Key lessons to be learned from Reds’ deserved victory

There is something liberating and, at the same time disconcerting, about seeing Manchester United’s season largely hanging on the form of a teenager.

On the positive side, though, Marcus Rashford seems blissfully unburdened by the pressure on him.

The England striker has assumed a level of leadership in the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic that would consume most 19-year-olds and, just as he came to United’s rescue in against Anderlecht with a finish of the highest class, so his free-kick here provided another timely reminder of his vast potential.

Just because Rashford is one of the quickest players in England, doesn’t immediately make him a winger, and United seem to have realised that now.

With Ibrahimovic in the side Rashford was pushed out wide, but in his absence the teenager is looking back to his best.

Aside from the goal, as a centre forward, he was allowed to naturally run into channels and drag the centre-backs out of position, something that was often exploited by the likes of Jesse Lingard and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. pre-match talk about Iago Aspas, the Celta forward looked very much here like the player who failed to make any impression at Liverpool.

Similarly, John Guidetti – honest but workmanlike – underlined why he never played in the Premier League for Manchester City. The margins are thin in top level football and, while it would be easy to accuse Paul Pogba of having an underwhelming first season back at United, the reality is that his campaign would be looking very different if he had been playing with more forwards in front of him capable of finishing the defence-splitting passes that he produces.

He made a bursting run for which he should have been awarded a free-kick midway through the first half and then a second towards the end, which should have ended in a Mkhitaryan goal.

It was certainly one of his better games, but, given his strength, skill and passing ability, he should be dominating games like this.

Perhaps it is a little harsh to criticise him for his performance but, given his price-tag, he is always going to gather more harsh reviews than glowing ones.

Pogba is still in the shadow of that and, until he starts dictating games, it will always be used against him (© Daily Telegraph, London)