Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United: 3 Things We Learned As Rooney Breaks Another Record

Liverpool vs Manchester United: 3 Key Talking Points

This felt like a completely different Liverpool-Manchester United clash when compared to previous seasons. Manchester United were not challenging for the title and neither club was actually in the race for a top four, well United certainly helped their cause with a smash and grab, 1-0 win over their eternal rivals.

It was Wayne Rooney who smashed home in the second half after Marouane Fellaini hit the post from a header though it was Liverpool who did all the early running and it took a couple of David de Gea saves from Emre Can to keep the score line at 0-0.

United scored with their only shot on target and for all the huffing and puffing from Liverpool, they couldn’t break down a resilient Manchester United defence. This game was a far cry from the 3-3 draws both teams were involved in during midweek and certainly lacked the passion and blood and guts thunder than we are used to when these teams play.

With the victory, Manchester United moved to within two points of a top four place while Liverpool stayed in ninth place, eight points from fourth-placed Tottenham. Both teams lacked a real goal threat and we look back to a rather average game and share the three things we picked out.

1. Neither team is good in attack

A few years ago we had Suarez, Sturridge, Rooney, Van Persie, Tevez, Torres, brilliant strikers who could turn the game on their heads. This season it was just Rooney who remained from the list and Liverpool started with Roberto Firmino up top instead of Christian Benteke. The lack of an out and out striker for Liverpool showed but they did have a few good chances.

Manchester United were without any great threat up top and it took a bit of madness in the Liverpool penalty box for Wayne Rooney to smash home the winner. Even after Manchester United scored they didn’t look like they would extend their lead and it didn’t look like Liverpool would score. A poor game with a poor attack from both teams, a lot of work needs to be done here.

2. Liverpool cannot deal with set pieces

Jurgen Klopp looked extremely upset after the match, he spoke about how Liverpool conceded yet again from a set piece but the German has to work with his defenders and help his team out. Liverpool do not keep men on the post during corners and Simon Mignolet isn’t the greatest goalkeeper when it comes to coming out and claiming corners.

By now the German must have worked out a plan to deal with this set piece threat but that hasn’t been implemented at the club. If Liverpool are to end the season in a decent position, they have to learn how to deal with corners, free-kicks and deal with the second ball in the box; otherwise, they could end up outside the top 10.

3. Records tumble for Rooney

Wayne Rooney became the player to score the most number of goals for one club, overtaking Thierry Henry. The Manchester United striker has come under a lot of flak this season but he continued his goal scoring form and made it four games in a row in which he has found the back of the net, the first time he has achieved this feature in the last four years.

This was Rooney’s first goal at Anfield since 2005 and this should provide the England captain a lot of confidence going into the final part of the season. Manchester United might not be scoring a lot of goals but if they can keep other teams out, they have the ability to nick games and could well make it into the top four at the end of the season.