Sunday, September 1, 2024

A Painful Loss Against Liverpool But No Reason For Panic Yet: United VS Liverpool Match Review

 
Casemiro

United lost their last game at Brighton, but there wasn't much panic entering into the biggest fixture in English Football. Ten Hag predictably went back to a 4-2-3-1 formation after the injury to Mason Mount, they started the game with Rashford earning United a corner within the first 3 minutes, for over 20 minutes there were on top and by the 20 minute mark, the possesion stats read United 67% and Liverpool 33% but the ease at which the visitors cut through United's midfield for Arnold's goal that was ruled out should have been a warning of things to come, he kissed the camera in solidarity to club legend Gerrard but a few seconds later kissed his first goal against United at Old Trafford goodbye. The match moved at a slow pace and many expected the first half to end in a draw, but 15 minutes from the break, Casemiro gave the ball away and Liverpool scored, the visitors have smelled blood, 7 minutes later the added another following the same sequence of a Casemiro mistake, a Salah assist and a Luiz Diaz., the third was identical only this time Mainoo was at fault and Salah turned goalscorer. Ten Hag cannot be blamed for Ugarte been registered late therfore not qualified for the game, his contingency plan to cover a poor setup in midfield was to press high with Mount leading the charge but the demons of a season ago seem to still haunt United, 3 games into the season Mount went of injured after the first half against Brighton, an injury that was as invisible as Casemiro was in midfield today.

The game was not as bad as United's last against Liverpool at the theatre, a match they were loosing 4 nil at half time, Liverpool had three shots on the target in this fixture and scored from all three, United had the same three but Zirkzee scorer of United's first goal this season could not convert 2 well measured crosses from Rashford, the first a header that was too close to Alisson and second a shot turn clearance which Van Dijk will definitely be grateful for. The last time Liverpool won at Old Trafford, Fred another Brazillian midfielder had his work made alot harder due to a red card to former player Paul Pogba, that was the last time Pogba played for United againts Liverpool, this might be Casemiro's last as well. 

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