No full match report from me seeing as this is technically my day off. But this is what you need to know.
1. Liverpool started very well
Raheem Sterling was very adept at challenging his marker in Patrice Evra, Borini grew into the game, Steven Gerrard seemed to creep further and further forward as soon as he sensed Man United weren’t going to connect well on the counter, Luis Suarez was creative if not ruthless. So you just knew Manchester United would sneak out a win.
2. Jonjo Shelvey’s red
I’ve noticed fans discuss red cards as if they were mere reflections of a single, perfect recognizable instance of a “red card foul.” Was Jonjo Shelvey’s? Perhaps not, but why did he take the risk with a lunge that nearly speared an admittedly careless Jonny Evans in half? It doesn’t matter, it happened. And Liverpool answered admirably.
3. Steven Gerrard can still score
Yes Suso did the work on the left to find Gerrard in a perfect position, but the fact Gerrard was there at all is perhaps evidence that the ‘Frank Lampard’ aging Golden Age England player modes, which dictates the older the attacking mid, the deeper they drop, might not be the absolute truth. The man can still score. Why not recast him as a Yaya Toure?
4. Hillsborough tribute
Moving, went off without a hitch. Only a smattering of partisan ugliness, which, like a mild stomach cramp, passed soon enough.
5. Was it a penalty on Glen Johnson?
Yes. Because the ref gave it. Objectively? That question is meaningless. See number 2.
5. None of this matters
Remember that Liverpool’s ‘saving grace’ in otherwise dreadful seasons has always been beating United, so maybe let’s not go nuts on a September 23rd result. And the ‘sack Rodgers’ morons should be allowed 24 hours to let their aggression out, no more. Liverpool is a club in transition. No, Rodgers isn’t Aron Winter.
Rodgers has this team punching above their weight. LFC fans should be happy with eighth to tenth. Maybe not happy, but that’s where they’ll end up.
That doesn’t make sense. How is a team with no wins in the league punching above their weight?
Perhaps they’re a zero point team dressed up as a 2?
SB
Some of the comments people are making are just ridiculous. Liverpool played united off the park for the large majority if the game today, Giggs even said it himself. Liverpool have had a tough schedule to start the season, with a new style of play being introduced by Rogers, playing the likes or arsenal, man city/united right off the bat was never going to be easy. This new look Liverpool have some great attacking flair about them, as the season goes on, and as they find their goal scoring feet, people won’t be complaining the way they are right now. Seeing players like suso, sterling and shelvey playing a part is all the more encouraging for the future. Give it time, this team won’t win the title this year, but expect to see a new flair with this team, one that’s been missing for a good 20 years.
but the bottom line remains that Liverpool have not won a game this season so far. it doesn’t matter who was the better side on the day. which Liverpool looked to be. but you don’t get three points for looking like the batter side. you get three points for winning the game. they still have the same problem that they have had for the last couple of seasons….they can’t score. as for expecting “a new flair” it won’t matter if they stay in the relegation zone for much longer. I’m not sure where you get your information from, but hasn’t Liverpool been a passing team for decades?Rogers will be gone in two or three more matches if this continues.
Poor again from United, needing the other team to score (a team down to 10 men at that) to get started isn’t exactly the most sound plan, but it seems to be a common theme lately.
As for the red, it looked like Evans just nicked the ball before getting raked by Shelvey’s studs, may have just given him a yellow though.
And the penalty, it looked like there was contact albeit minimal, at full speed where the ref was positioned, it obviously looked like Johnson clipped Valencia’s leg.
Fair play to Liverpool they played with great tempo even with 10 men and United were shit, but I’ll take the win in a place where United fans haven’t expected much these past few years.
Even Gary Neville came out and said Shelvey’s red shouldn’t have been given, if Evans was not similarly red-carded…IMO Jonny got off easy because he was the one that got hurt.
Wow, united are playing very uninspired stale football right now…..but still winning with the help of some questionable calls. Rodgers is onto something and patience is paramount to let it come to fruition; I do wonder whether the fans will keep their pride in check enough to let the project grow and if entertaining football will be enough for them if they get mid table.
Truly worried about united this year — they are really riding their luck right now. Hate to question SAF but I just don’t see what he is seeing right now when he looks at the squad: I see giant holes that need addressing to honestly challenge for cups this year (without the help of the ref).
c’mon red jay. all teams benefit from “the help of the refs” from time to time. especially the top teams. did you know that that was the first penalty that United have been given at Anfield in forever. i do agree that the red card should have only been yellow, if a card at all. but your comment about United riding their luck is spot on. their luck is going to run out eventually if they don’t step up their intensity and focus. this system they’re playing won’t work against good teams.
A lot of talk about United playing poorly, Liverpool running the show. Quick question: Other than the goal, which was a moment of skill off a broken play, when was Lindegaard bothered all match?
People have been watching it for quite a while now, but failing to recognize it for what it is. Fergie may have played his cards earlier because of the red card, but this was clearly a “bend-don’t-break”, European knockout round away leg. He does this fairly often vs Liverpool and Chelsea on the road.
BTW, that’s three good defensive displays in a row for the club that started in the back.
SB