Every side wants a piece of United
DON’T take it for granted that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will put this right at home to Brighton next weekend.
Or even when they host Partizan in the Europa League on Thursday.
Manchester United, remember, are the shower that surrendered in front of their own fans against Crystal Palace in August.
The side unable to beat League One Rochdale over 90 minutes in the Carabao Cup in September, squeaking through on penalties.
This was only the third time in Bournemouth’s history they have beaten United. But these days everyone wants a piece of them – and they are getting it. The Reds are still falling.
It is now 13 points picked up from 11 matches – their lowest at this stage of a league campaign for more than 40
PEP GUARDIOLA wasted no time in starting the mind games ahead of Sunday’s title showdown between Manchester City and Liverpool. Within minutes of the Reds snatching a last-gasp winner at Aston Villa to preserve a six-point lead, Guardiola dismissed the notion City must win at Anfield. He also accused Liverpool match-winner Sadio Mane of diving in what seemed a clear attempt to get under the skin of Jurgen Klopp and his side. City overcame a seven-point deficit last term to overhaul Liverpool and their manager is convinced they can repeat that feat even without an Anfield win. Asked if they had to beat Klopp’s side to keep alive the title race he years. “If you want to get into the top four you need to win games like this,” said Solskjaer.
United also failed to beat Wolves and Southampton – and lost at West Ham and Newcastle.
In the past, early-season form like this could be dismissed as being unrepresentative of the big picture. Not said: “We’re going to try but I don’t think so. How many centuries have they not lost at Anfield?
“We will see. Now we go to Italy to play Atalanta in the Champions League and when we come back we go to Anfield. Many things are going to happen, there are a lot of games to play.”
Like Liverpool, City had to come from behind on Saturday after 30-1 outsiders Southampton stunned the Etihad by taking the lead. Stuart now. The club are drifting. Living on their reputation but more reminiscent of that nightspot once the hottest ticket in town, now dated and dilapidated.
Josh King’s outstanding winner gave the Cherries their first victory since September. The goal was their first in nearly six hours of football. If you want to break a drought right now, wait until the Reds roll in to town.
Solskjaer’s side have no clean sheet in 11 away games. They’ve have lost all six Premier League away games in which they’ve fallen behind under him.
True, they’d actually gone unbeaten since the international break, holding Liverpool before claiming three straight wins for the first time this season.
Defeat here as favourites, however, underlined the fact from being a side you could simply never write off for more than 20 years, United are now the side you can no longer trust.
Armstrong’s shot was fumbled by Ederson and James Ward-Prowse fired in the rebound.
Sergio Aguero levelled with a predatory finish then Kyle Walker won it late on when he fired home a cross from the left that goalie Alex McCarthy came for and missed.
Guardiola was pleased with his side’s spirit but also had his say on Liverpool’s revival at Villa Park.
And he branded Mane a diver after the forward was booked for simulation before scoring the last-gasp winner.
“Sometimes he’s diving, sometimes he has this talent to score incredible goals,” said the City boss, clearly dispirited by Mane’s 94th-minute header. “He’s a special talent.”