Liverpool have joined Manchester Metropolis on the prime of the Premier League desk as the one groups to have received all three video games this season thus far, after smashing arch-rivals Manchester United at Outdated Trafford. Having seen a seventh-minute purpose by Trent Alexander-Arnold dominated out for an offside given by the VAR in opposition to Mohamed Salah within the buildup, the Reds took the lead by way of Luis Diaz within the thirty fifth, and the Colombian winger added one other within the forty second. Salah ultimately proved the scourge of Manchester United once more within the 56th, setting the ultimate rating at 0-3.
The groups
There have been two modifications in United’s beginning lineup in comparison with the one which began the defeat away to Brighton and Hove Albion the earlier week, with newcomer Joshua Zirkzee, who scored the successful purpose within the opening spherical in opposition to Fulham, changing Mason Mount as the person main the attacking line, and Matthijs de Ligt, one other summer time arrival, coming within the place of Harry Magiure within the again line.
Zirkzee had Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho in assist, whereas Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro performed in deeper midfield roles. De Ligt performed alongside Lisandro Martinez within the coronary heart of defence, with Diogo Dalot on the left and Noussair Mazraoui on the correct. Andre Onana was in purpose.
As for Liverpool, their workforce unsurprisingly remained unchanged from the victory over Brentford. With Alisson Becker between the posts, Ibrahima Konate joined Virgil van Dijk to kind the centre-back duo, whereas Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson coated the flanks. The midfield double pivot consisted of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, with Dominik Szoboszlai given extra freedom to play additional up. Diogo Jota led the road upfront, with Salah and Diaz in assist from vast positions.
The sport
The competition appeared finely balanced in the beginning as each groups sought to determine management and assault. United had just a few promising conditions, and Liverpool had one good probability dragged vast by Jota, earlier than Alexander-Arnold smashed the ball which crossed the goal-line earlier than Dalot cleared it out. Referee Anthony Taylor blew his whistle and raised his wrist watch, earlier than pointing to the centre of the pitch. Nonetheless, the VAR intervened and rightly so, stating that Salah had been offside earlier than taking part in the ball into Alexander-Arnold’s path.
However there was nothing to save lots of United within the thirty fifth minute, when each Diaz and Szoboszlai sneaked in unmarked on the far submit as Salah whipped in a cross from the correct. Szoboszlai ultimately pulled his head in to permit the Colombian to have a go, and it paid off.
Salah was the assist-maker once more within the forty second minute, discovering the identical man near the penalty spot earlier than Diaz whacked a low effort, straight into the underside nook, leaving Onana unable to do something about it.
United tried to struggle again after the break and there was a sense that Liverpool would do properly to attain a 3rd purpose as quickly as attainable to finish any uncertainty, and when Salah obtained the ball off Szoboszlai after a fantastic run by the Hungary captain and smashed previous Onana, the competition was clearly settled.
On the different finish, Erik ten Hag’s males had a number of good possibilities of their very own, however Alisson confirmed his high quality to disclaim a particularly awkward shot by Mazraoui, to divert a shot by Zirkzee across the submit, and to cease the previous Bologna striker from scoring with a close-range header.
Apparently sufficient, it was United who had extra possession of the ball (53%), and it took solely three pictures on course from Liverpool to attain three targets. Nonetheless, Liverpool absolutely deserved their win.
United want Ugarte
On prime of Zirkzee, De Ligt and Mazraoui, United have accomplished the signing of Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain, nevertheless it was too quickly for the Uruguay worldwide to be concerned after becoming a member of the membership solely two days earlier than.
Nonetheless, this recreation confirmed fairly clearly why the Outdated Trafford membership selected to pay the reported price of €50 million to signal Ugarte.
A lot has been stated about Casemiro not taking part in on the similar degree for United as he did beforehand for Actual Madrid. The Brazilian destroyer has certainly been a shadow of his former self, with an occasional flicker of outdated resilience and game-reading skill.
It was none apart from the 32-year-old who misplaced the ball in harmful positions forward of each first-half targets, in ways in which got here as an enormous shock for a participant of such expertise and pedigree. Small surprise, subsequently, that Ten Hag selected to go away him within the dressing room on the break, however as he thought of it, a tough reality should’ve hit dwelling – there isn’t a participant in his ranks appropriate to step in and carry out in a recreation of such magnitude. Finally, 20-year-old Toby Collyer, not too long ago promoted from the youth setup, obtained the nod, and whereas there wasn’t actually something the younger midfielder could possibly be blamed for on this recreation, it was fairly clear that he lacks the power to inject his workforce with some much-needed vitality and creativity. Those that maintain Manchester United of their hearts might be hoping that Ugarte is able to step into the breach after the worldwide break.
Gravenberch experiment working for Liverpool
In the meantime, Liverpool have nonetheless not changed Fabinho correctly. Since their former defensive midfielder left the membership, the followers had been hoping for a big-name signing to cowl the opening left by his departure, which arguably hampered their efforts tremendously final season. The membership certainly tried to signal Martin Zubimendi from Actual Sociedad this summer time, however the Spain worldwide ultimately determined to not go away his present membership, and no various goal was pursued.
It was stated then that Slot had loads of religion within the gamers at his disposal, and he examined the concept to play Gravenberch and Mac Allister as a double pivot in the midst of the park right away. Thus far, the setup is proving efficient.
Gravenberch a superb recreation, combating for each ball, drawing fouls and yellow playing cards for the opposition, masking defensively, carrying the ball far up the pitch, and fascinating his teammates with good, well-aimed passes. The season is, in fact, lengthy, and it stays to be seen what occurs when the Champions League marketing campaign begins and video games come thick and quick, however in the interim, not signing a specialist No. 6 has not been an issue for Liverpool.
Ten Hag in bother?
Ten Hag’s future at Manchester United was doubtful in the direction of the tip of final season, however the unlikely FA Cup triumph coated the scent of the eighth-place end within the Premier League to an extent, and he signed a brand new two-year contract in the beginning of July.
It was the second cup triumph for the Dutchman on the membership, however now the query of cup successes masking for league blunders should be requested, for all his declare that United have been the second-best workforce in England as they received essentially the most trophies behind Manchester Metropolis within the final two years.
Three factors from three video games merely isn’t adequate for the membership that has 20 league titles in its illustrious historical past. United have backed Ten Hag within the switch market, signing three Dutch gamers this summer time for appreciable quantities, two of whom he coached beforehand at Ajax. The cash they spent on gamers in 2022 and 2023 isn’t precisely pocket change both, and the outcomes, at the very least when the Premier League is worried, are nonetheless lacking.
These switch actions have arguably tied the membership’s arms in relation to deciding Ten Hag’s future – they spent some huge cash on gamers he had requested for, and when considering the opportunity of sacking him, they’ve to think about the likelihood {that a} new coach may not need these gamers.
That’s some pickle United have landed themselves in, however until the outcomes decide up and the workforce begins incomes factors regularly quickly, they’ll probably need to make the exhausting name and lower the twine.
