Loitering... then intent

WHEN Everton realised late on against Liverpool on Saturday that there was something in the game for them, they created five or six chances in 10 minutes.

That was completely at odds with the 80 minutes that had gone before.

When Manchester United were presented at half-time with a nightmare scenario of having to appear in public after handing Manchester City the title, they suddenly snapped into action too.

It was completely at odds with the 45 minutes that had gone before.

Only one thing actually changed in both matches — intent.

Everton suddenly started to believe they might get something from the Merseyside derby if they went for it.

And when midfielder Paul Pogba (above) actually pushed forward rather than loaf around waiting for the game to come to him, United were a different team in the Manchester derby.

Both performances served as a reminder that too many teams are going into games these days without the required intent.

IF Wayne Rooney has been told to sit deep and pick up the ball from the back four by Sam Allardyce then that’s the manager’s problem.

But if he has been told to play in an attacking role and is still picking the ball up from the back four then Allardyce has every right to take him off.