...AND YOUNG’S AFTER NEW DEAL TOO
FULL-BACK SAYS UNITED NEED SAME INTENSITY AT LIVERPOOL
UNITED should play ‘exactly the way’ they did against Fulham when they face Liverpool at Anfield, according to Ashley Young.
Jose Mourinho’s side put in one of their most dominant performances of the season against the Premier League’s basement boys on Saturday and ran out 4-1 winners at Old Trafford.
Following an encouraging midweek display against Arsenal, when the home side raced out of the blocks from the first whistle, United built on that when Fulham came to town and they went into half-time 3-0 up in a league game for the first time since September 2016.
Although United are still eight points off the top four, it seems Mourinho finally has the formula to get fans off their seat and get results with fluid, high-intensity football.
Something Young wants to see again when United make the short trip to league leaders Liverpool on Sunday.
“Everyone knows what the Liverpool games are like,” said.
“We should play exactly the way we’ve shown against Fulham.
“Go there and play the way the manager wants to play. It is never an easy game when you go to Anfield.”
Mourinho’s approach at Anfield has repeatedly come under the microscope since he took charge at United and he has yet to go toe-totoe with Jurgen Klopp’s side away from home.
Saying that, Mourinho has yet to lose to Liverpool as United manager so it will be interesting to see whether he feels brave enough to alter his approach as the visitors can ill-afford to drop too many more points in 2018.
Regardless, Mourinho’s side go into that game full of confidence after an impressive performance against Fulham. “We want to be on the front foot,” Young said. “That first half we were. I was a little bit disappointed when we came off after the game because I thought we could have got more goals. “It’s one of those things. We’ve got to take the positives out of the game and there were so many more positives than negatives. From the front man to the goalkeeper to the subs that came on and the subs that weren’t used, everybody was fantastic and it was a great performance.” One of those players to really catch the eye for United was Diogo Dalot, who was making just his fifth appearance for the club following his summer move from Porto. The 19-year-old has quickly established himself as a fans’ favourite and given United a new attacking dimension with his dribbling and crosses from the right flank. And Young, who is keen to extend
Jose Mourinho’s approach at Anfield has repeatedly come under the microscope Ciaran Kelly
his contract at the club as long as ‘his legs can keep taking him up and down the pitch,’ has been impressed.
“As soon as he came to the club, he was injured so he took a little time to get back and get over that injury,” he added.
“It is an easy place to settle into. The team spirit we’ve got is fantastic. I’ve always said it. I think it’s more the press and journalists that say it’s not right, but it is a fantastic camp – the team bond is brilliant.
“For a young kid to come in and play like he’s been here for years has been fantastic. It’s brilliant for me to watch him. We play with high full-backs. When you’ve got fullbacks who can attack and defend, it’s brilliant. It’s great to see such a young kid get up and down the pitch the way he did.”