I have to say that in the build up to this one I had a strange feeling the side would do well. Everyone seemed to be tipping an easy United win, yet I felt that I had seen the seeds of recovery in the last few weeks; four games unbeaten and a more balanced looking side. It was the games that preceded those four that made the performances look an awful lot worse. I had some small hope that Liverpool might take everyone by surprise and beat United by a goal. I was (and remain) far more worried by the Arsenal match to come.
That small flame of hope was effectively extinguished when I saw the team announced. I knew Liverpool were in trouble earlier than that when it was confirmed that Jones would be starting. I don't know anyone who had advocated that even during the worse weeks of Mignolet's dip in form. More to the point, why drop him now when he had improved somewhat? Inexplicable. More was to come. I don't hold Lucas up as any great example of the midfield craft, but I am always relieved to see him in the side. Why? Because I at least know he will put in the tackles and try a leg around the pitch. He is hardworking and feisty. That is a minimum starting point for me. Similarly Toure, sure he occasionally headers the ball backwards, but he has desire, drive. What I saw on Sunday, minus Lucas and Toure, was, with the odd exception, a bunch of fannies getting bullied around Old Trafford.
I know, I know, this is the round table, I am supposed to do measured reflection, point to formations etc. And I could do that. The backline was unbalanced and experimental. Moreno was some kind of wing back, I honestly have no idea. On the other side it was Johnson/Toure playing some hybrid FB/WB/CB. It was just weird. Henderson was losing the run of himself and Markovic when he came on was similarly clueless as to his role. Up front it was three AMs but no outlet. We started all these attacking, technical players and didn't bother giving them a focal point in a striker. Balotelli actually looked invested when he came on simply because the bar had been set so low in the first half. There was a lot of huff and puff (which was something) but then came the first goal; Allen nutmegged, Moreno out of position (wherever that was supposed to be) Lovren standing beside Skrtel, keeping him company, Jones jumping the wrong way... shocking stuff. After that Liverpool tried to shuffle their way through the half. It was all about individuals trying for individual moments of excellence. On TV it was grim, reports from the game say the atmosphere on the pitch was toxic. Whatever hope had been offered by the feisty start was gone after the first goal. By the time the second goal came, Liverpool looked like a team that knew their goose was cooked.
The second half was better (shades of Basel) but that was largely down to one or two individuals doing something exceptional, rather than a concerted plan of attack. Sterling missed glorious opportunities, yes. His decision-making ad finishing are suspect, but at least he tries, at least he gets in position. And so i return to my original criticism. A right bunch of fannies. Allen was picked on all game. Coutinho was up ended by rota. Lallana was boxed out and made peripheral by rugged United players. Fellaini, yard dog, spent the game caning whatever Liverpool player came toward him. Where was the retribution? Where was the spirit? truly frustrating. I was most angered by the CBs though. Skrtel watching RVP jump and flick a ball on to Mata (offside, I know). Seriously, try to at least jump with him. Lovren, like bambi on ice, half clearing a ball to the on-rushing United player... Jones buying the mannequin offered and leaving a big empty net for the third. Christ on a crutch.
The worst part is Liverpool didn't play that badly and still got trounced... by a bad united side missing a host of players and not actually fielding any of the transfers from the summer. That's right, it was a team from last year + injuries that turned Liverpool over. Garbage.
I said it after the game and I say it again now; that result was the managers fault. Poor team selection compounded afterwards by his insistence that Mignolet will continue to be second choice. It feels like the (reported) rift at board room level is being played out on the pitch and that is just wrong.
Anyway, that is how I saw it.
