For a team which had a supposed superior best XI, Liverpool didn’t look better than Manchester United on Sunday.
And Liverpool were pretty relieved to come away from Old Trafford with a point in the end, after our defensive lapse gave away a late equaliser for a 1-1 final score.
In the lead up to the game, pundits had hyped up Liverpool’s players, with Danny Mills even claiming a combined XI would not feature a single United star [SkySports].
One of the more controversial calls was to pick Joel Matip ahead of Harry Maguire. The game at Old Trafford proved the United star is on a different level.
While Maguire was calm and composed at the back, making more clearances (10) than any player on the pitch, Matip was left floundering.
For United’s goal, he was owned by Marcus Rashford, who dummied him with a false run, finding space in the other direction to poke home Dan James’ cross.
By time Rashford prodded in the goal, Matip was not even near him.
Rashford has not had a good season; this was his first goal from open play since August. The way he undressed Matip for the opener made it seem like he was at his prolific best.
Every player can make mistakes, but this was evidence that calls from pundits and Liverpool supporters to anoint the central defender were premature.
Maguire was a class act at the other end, marshalling a new look Manchester United back three.
United fans were quick to tear into Matip’s poor display after the hype surrounding him coming into the game.
Let us never hear Matip is better than Maguire after this…
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