After yet another international break, albeit more entertaining than those before it, the Premier League returns with one of its most enthralling fixtures. Most of the time, at least.
Co-leaders Manchester United travel to Liverpool knowing that a victory would send them 10 points clear of the Merseysiders, and surely deal a fatal blow to their title chances even at this early stage of the season. It marks a massive role reversal compared to the last time they met at Anfield.
Almost exactly a year ago, Jose Mourinho’s reign was getting off to an uninspiring start, having picked up fewer points than Louis van Gaal managed the previous season, while Liverpool – inspired by summer signing Sadio Mane, who is sidelined for this rematch – had been absolutely purring.
They hosted United with top spot in their sights, and Mourinho could hardly contain his satisfaction after the game when he engineered yet another defensive masterclass. United’s last trip to Anfield produced a bruising encounter, though not a particularly high quality one.
Mourinho used a defensive gameplan against Liverpool, but his side have played sparkling football this term.
‘They are not the last wonder of the world like you [the media] say they are,’ he said gleefully. After so much build-up, how inevitable that the game should end in a goalless stalemate.
And how typical of Mourinho too. This display was not quite out of his top drawer of bore draws, but it was close. United limited the hosts to just three shots on target – they only mustered fewer in home matches against Manchester City and, surprisingly, Crystal Palace – but only had one themselves, their joint-worst all season.
In giving up 65% possession, it represented their lowest share of the ball since Opta began recording data in 2003, at least until they travelled to the Etihad towards the end of the season to take on Pep Guardiola’s suffocating City side.
Co-leaders Manchester United travel to Liverpool knowing that a victory would send them 10 points clear of the Merseysiders, and surely deal a fatal blow to their title chances even at this early stage of the season. It marks a massive role reversal compared to the last time they met at Anfield.
Almost exactly a year ago, Jose Mourinho’s reign was getting off to an uninspiring start, having picked up fewer points than Louis van Gaal managed the previous season, while Liverpool – inspired by summer signing Sadio Mane, who is sidelined for this rematch – had been absolutely purring.
They hosted United with top spot in their sights, and Mourinho could hardly contain his satisfaction after the game when he engineered yet another defensive masterclass. United’s last trip to Anfield produced a bruising encounter, though not a particularly high quality one.
Mourinho used a defensive gameplan against Liverpool, but his side have played sparkling football this term.
‘They are not the last wonder of the world like you [the media] say they are,’ he said gleefully. After so much build-up, how inevitable that the game should end in a goalless stalemate.
And how typical of Mourinho too. This display was not quite out of his top drawer of bore draws, but it was close. United limited the hosts to just three shots on target – they only mustered fewer in home matches against Manchester City and, surprisingly, Crystal Palace – but only had one themselves, their joint-worst all season.
In giving up 65% possession, it represented their lowest share of the ball since Opta began recording data in 2003, at least until they travelled to the Etihad towards the end of the season to take on Pep Guardiola’s suffocating City side.
"Manchester United Are Fun Again Under Mourinho But That Will All Stop Against Liverpool"
Reviewed by Temii
on
Friday, October 13, 2017
Rating:
Reviewed by Temii
on
Friday, October 13, 2017
Rating:
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