Manchester United v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

Manchester United v Liverpool A Liverpool Perspective



An absolute disgrace of a performance, which cannot be excused by the injuries as it was the lack of effort and desire that was particularly galling. The tactics are the same abomination Slot has used most of the season, the lack of fitness is never going to change because the players have too many days off to actually work and build their stamina. What annoys me more is the attempt to try and defend all the days off. Elite athletes become elite through hard work, not through holidays.

There is not much else to say about this game, it was the usual dross, the usual lack of fitness and once again a result far better than the performance deserved, even though it was a defeat. It is just crazy that it has been allowed to continue on so long.




Manchester United


They were very good in the first half, in which they should have built a much bigger lead. They could have easily put the game out of reach of Liverpool in the first 45 minutes. They broke through Liverpool's defence with ease. The second half saw them get sloppy and helped Liverpool draw back level, and for a few minutes they were rocking. They were given respite and took advantage of it to get a winner and stroll to a win by a score that really does not reflect just how much better they were than Liverpool. It is very hard to tell just how good they were, in all honesty, simply because of how terrible Liverpool were.



Liverpool


Woodman - cannot blame him for any of the goals, for a third choice he is doing well, but he is very much a third choice.


Jones - I fail to understand why he continues at right-back, even though the player signed to be right-back was fit. For all he has done a decent enough job, he does struggle on the defensive side of the game and has a tendency to dawdle on the ball in dangerous areas. It was never a solution and really should not have needed to be tried anyway, but Slot is determined to avoid giving an actual right-back in Ramsay the slightest chance.


Konate - lucky to get away with the brainless shove on Sesko into the advertising hoardings. It was needless, there was no danger and he could have turned it into a dangerous situation with his idiocy. And that is the best thing I can say about his game. He was utterly abysmal and anyone stupid enough at Liverpool to think giving this idiot a new contract is a good idea should be sacked immediately. Watching him wander round aimlessly is making me angrier every week. He is making me miss the days of Phil Babb in defence, he really is that bad.


van Dijk - dreadful game. His shortcomings as a captain and player are being badly exposed this season.


Robertson - a game too far. He was poor, looking his age.


Szoboszlai - the only Liverpool player to have anything like a good game. He had a couple of good runs forward, one of which ended with him bringing it back to 2-1.


Mac Allister - another in a long line of abysmal, anonymous performances.


Gravenberch - last season he was excellent as a deep lying midfielder protecting the defence. Giving him more freedom to get forward has just seen him turn back into the lacklustre midfielder he was before then. His passing is abysmal in offensive areas, it is clear he should just sit back but somehow no one in the coaching staff has realised it.


Wirtz - he has not reached the level that was hoped for, but the lack of movement around him to be picked out is hampering him badly. He still should be doing more to take the game by the scruff of the neck though and make things happen.


Frimpong - not a winger and it showed. He needs to be making overlapping runs, not being the main threat as he lacks the skill to dribble past players. He is far too weak and so far his only real attribute has been pace, which he struggles to use to any kind of effect with such a high starting position.


Gakpo - an improved performance by him, though his bar has been set very low this season.


Kerkez - replaced Robertson in the 59th minute. Worked hard but the team had reverted to slow passing around at the back which left most of his effort wasted.


Ngumoha - was brought on in the stead of Frimpong in the 75th minute. Waved his foot about a lot but achieved very little. There is a lot of potential there, but he needs time to develop.


Chiesa - took the place of Konate in the 87th minute. As usual brought on in the dying seconds out of desperation by Slot, this time there was little he could do.

Written by Tris Burke May 07 2026 17:49:15