Today’s visit of Liverpool represented a pivotal game for Manchester United. A win would be huge. A loss would be catastrophic.
A draw was neither.
A Result That Does Nothing For United
A win would have stated serious credentials to, at a minimum, break into the top three. A draw was really a minimum requirement for the home side and their Champions League hopes are still very much intact. However, it really needed to be three if Mourinho had any hopes of challenging Chelsea.
However, with another straightforward run of games before they travel to the Etihad, United are relatively well-placed.
Paul Pogba Was Atrocious
Calamitous in the first half and anonymous in the second, today was unquestionably the nadir of Paul Pogba’s second spell at Old Trafford. Ironically Liverpool were also the opponents when he experienced the lowest moments of his first time at the club. Sent off for illegally feigning a penalty during a youth cup game, he went on to banish those demons and force himself into the first team.
It’s vital he does similar here.
Wayne Rooney Was Somehow Even Worse
The “record-chasing Rooney”. How terrifying. The scouse striker was absurdly poor after his inexplicable introduction at the break to the point that every attack he was involved in quickly broke down.
His level was found last weekend and it’s there he must stay. It’s cup ties against Championship sides for Rooney until China comes calling.
Liverpool Will Feel Hard Done By
A marginal offside call in the build-up to the equaliser went against Liverpool will irk fans but the away side were good value for the win. They utterly dominated Mourinho’s charges for much of the first half, limited them to their second lowest number of attempts this season and themselves had decent chances to win it on the break. It’s both a good point and two dropped for Jurgen Klopp.
Zlatan Pops Up When It Counts
He’s far from perfect, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He was poor for much of the game and his prodigy Marcus Rashford would have latched on to two short back passes had he played, but, when it mattered, he stepped up. Some will say that’s all that matters.