I had/have a few concerns about the side in general, last night went a little way to easing one of those concerns - getting the first win against a top, top side. The Chelsea and City games at home still leave a bad taste for me, they still feel like missed opportunities, and after the shenanigans against Milan, I was a bit concerned going into last night's game that we needed at least one big win against a big side before going to Old Trafford on Sunday. If we rank our League/CL opponents in terms of difficulty of fixtures (given their current situations), we have hammered the lesser teams and struggled in the more difficult games.
Norwich W 0-3
Watford W 0-5
Burnley W 2-0
Crystal Palace W 3-0
Leeds W 0-3
Brentford D 3-3
Porto W 1-5
AC Milan W 3-2
Chelsea D 1-1
Atletico W 2-3
Man City D 2-2
The obvious upside is that we are unbeaten and look very hard to beat. Which wasn't really the case last season but we know the reasons for that. I said after the Watford game that we all felt last season was an anomaly but it feels confirmed now. The players know it too and are playing like they want to prove it every week. The hunger is back and there is a feeling that these lads know what is required to go to the distance and are going to put themselves through it to achieve it.
The concerns in those bigger games have been defence/midfield issues. The balance doesn't 100% look right at times - that was evident last night with the Henderson/Milner/Keita partnership - we left holes all over and it was hard to get tight to some of them. They were poor goals to concede but even the build up to the goals we didn't manage the situations well enough. The first one comes from a corner but in the build up they had a long throw which they won the first ball, Matip headed it away and it fell to Griezmann at the edge of the box and he was free as a bird to play a ball to the back post which Trent did brilliantly to put behind for the corner. We know Naby is beaten too easily and again they have far too much time and space in the box. The lack of aggression for the second goal was disappointing too. The left back was able to carry it and play it into Joao Felix where he was surrounded by our players - Naby had a bit of a go but it all felt a bit half-hearted from those around him and then Griezmann does brilliantly to set the chance up and finish.
There were other chances for them too where Ali pulled out some great saves. The gap between the defence and midfield at times looked far too wide - they hit a couple of long balls and were able to get 1v1 almost with a defender. The Griezmann chance came from a similar situation, though I think Mane was fouled in the build up but the midfield was bypassed completely and he was through. From the save, they kept control of the ball and were able to maneuver themselves into a position where they could put a ball into the box. At one other stage Carrasco was able to play an easy one two into the box and forced Ali to make another save. We were just so sluggish at times.
All this can be caveated by the fact they are a really, really good side but having been 0-2 up, I do think we made life hard for ourselves and part of that was the midfield balance and putting a bit more aggression into our press. The second half when Fabinho came on and then AOC, we looked a lot better. I think the sending off helped a little but there was definitely more urgency in our press and we got back some of that early control we had.
In the Chelsea game, Mount had a chance where they strolled through our midfield and Lukaku did some great #9 work holding the ball up and Mount got played in which Robbo nearly turned into his own goal. Foden's goal at Anfield came from Mahrez having a wander without anyone putting one on him. The De Bruyne goal - someone arrives in the box onto a Foden pass and mishits it or it gets cleared and it falls to KDB with all the time in the world to get a good connection on it. Are these things to worry about? It's just little patterns that are starting to emerge in these big games. United are littered with individuals who are more likely to want to carry the ball and have a shot - Pogba, Fernandes, Greenwood, Rashford, Ronaldo - than play intricate football. We need to be better in those situations.
I would just like us to comfortably see out a big game and I really hope Sunday is that game. I am not sure where United fall into that list above - maybe either side of Milan? But Solskjaer's back is firmly against the wall and it will be interesting to see how he approaches the game. I think he will revert to being solid and having pace on the wings - two of McTominay/Fred/Matic with Fernandes, then Rashford and Greenwood wide and probably Ronaldo upfront. I don't think he can go with Pogba, Fernandes and Ronaldo in the same side - there isn't enough workrate there. And Rashford and Greenwood have pace and a goal each from last weekend, so I think it makes sense. Cavani is likely to run more and work more but they aren't really a pressing team - we know ourselves that to implement a pressing game you need the whole team to be in sync, it's not just someone running quickly to the ball trying to close an opponent down - United aren't sophisticated enough to do that. One of them - maybe a Sancho or Rashford - might go, but you can't trust a Pogba, Ronaldo or Fernandes to be implementing the next step.
But they have individual quality. And I think he will be wanting to keep the game as solid as he can and hope the individuals dig him out of a hole.
But for all my concern above - we are an excellent, excellent side. It is disappointing to drop points at home to Chelsea and City, but they weren't losses and they are the two best teams we will face this year. I think we know there are about 13 teams in this League that we will be so confident facing home and away and taking all of the points. We know the bulk our of points tally this season is going to be against those sides outside top 3-4 if we keep operating at this level. It is what we can do in these big games that will take us to where we need to be and one of those is Sunday. This is a really, really good opportunity to go there with a full strength team and win. They are in a bad moment, they look primed for change and you feel a loss on Sunday would go some way to them pulling the trigger on Solskjaer. I think they are concerned that they have the best group of players they have had for some time, and will want someone to get a tune out of them before Ronaldo declines, before Fernandes gets itchy feet, before Pogba leaves etc... I personally don't think their squad is anywhere near good enough to win a League title but there are definitely talented individuals there. The pressure is on them. I hope we turn up and put in a top performance. I think even an 8/10 Liverpool performance here could see us win it but I want 10/10 and for us to stick the boot in. We look so fluid and confident going forward, if we can apply ourselves then we can get goals against these. The defence and midfield will need to be better.
I think the team picks itself aside from one midfield spot. I don't know if Naby gets another chance, but I wouldn't be adverse to seeing AOC for his energy and his ability to drive through the middle of teams. Get as many people running and Maguire and Matic/McTominay/Fred as we can. It's a shame Tiago, Elliot and Jones aren't available. Milner has started two in a row now, I think? So I don't know if he goes again and to be honest, I think I would rather see AOC/Jones (if fit) for their ability to carry the ball and be direct. Maybe Naby does get another run out but being hooked at HT yesterday would suggest not, unless he trusts Fabinho to re-instate the balance? Not sure at all.
I think next to no chance we go all out and drop Jota in too.
