Manchester United V Liverpool: 6 Things Learned from the Derby

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Ok. Let’s accept it.

Liverpool were well beat by a dominant Manchester United team.

I say dominant only because Liverpool put out a mediocre performance. There was a lack of fire in the players’ eyes and the pre-match tension didn’t help it either.

Moreover, what should make this defeat even more bitter for Liverpool supporters is the fact that Alex Ferguson didn’t even feel the need to make a change!

Such was the easiness of the victory.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s take a look into some of the startling issues worth discussing from the game.

Luis Suarez

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The Uruguayan may have felt hard done by the punishment meted out to him, but his refusal to shake Patrice Evra’s hands is just unacceptable behaviour.

Whatever happened to being the bigger man?

By refusing to shake Evra’s hand, Suarez has only prolonged the issue between the two clubs.

In doing so, Suarez has inadvertently created some kind of a bad impression which may return to haunt him in the future.

With conspiracy theories still surrounding the FA’s handling of the issue, Suarez’s attitude will come as a worry for the Liverpool hierarchy.

Watch the handshake snub video here because, of course, you won’t find it on YouTube!

Woeful Team Selection

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This is really the first time that I have openly criticised Kenny Dalglish’s team selection.

Nobody in their right mind would have paired Jordan Henderson with Jay Spearing in such a crunch fixture.

And what was the result?

Steven Gerrard had to drop down the midfield from the very early stages of the game to provide defensive cover.

The lack of experience of Henderson and Spearing meant Gerrard contributed very little to the attack, meaning Suarez’s threat was neutralised indirectly without the Man United defenders doing anything.

Steven Gerrard was missing Lucas Leiva. Better yet, Liverpool was missing Lucas Leiva.

Keeping out Charlie Adam was another mistake. So was the non-selection of Andy Carroll.

I’ve always maintained that there is nothing worse than a manager not trusting his player’s ability.

That is exactly what Kenny Dalglish proved when he started Luis Suarez alone up front. Playing Carroll regularly (as mentioned here) with Suarez alone will make both of them understand their styles well.

Today’s team selection was a massive blunder from Kenny and his staff.

Defensive Woes

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Just recently, I’d written a feature on why Martin Skrtel was the most improved player of this season for Liverpool.

And then he decides to have a bad day on the field!

It isn’t all on Skrtel. Liverpool’s entire defence system failed today.

Skrtel-Agger had their one-off odd performance today.

Jose Enrique was completely out of wits defending against Antonio Valencia and Rafael da Silva.

Glen Johnson, who had a decent start having a go at David de Gea in the beginning, failed miserably against Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and you name it.

The first goal was a direct consequence of Glen Johnson failing to mark Wayne Rooney. But what’s even more surprising is that a full-back was marking Rooney.

The second goal is entirely on Jay Spearing. The midfielder failing to clear the ball of Antonio Valencia and instead hitting it straight onto him causing a deflection and onto the path of doom.

Even there, it was Glen Johnson and Martin Skrtel’s inability to round up Rooney that allowed the England striker to beat Pepe Reina for the second time in under five minutes after the restart.

Jordan Henderson looked completely out of sorts and his glaring error was the fact that he didn’t attempt to play the ball forward.

What is the purpose of being a centre midfielder when he needs Jose Enrique or Stewart Downing to take the ball forward?

And speaking of Stewart Downing…

Stewart Downing Was Godawful

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Folks, you can consider this personal attack on Stewart Downing more as one born out of frustration.

I do not doubt Downing’s footballing credentials but he certainly deserves some stick for his performance today.

Giving the ball away regularly, failing to beat Rafael and more notably failing to whip those crosses into the box.

Well, speaking of crosses, if Andy Carroll wasn’t going to play, then what was the purpose of playing Downing?

I mean, it’s not like Suarez was playing the target man or something. Starting Craig Bellamy or even Maxi Rodriguez in Downing’s place would have been ideal in this situation.

And then there was Dirk Kuyt. Nothing to fault him—the Dutchman ran his heart out, except that he failed to make a difference.

So it is why I still believe he should move on…

Was It Old Trafford?

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In one of my recent articles wherein I mentioned 10 reasons to hate Manchester United, I also included Old Trafford as one.

The reason was because of the lack of atmosphere in the ginormous stadium.

Some of them argued the point and said that I was wrong.

And I’m pretty sure they understood my point when they watched today’s game. 

Well, about 1000 supporters from the away crowd out-singing the 70,000 odd Mancunians, who by the way are not from Manchester, should be proof enough for my detractors!

Conclusion

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It was a bad day for Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish. Maybe the boss thinks that luck wasn’t on their part. He will probably maintain the same to the media.

But deep down, he should know that he hasn’t got the squad capable of a title hunt.

It is not that he needs to spend big in the summer, he should spend wisely.

Because when I looked at the team today, I see that the Liverpool spirit is hardly with the players.

One can only point out Steven Gerrard, Pepe Reina and Jay Spearing to have played for the cause. Maybe Suarez had a cause, but I doubt if it was for Liverpool or for proving a point to Evra.

It was supposed to be a derby and I got the feeling of the derby from the Man United players.

It’s time to buy some players who would understand the meaning of this derby and play for the shirt.

 

If you have the extra minute please check out a few of my other articles:

How to solve the Andy Carroll problem?

Why Martin Skrtel is Liverpool’s best player of this season?

Why Liverpool won’t make the Top 4?