15 things we learned from United's win at Anfield

23 March 2015 09:18

Manchester United beat Liverpool by two goals to one to kick off today’s football, thanks to two moments of magic from Juan Mata.

It wasn’t a classic Liverpool performance but they scrapped in the second half and could’ve got a point – their captain Steven Gerrard being sent off just 45 seconds after coming on didn’t help the cause.

Here’s a few things we learned.

1. Those fast Liverpool starts might be a thing of the past

Liverpool were renowned last season (and a significant portion of this season) for blowing their opponents away early on, but we saw nothing of the sort today. It took 35 minutes for Liverpool to register anything of note, by which time they were already one down and chasing the ball.

2. A lot of people questioned Gary Neville’s impartiality while commentating on the match

There was nothing that stood out as being massively biased, or even a little bit biased, but it was a common and consistent complaint from those watching. He does have a lot of history in the fixture though, so it would be understandable if he let something slip at a point in the match.

3. Anfield was the place to be

(Peter Byrne/PA)
(Peter Byrne/PA)

The legend that is Pele was there to watch the match.

4. All the experience in the world doesn’t mean anything in a derby

No matter how much he’s played and how big the games have been, as Jamie Carragher said, Steven Gerrard is an “emotional” player. Coming off the bench in a game like that was always going to end up in a Steve G screamer or a red card.

5. There’s such a thing as a “Lallana kind of chance”

This was a phrase used by Martin Tyler after Adam Lallana missed Liverpool’s best chance of the first half.

6. Juan Mata is key for Man United

He might be a different player to what they’re typically used to, but that doesn’t take away any of his quality.

7. Alberto Moreno is just not very good at defending

He was out of position for both of Mata’s goals and offered almost nothing going forward, which is usually his strong point.

8. Someone said this for the first time ever

9. The Liverpool fans had their part to play

(Jon Super/AP)
(Jon Super/AP)

They held him Mario Balotelli back when he wanted to go after Chris Smalling, something which potentially could’ve stopped another red card for Liverpool.

10. There was this sombre musing on Balotelli’s Liverpool career

11. Raheem Sterling might need another holiday

Sterling found it impossible to get into the game, but with the international break coming up he’ll have no chance to get away for some recuperation.

12. He also runs funny

We may have already known this one.

13. Phil Jones cares not for his skull

He’ll stick his head in anywhere, in any circumstances.

14. Louis Van Gaal’s quality as a coach shone through

Man United were the last team to beat Liverpool before today. Since then, Liverpool have changed to a 3-4-3 formation and no one has figured out how to deal with it.

Van Gaal set up his team in such a way that the Kop were completely silenced for the first half an hour, as Liverpool couldn’t get hold of the ball, or even press high up the pitch.

15. And Van Gaal might finally know his best team and formation

He’s chopped and changed constantly throughout the season, looking for the right mixture and trying to find a balance. Two of David Moyes’ signings in Marouane Fellaini and Mata have performed brilliantly for him in recent weeks, and with Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick in the team the midfield seem to know when to pick up the tempo and attack and when to play amongst themselves.

Source: SNAPPA