Contrasting body language says so much
THE atmosphere wouldn’t have been like this when these bitter rivals first met 122 years ago.
There were just 3,000 fans at Ewood Park of all places when Newton Heath – as Manchester United were then called – lost a Football League ‘ Test’ match in April 1894.
The rivalry has intensifi ed since then and Anfi eld was as raucous as it has ever been for the 195th encounter last night , “the mother of all games” as Jurgen Klopp called it.
England’s two most successful clubs at home and abroad boast impressive records of silverware United have won 20 League titles to Liverpool’s 18 while in Europe Liverpool have won 11 trophies to United’s five.
The fans on the Kop held banners celebrating those Euro trophies plus one of Bob Paisley – who won an unrivalled three European Cups – as they launched into a lusty rendition of the club’s anthem
But as Louis van Gaal had pointed out on the eve of the game, Thursday nights in the Europa League is where they are now so it’s time to forget the past and get on with the present to ensure former glories return. And never mind bragging rights, there was a very pertinent reason why this was so important.
The Europa League offers for the first time a back- door route to the Champions League and with both clubs struggling to make the top four they couldn’t afford to take it lightly.
It was odd watching a Liverpool- United game with no Steve Gerrard or Wayne Rooney – there were no Scousers at all in the starting line- ups. In fact, only six Englishmen were in the 22
starters – and the only one born anywhere near Merseyside was Manchesterborn Marcus Rashford. But it didn’t detract from the passion of the occasion .
The contrast between the two managers refl ected the efforts of the teams. Klopp spent most of his time in the technical area, kicking every ball, cajoling and encouraging his players while Van Gaal remained steadfastly in his dug- out seat taking his notes.
And he had plenty to write as Liverpool swarmed all over United in the first half when the visitors’ only tactic appeared to pump balls forward to the head of Marouane Fellaini.
No- one was good or brave enough to get on the ball and dictate the play and United were heavily reliant on David de Gea’s heroics to stay in contention for most of the match.
Jesse Lingard’s suspension gave Memphis Depay a chance to show Liverpool what they had missed when United pipped them to his signature from PSV Eindhoven last summer.
But all the Dutchman displayed was the defensive indiscipline that has infuriated Van Gaal. He foolishly grappled with Nathaniel Clyne on the edge of the area, inviting the Liverpool defender to tumble and prompt the referee’s assistant to signal a spot kick.
De Gea got a hand to Daniel Sturridge’s penalty but then made superb saves to prevent Philippe Coutinho, Sturridge and Adam Lallana from putting a fairer refl ection on Liverpool’s first- half dominance.
United, who had failed to get an effort on target in the first 45 minutes, were so poor it forced Van Gaal into drastic action at half- time. He sent on Michael Carrick for Marcus Rashford and put the veteran midfi elder in a back three.
It gave United a bit more possession and composure but it was an uncharacteristic error by Carrick that led to Liverpool’s second goal, neatly taken by Roberto Firmino.
United have a mountain to climb in next week’s second leg at Old Trafford to go through. They will need to be a lot better than this to pull it off.