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| Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images |
TheLegitBlog- the only possible regret for Liverpool, on a night when they brutally exposed Manchester United’s shortcomings, is that they did not make it an even more chastening experience for a team that, even in hard decline, has rarely put in such an undistinguished performance on Louis van Gaal’s watch, or one that reflects more ignominiously on their manager.
Liverpool did everything their loud, appreciative crowd could have wanted and if it was not for David de Gea’s goalkeeping they would have established an even more commanding lead to take into the second leg. Anfield has not sounded so good for a long while and, on this evidence, Jürgen Klopp’s team will have to be strong favourites to finish the job at Old Trafford next Thursday.
United, in stark contrast, played with a lack of personality that must have been startling for their supporters. It has been a recurring theme in a season of drift and malaise and Van Gaal’s team chose a bad night to demonstrate, once again, they have lost the identity that once made them such feared opponents.
It was a harrowing night for a club with United’s ambitions, on the ground of their sworn enemy, and perhaps a few of Van Gaal’s players might have to be reminded about the history between these clubs. There was only one team that seemed to comprehend the significance of the fixture and fulfil the necessary obligations. That team had a Liver bird on their shirts, the ball at their feet and a raucous crowd who will take great joy from the dishevelled state of their opponents. It has certainly been a long time since You’ll Never Walk Alone has been sung here with more heartfelt volume. One banner in the Kop bore the words: “European Royalty”. Others showed Liverpool’s haul of five European Cups and three Uefa Cups. These are the moments when Anfield feels like a special place and the players rose to the occasion. Nobody could ever accuse Klopp’s men of failing the traditions of this match.
Liverpool tackled and chased with the energy and vigour the German considers essential for his teams. They were quick to the ball, strong in the challenge, and, crucially, they also had players, most notably Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho, who could add wit and refinement to their attacks.
There might have been doubts about the penalty that gave Daniel Sturridge the opportunity to open the scoring and, equally, a trace of offside before Firmino capitalised on some wretched defending to double the lead. Ultimately, however, United were comprehensively outplayed and fortunate it was not a more punishing result. De Gea was exposed with a frequency that must have alarmed Van Gaal and, at 1-0, saved his team three times in the first half, keeping out Coutinho, Sturridge and Adam Lallana. The save from Coutinho, in particular, was outstanding.
Liverpool were so superior Van Gaal abandoned his 4-1-4-1 system at half-time and effectively started again. Michael Carrick, a central midfielder, was brought on to play in a new three-man defence. Daley Blind and Guillermo Varela took on the role of wing-backs while Marcus Rashford was taken off and Memphis Depay moved into attack in a hastily cobbled together 3-4-1-2 formation. It made little difference and, tactically, it felt like Van Gaal was confusing even himself. Marouane Fellaini’s elbow on Emre Can could result in a disciplinary charge and, on top of everything, the story of their night also encompassed the kind of malicious chants from the away end that United have repeatedly asked their fans to drop from their songbook.
Klopp’s players took far more responsibility on the ball and when they lost possession they gave everything to get it back. These are the occasions when a team needs sturdy characters and aside from one moment early on, when Klopp angrily berated Alberto Moreno for not closing down quickly enough, there was a vibrancy about the home team that made it difficult for their opponents to settle.
The noise might have been doused inside the opening 15 seconds if Rashford, too raw for an occasion of this significance, had not wasted a chance to open the scoring before most of the players had even touched the ball. Thereafter, United seldom troubled Simon Mignolet in Liverpool’s goal and the home team went ahead after 19 minutes when Firmino clipped a beautifully weighted pass into Nathaniel Clyne’s path and the Spanish referee, Carlos Velasco Carballo, decided Memphis Depay had tripped the player inside the penalty area.
Sturridge beat De Gea with the penalty despite the goalkeeper getting his fingertips to the ball and, with the noise intensifying, Van Gaal talked afterwards about his players failing to cope with the atmosphere. When he was asked a follow-up question on the same subject, the Dutchman then denied saying it. His performance in the press conference, describing Fellaini as one of the outstanding performers, was almost as bizarre as his team’s lethargy.
Klopp spoke about Anfield sounding just as he had imagined it when he took the job and, after 73 minutes, the noise reached its peak. Carrick had the chance to clear but could only scuff the ball straight to Lallana. Firmino was waiting to Lallana’s left and scored with a rising shot in front of the Kop. Liverpool ought to have won by more and they will have seen nothing to make them fear Old Trafford.
Liverpool did everything their loud, appreciative crowd could have wanted and if it was not for David de Gea’s goalkeeping they would have established an even more commanding lead to take into the second leg. Anfield has not sounded so good for a long while and, on this evidence, Jürgen Klopp’s team will have to be strong favourites to finish the job at Old Trafford next Thursday.
United, in stark contrast, played with a lack of personality that must have been startling for their supporters. It has been a recurring theme in a season of drift and malaise and Van Gaal’s team chose a bad night to demonstrate, once again, they have lost the identity that once made them such feared opponents.
It was a harrowing night for a club with United’s ambitions, on the ground of their sworn enemy, and perhaps a few of Van Gaal’s players might have to be reminded about the history between these clubs. There was only one team that seemed to comprehend the significance of the fixture and fulfil the necessary obligations. That team had a Liver bird on their shirts, the ball at their feet and a raucous crowd who will take great joy from the dishevelled state of their opponents. It has certainly been a long time since You’ll Never Walk Alone has been sung here with more heartfelt volume. One banner in the Kop bore the words: “European Royalty”. Others showed Liverpool’s haul of five European Cups and three Uefa Cups. These are the moments when Anfield feels like a special place and the players rose to the occasion. Nobody could ever accuse Klopp’s men of failing the traditions of this match.
Liverpool tackled and chased with the energy and vigour the German considers essential for his teams. They were quick to the ball, strong in the challenge, and, crucially, they also had players, most notably Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho, who could add wit and refinement to their attacks.
There might have been doubts about the penalty that gave Daniel Sturridge the opportunity to open the scoring and, equally, a trace of offside before Firmino capitalised on some wretched defending to double the lead. Ultimately, however, United were comprehensively outplayed and fortunate it was not a more punishing result. De Gea was exposed with a frequency that must have alarmed Van Gaal and, at 1-0, saved his team three times in the first half, keeping out Coutinho, Sturridge and Adam Lallana. The save from Coutinho, in particular, was outstanding.
Liverpool were so superior Van Gaal abandoned his 4-1-4-1 system at half-time and effectively started again. Michael Carrick, a central midfielder, was brought on to play in a new three-man defence. Daley Blind and Guillermo Varela took on the role of wing-backs while Marcus Rashford was taken off and Memphis Depay moved into attack in a hastily cobbled together 3-4-1-2 formation. It made little difference and, tactically, it felt like Van Gaal was confusing even himself. Marouane Fellaini’s elbow on Emre Can could result in a disciplinary charge and, on top of everything, the story of their night also encompassed the kind of malicious chants from the away end that United have repeatedly asked their fans to drop from their songbook.
Klopp’s players took far more responsibility on the ball and when they lost possession they gave everything to get it back. These are the occasions when a team needs sturdy characters and aside from one moment early on, when Klopp angrily berated Alberto Moreno for not closing down quickly enough, there was a vibrancy about the home team that made it difficult for their opponents to settle.
The noise might have been doused inside the opening 15 seconds if Rashford, too raw for an occasion of this significance, had not wasted a chance to open the scoring before most of the players had even touched the ball. Thereafter, United seldom troubled Simon Mignolet in Liverpool’s goal and the home team went ahead after 19 minutes when Firmino clipped a beautifully weighted pass into Nathaniel Clyne’s path and the Spanish referee, Carlos Velasco Carballo, decided Memphis Depay had tripped the player inside the penalty area.
Sturridge beat De Gea with the penalty despite the goalkeeper getting his fingertips to the ball and, with the noise intensifying, Van Gaal talked afterwards about his players failing to cope with the atmosphere. When he was asked a follow-up question on the same subject, the Dutchman then denied saying it. His performance in the press conference, describing Fellaini as one of the outstanding performers, was almost as bizarre as his team’s lethargy.
Klopp spoke about Anfield sounding just as he had imagined it when he took the job and, after 73 minutes, the noise reached its peak. Carrick had the chance to clear but could only scuff the ball straight to Lallana. Firmino was waiting to Lallana’s left and scored with a rising shot in front of the Kop. Liverpool ought to have won by more and they will have seen nothing to make them fear Old Trafford.
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