just think it’s weird that Swiss Tony from the Fast Show signed up to post on here.

Brilliant!  Reminded me of one of the classics

Here's a reminder for the kids

[Deleted]

That's the last time I enjoy a win like this with beer, sweet jesus.

Although I managed to get a few dippers to bite

Still loving the result and how much it bothers them deep down.

[Tatty]

Mar 11, 2018 12:10:39 GMT Stew said:

I’ve seen Salah a few times and he’s decent. The claims he’s near Messi/Ronaldo levels are laughable. I think you’re seeing a good player hit a purple patch where everything he tries comes off. I doubt he’ll sustain it.

180 minutes playing against a defence containing Chris Smalling. That alone should rule him out of being POTY.

[Deleted]

[ruud]

Jamie carragher been filmed spitting at a car outside old Trafford pulled up at the lights bit of banter and spat at the car with his daughters inside....
Sky sports sack upcoming

[Diablo Rouge]

[Chris]

Haha. What a bell end. Shock horror, the dippers are making excuses on twitter. Offended by everything, ashamed of nothing.

Shame as I like him as a pundit, but he's gotta be fired.

[Diablo Rouge]