Red Monday came and went on Merseyside, ending with much less fanfare than anticipated.
Liverpool hosted Manchester United under the lights of Anfield, with the game ending as a 0-0 draw. It was an opportunity for Liverpool to jump atop the table with a hammering of their arch rival but it was not meant to be.
Liverpool struggled mightily for the opening 30 minutes. Whether it was the occasion, the long layoff, or simply the stakes, the Reds spent the majority of time making a mess of things and inviting trouble from a very disciplined Manchester United.
They lacked Jurgen Klopp’s requisite coolness in the right moments and could not find their customary rhythm and tempo.
There was little action beyond a lot of possession being exchanged in midfield. Rather than pinging the ball around the pitch, Liverpool lacked precision. Their difficulty settling into the game made for a far more scrappy affair than hoped. This played partly into Manchester United’s plans as well, as they looked to thwart rather than create.
Tense and cagey, there were few chances for either side. Yet Liverpool were once again denied by their occasional bogeyman David De Gea.
Here are my four findings from the game:
Clunky Can
Not having played in the first team for some months as he fought to find his fitness, it is no surprise that Emre Can looked a little off the pace. Eventually he found his way into the match, much like the rest of the team. Still, were it not for the injuries to Gini Winjaldum and Adam Lallana, it is unlikely the German would have started.
Can epitomized the team’s difficult, hectic performance. He rarely could find the space to drive into with the ball or the poise to use the ball with purpose.
Even his one moment in the box, forcing a solid save from De Gea, seemed awkward and out of rhythm.
His physical presence was welcome and he clearly got Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s attention, drawing a late cheap foul for a yellow card. It is hard not think that there will be a place for Can in the side somewhere, at some point.
An in form Emre Can churning through the midfield would have been a more welcome sight, even freeing Jordan Henderson a bit more.
Midfield Misses
Given the form that Liverpool displayed as they entered the international break, it was not surprising that Winjaldum and Lallana would likely be missed. However, just how much of a void they left might not have been anticipated. The side’s overall performance, combined with their absences, contributed to a frantic and unsettled quality.
Lallana has been a revelation since dropping deeper into the midfield. The move mitigates the weaker aspects of his game and amplifies the best parts. His energy interchanging and supporting the front three has been creating all kinds of havoc for defenses. His late inclusion into this match did just that.
Meanwhile, Winjaldum has brought a steady, solidity to the midfield. He may frustrate some away from home, but the Dutchman delivers the kind of calm and quickness that was sorely lacking against United. This match may have highlighted how valuable he can be for the club.
Solo Sturridge
Daniel Sturridge cut a lonely figure leading the line for the Reds. He did not have his normally silky touch. While the general lack of precision in the passing did not help him, he needed to routinely play the ball back from where it came and was rarely able to get on the ball with any chance to make something happen.
As the first half sputtered, Sturridge’s frustration began to show as he drifted deeper and deeper into the midfield just to get any touches at all. There was a flash of something when he flicked it to Roberto Firmino. Only one touch in the box for his 60 minutes told the tale of the striker’s show.
What may be worrying for Sturridge is how much better the side looked when he was substituted. He looked like he was on another team. So once Adam Lallana replaced him, the rhythm and flow going forward was distinctly different. For the better part of the final 30 minutes, Liverpool without Sturridge looked like they might be able to break through. He will be disappointed but he will have better days too.
Coutinho Close
Having played a lot of minutes for Brazil, Philippe Coutinho took to Anfield on a wave of good form. Yet, he too took his time to find his way into the match. Jose Mourinho clearly made a point of trying to smother him more while playing a deeper role with Sturridge as striker.
The little magician was initially under a lot more physical pressure but eventually found the time and space to take the game to United. Drifting deeper at times to get on the ball and dictate, he also was able to set up shop on the left once Lallana entered the match.
As Liverpool emerged from their struggles and began to seize control for the final 30 minutes, Coutinho was at the heart of nearly every serious sequence of play.
Then, despite all the grief it may cause, the Brazilian cut inside onto his right and unleashed a rocket from outside the box headed for the upper corner of the far post.
Only a world-class save from De Gea thwarted what would have rivaled any of his dramatic goals as a Red.