Manchester United were utterly out-classed, on multiple levels by their arch-rivals Liverpool today losing 3-1 in a match that could have easily been 4-1 or 5-1. Jose Mourinho started five defenders, putting Diogo Dalot up in the attacking midfield for some odd reason.
Mourinho also left Paul Pogba on the bench for the full game, despite the fact that midfield may have been where United were overmatched the most. United are now 19 points behind their rivals for the top of the table. They are actually closer to Fulham, the league’s bottom side than they are to the top. Even the top four is getting away from them now as they’re currently 11 points outside of that position.
The only scoring for the Red Devils came via Jesse Lingard as he capitalized on a horrific mistake made by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson:
Everything is 10x worse for Alison with Titanic music. #MUNLIV pic.twitter.com/CUTnUV03nt
— Tom Bola (@ThomasPotions) December 16, 2018
For the Liverpool side of news and notes from this game go to this link.
For United, the story of the game is probably the benching of Pogba. We get it, Mourinho and Pogba just can’t stand each other, but the £89m superstar has to play in a rivalry game; period. Mourinho can say whatever he wants about team spirit and who gets the message and who doesn’t, but you’re destined to fail when you leave your best player frozen out, in favor of playing a kid out of position.
Pogba obviously must want out, but it’s hard to imagine they move him come January. The list of potential suitors is short, Barcelona, PSG, Juventus etc. because his price is so high.
It’s more likely Old Trafford part ways with him come summer time.
? Gary Neville "United don't have one central midfielder in the club who can pass the ball" #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/19DyMMpTy9
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) December 16, 2018
Imagine what a proactive manager might do with the likes of Pogba, Sanchez, Martial, Rashford, Mata. We know they have quality in them. We’ve seen it! There’s pace, guile, movement & goals in there but Jose has sucked the life out of almost all of them. So depressing.
— Doc (@Doc_Joshi) December 16, 2018
There is a lot wrong at United right now, but sadly it seems like only the fans care about it/want to fix it. You would think Mourinho wouldn’t survive something like what happened today, but Ed Woodward and the board don’t seem too eager to pull the plug on their manager.
Which is important to remember, because the main problem here isn’t Mourinho, but the Glazers and Woodward. Mourinho probably won’t be getting sacked until later in the season or at the end of it. And if/when he’s gone, can you just the current club leadership to find a proper successor that can fix this mess?
Mourinho will be sacked. And should be. But I don’t know why that’s something to be happy about when we’ll finish in the bottom half of the table with Carrick/Butt and then start off the pattern of destruction once more with the next manager working under the Glazers/Woodward.
— Scott Patterson (@R_o_M) December 16, 2018
Mourinho is getting sacked without a doubt. But the board want to save money so won’t do it until the end of the season or when top 4 is mathematically impossible.
This is just a business to them
— DILLINGER ? (@DillanMUFC) December 16, 2018
Vent as much anger as you like at Mourinho. Just don’t lose sight of the real, more long-term problem that will continue to harm United long after the manager’s gone: the parasites that have been gradually sucking the life out of this club for the last 13 years.
— Si Lloyd (@SmnLlyd5) December 16, 2018
Finally, on the lighter side, this shot? pas? by Marouane Fellaini here WTF?! That poor stadium steward. He knocked her right off her chair.
Hahahahahahahahahahaha Fellaini has just nearly killed a paramedic pic.twitter.com/PK0JrSoVqY
— Joshua (@JoshBew95) December 16, 2018
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.