Manchester United are flying through the early stages of the season so why is their manager doing and saying things that he does not seem to need to?A creditable goalless draw at Liverpool, a solid away win in the Champions League at Benfica, an is-he-or-isn’t-he flirtation with Paris Saint-Germain, a refusal to commit his long-term future to Manchester United and, finally, a hand grenade lobbed towards those managers who “cry about injuries” unlike him. Related: Chelsea’s Antonio Conte hits back at Mourinho barb after draw with Roma Continue reading...
It wasn’t just José Mourinho who was cautious – by keeping Henderson, Wijnaldum and Can on, Liverpool’s manager shunned the hyperactive approachIt is not something you often have to consider but what if José Mourinho was right? What if, on Saturday, there was for once no bluff or manipulation, no attempt to provoke or deflect attention: what if the analysis he gave of Manchester United’s 0-0 draw at Liverpool was straightforward and correct?There was, of course, a passive aggressive jibe dividing the world into those who watch football for entertainment (the monsters!) and those who actually understand the game but beyond that his words seemed fairly straightforward. There was a – grudging – respect towards Jürgen Klopp for the way he...
José Mourinho came for a point at Anfield yet Manchester United could ultimately regret not exploiting Liverpool’s defensive vulnerabilitiesFirst the highlights of Manchester United’s afternoon. Highlight No1. With 34 minutes gone David de Gea produced a genuinely brilliant save, sticking out his left foot to block a close-range shot from Joël Matip after a corner. It was a game‑saving moment, an example of the way a fantastic goalkeeper can drive his team from the back, snatching those small, stand‑alone moments that direct the wider story of matches won, points gained, teams built. Related: José Mourinho defends Manchester United tactics after Anfield stalemate Related: Liverpool left frustrated again by David de Gea and Manchester United Continue reading...
Liverpool are a better side than they were at the end of Brendan Rodgers’ reign but a rampant Manchester United visit Anfield on Saturday and will be 10 points ahead of their rivals if they winWelcome back, then, the Premier League. Now. Where were we? Tasked with hitting the big dramatic notes from the start after two weeks of international break, the Premier League’s focus groups and script-editing teams could hardly have come up with a better opening act than Manchester United’s trip to Liverpool this Saturday lunchtime. Skip the intro. Let’s just turn it all right back up to 11.Not that there’s anything new here, just some old, fond, familiar flavours. Cut the Premier League season open anywhere you...
The Premier League leaders have amassed an enormous plus-20 goal difference already but Manchester United and top teams in Europe are also relentlessThese are historic times. Just look at the top of the Premier League table, where the two Manchester teams are divided only by the most dizzying of goal differences. It is not unprecedented for a team to have a goal difference of plus 20 or more after seven games but it is extraordinarily rare. It happened four times in the 19th century and three times in 117 years since, Manchester City this season becoming the latest side to achieve the feat.People think of the early days of the Football League as wild times, with disorganised defences coping miserably...