Shaw was very good tonight. I'm impressed considering he's been sidelined for a long time and hasn't played much, even for the U23s. I believe the shift to a 3 man backline which pushed him into a fullback position benefitted him greatly.
Overall I don't think the scoreline really reflected the game. United could've (and perhaps should've) scored 4 or 5 - CSKA's goal and initial lead felt like a punch in the gut.
Lukaku scoring again was huge and came at the perfect time.
Though the passing in the final third was simply atrocious. Rashford was the main offender but I can't give him a hard time given that he was the main creative outlet down the flank and gave us the winner.
Mata also put in a nice shift and Lindelöf continues to improve/impress.
All in all... it was an okay game with a wholly decent performance. I'm glad our home record is still intact and wasn't broken just before the derby.
Overall I don't think the scoreline really reflected the game. United could've (and perhaps should've) scored 4 or 5 - CSKA's goal and initial lead felt like a punch in the gut.
Lukaku scoring again was huge and came at the perfect time.
Though the passing in the final third was simply atrocious. Rashford was the main offender but I can't give him a hard time given that he was the main creative outlet down the flank and gave us the winner.
Mata also put in a nice shift and Lindelöf continues to improve/impress.
All in all... it was an okay game with a wholly decent performance. I'm glad our home record is still intact and wasn't broken just before the derby.
It's always interesting to see how much rope Jose gives Rashford to just do whatever in the final 3rd. Way more than anyone else
By Punished Go To Post
Salah is soon going to be at that point where defenders just start shitting themselves when he’s running at them like they did with Suarez.
Love those goals, especially the Brighton ones. That first goal from Coutinho’s ball across the box to Firmino is classy as hell
Catching up on the game - looks like we played quite well. Good to see we are attacking with purpose again after the shit that was most of November. Pogba obv a big part of that but it looks like Lukaku and Rashford were on the front foot again also.
Going to miss the derby as I'll be somewhere in the sky on the way to Singapore but I fully expect to turn my data on and see we've lost 3-1 or something.
Watched highlights of the Bayern game. Two great headed goals from Tolisso and Mbappe, the set ups were incredible. Mbappe looks insanely good for an 18 year old.
Going to miss the derby as I'll be somewhere in the sky on the way to Singapore but I fully expect to turn my data on and see we've lost 3-1 or something.
Watched highlights of the Bayern game. Two great headed goals from Tolisso and Mbappe, the set ups were incredible. Mbappe looks insanely good for an 18 year old.
Shaw had an electrifying start. A few good runs, a chance to score and asssit.
He was really poor in the second half though, caught out of position numerous times and really poor clearances.
For a player who hasn’t much it’s respectable but I’m not subscribing to the narrative that he’s worth keeping just yet.
He was really poor in the second half though, caught out of position numerous times and really poor clearances.
For a player who hasn’t much it’s respectable but I’m not subscribing to the narrative that he’s worth keeping just yet.
Im not sure about Shaw in the second half. Probably Mou asked the fullbacks to keep to a more defensive role second time around. They stayed deep from what I see. Could be wrong though.
By Oddinho Go To PostSalah is soon going to be at that point where defenders just start shitting themselves when he’s running at them like they did with Suarez.It's really odding hearing such high praise of Salah. He must've ascended to a superior level during the summer, because the Salah I remember was your typical 'big against small teams, small against big teams' kind of player. Juve never had much trouble keeping him at bay when we faced Rome, and they were far from being a shit team at the time (well, I guess it depended on the period of the year, but still).
Love those goals, especially the Brighton ones. That first goal from Coutinho’s ball across the box to Firmino is classy as hell
Master Kloppetto must've unlocked his full potential. Good for him, good for Liverpool.
Have to agree with Luckhurst here. Lukaku's link up play has been good these past few games, with some great passes that started counter attacks. Lindelof in particular though, have lived up to his Iceman moniker.
Both not quite 'there' yet though. Lukaku now looks like he thinks too much in the box, and Lindelof still getting a little clumsy at times.
Both not quite 'there' yet though. Lukaku now looks like he thinks too much in the box, and Lindelof still getting a little clumsy at times.
By FlutterPuffs Go To PostHave to agree with Luckhurst here. Lukaku's link up play has been good these past few games, with some great passes that started counter attacks. Lindelof in particular though, have lived up to his Iceman moniker.Yes, Lindelof with the ball to his feet is excellent.
Both not quite 'there' yet though. Lukaku now looks like he thinks too much in the box, and Lindelof still getting a little clumsy at times.
Will help our transition from defence to attack.
By Zabojnik Go To PostBring me Besiktas.Good luck
“When he is on the ball, there’s lots of things to admire,” Souness told Irish television channel TV3. “He’s powerful, he’s got good technique, he can wrong foot people, he can ping the ball.
“Where I question him, whether he’ll ever be a top player, is his understanding of the game.
“This isn’t me being an ex-Liverpool player caning a Man Utd player. I thought the same when he was a Juventus player.
“That is basic stuff you learn in the youth team.
“He’s 24 years old if he’s not got it now when is he gonna get it?
“He hasn’t taken a big game by the scruff of the neck and dominated it.
“He hasn’t got a basic understanding of his position, I can’t see that changing.”
The black athlete isn't intelligent enough, lads.
That's Souness, Murphy, Gerrard and McManaman now. Someone talk to me about intersectionality.
By Laboured Go To PostClearly should have kept Cleverly.
The black athlete isn't intelligent enough, lads.
That's Souness, Murphy, Gerrard and McManaman now. Someone talk to me about intersectionality.
By batong Go To PostClearly should have kept Cleverly.#StayWhite
By batong Go To PostClearly should have kept Cleverly.
The most hilarious thing is that Souness hates Pogba because
there's a captain tsubasa game out for phones: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.klab.captain283.global
You can argue a lot of things about Pogba, hes still rough in some areas and he gets caught on the ball, but his football intelligence is great, I do not understand where Souness is coming from.
By Laboured Go To PostSo who can go out of the CL tonight?Liverpool/Sevilla/Spartak
Napoli/Shaktar
Porto/Leipzig
Would be highly unlikely for Sevilla to end up out though
By Laboured Go To PostI just told you where he is coming from.SOuness hates blacks?
By Grizzled Cola Go To PostSOuness hates blacks?
No, he just hates unintelligent footballers (who all happen to be black).
By Laboured Go To PostI highly doubt West Ham are going after Willy C again. We will definitely want more money than what we asked for in the summer as we are in the middle of the title race and have the chance of making a good Europa League run so we need more players and not to lose one of our key players.
Fuck me he's going to buy Darren Gibson again isn't he?
Also not sure how interested William would be in joining a relegation battle in a World Cup year.
In not football news, reviews have started to appear out of nowhere for the new season of Black Mirror and they are glowing, calling it the most consistent and strongest season of the show so far.
Netflix are definitely going to surprise launch it this month, all signs point for the 29th.
Lineker, host of the Russian World Cup draw, sez there's no doping in football. Uh-huh
By Grizzled Cola Go To PostSOuness hates blacks?He's a Tory, so…
Not surprised with Souness' comments tbh. Until now you will have people saying Morata is an intelligent striker, while Lukaku is not.
Transfer news
Lionel Messi turned down wages of £850,000 a week from Manchester City before signing a new deal with Barcelona. The Premier League leaders also offered the 30-year-old Argentina forward an £88m signing bonus. (Marca - in Spanish)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says there are no guarantees that 25-year-old midfielder Philippe Coutinho will still be at Anfield after the January transfer window. Barcelona made three bids for the Brazil international in the summer. (Daily Star)
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will return with a huge offer to try to sign Arsenal and Chile forward Alexis Sanchez, 28, in January. (Independent)
Everton have approached the Gunners about 28-year-old England forward Theo Walcott, who is yet to start a first-team game this season. (Daily Mail)
Chelsea have been given a boost with the news that Brazil defender Alex Sandro, 26, wants to leave Juventus. (Telegraph)
West Ham could revive their interest in 25-year-old Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho after making peace with his club following the row over the Hammers' attempts to sign the Portugal international in the summer. (Sun)
Manchester United's summer target Ivan Perisic, 28, has revealed Inter Milan coach Luciano Spalletti convinced him to stay in Italy rather than make the switch to Old Trafford. (Mediaset via Manchester Evening News)
United sent scouts to watch Lazio's Serbia midfielder Sergej-Milinkovic Savic, 22, in a 2-1 win over Sampdoria last weekend. (Sun)
Southampton, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace are interested in a possible January move for Dundee defender Jack Hendry, 22. (Daily Mail)
Meanwhile…
Everton boss Sam Allardyce may miss the Europa League match at Apollon Limassol to prepare for Sunday's Merseyside derby at Anfield. With Everton already out of the competition, Allardyce is expected to send a makeshift side to Cyprus. (Guardian)
Tottenham's England midfielder Dele Alli, 21, has signed a contract with the same agency that represents Jose Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane. (Telegraph)
Stoke City's Spanish striker Jese Rodriguez stormed down the tunnel before full-time in the win over Swansea City after being overlooked by Mark Hughes. (Daily Mail)
Former Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard says there are only two sides who can challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title this season. (Talksport)
Aston Villa fan and celebrity violinist Nigel Kennedy says the club should reject any promotion back to the Premier League in protest at the game becoming "boring". (Birmingham Mail)
Burnley have announced the club has acquired their first piece of silverware this season. The Dr Dean Trophy was presented to the Clarets back in 1883 and is now on show at Turf Moor. (Burnley FC)
Leatherhead defender Jerry Nnamani has described playing against Wycombe Wanderers striker Adebayo Akinfenwa - otherwise known as 'The Beast' - as being like a scene from the erotic novel Fifty Shades Of Grey. Nnamani said their tussle in the FA Cup second round left him "with scratches all over my body". (Get Surrey)
Best of Tuesday's gossip
Manchester City's England forward Raheem Sterling, 22, will hold off talks on a new contract at Etihad Stadium until after next summer's World Cup. (Daily Mirror)
Chelsea's Belgium forward Eden Hazard is stalling on a new £300,000 deal at Stamford Bridge in the hope of attracting an offer from Real Madrid. (Times - subscription required)
Arsenal are willing to sell Theo Walcott, 28, in January, with his former club Southampton and West Ham interested in the England winger. (Sun)
Juventus legend Alessandro del Piero believes Liverpool's Germany midfielder Emre Can, 23, would be the perfect fit in the Italian club's side. (Liverpool Echo)
Manchester United are confident they will sign Tottenham's England defender Danny Rose, 27, for £50 million either in January or next summer. (Daily Mail)
He disgusts me but here goes.
A January transfer budget “in the region of €90million”.
Mourinho has identified three principal weak points in his current squad: left back, winger and central midfield.
Lukaku is one of the smartest footballers I've seen, his interviews with Henry really paint him as a student of the game.
The Belgian lads in general come across well.
The Belgian lads in general come across well.
I don't understand veneers. Your teeth are still crooked underneath and there's no medical benefit to them (they aren't braces). Reading up on them they have a 10-20 year lifespan which is ok.
By Laboured Go To PostHe disgusts me but here goes.Would be amazed if we did more than one singing in jan
By Grizzled Cola Go To PostWould be amazed if we did more than one singing in jan
Would rather we spent the lot on one good player. Doubt anyone's available tho.
I'm gonna go ahead and predict now that no more than 2 players will arrive across the entire top 6 in January
What a day.
I got a ton of gifts from students for no reason, bought TLJ tickets for next Thursday, and got my first credit card in seven years.
I got a ton of gifts from students for no reason, bought TLJ tickets for next Thursday, and got my first credit card in seven years.
By Punished Go To PostLineker, host of the Russian World Cup draw, sez there's no doping in football. Uh-huhI think there is but it doesn't make much of a difference. I remember people on here semi-joking about Leicester doping when they won the title. Did they misplace all their drugs?
Not sure if Souness has form for the ‘black player is great cos look at the power’ type thing – but I do think he raises a couple of fair points.
Pogba’s defensive awareness is really bad – plain and simple. He regularly leaves gaps and lets people run off him. Maybe it’s a discipline thing or an understanding thing, I don’t know, but it’s an issue in his game that leaves us exposed at times.
I also agree with Souness that Pogba isn’t the type of player that will dictate the flow of a game. But I think that’s just the kind of player he is. He is actually very similar to Gerrard in that way.
We need to buy somebody in the summer to play alongside him. A proper Carrick replacement who can sit at the base of the midfield - that will improve the team and Pogba massively.
Pogba’s defensive awareness is really bad – plain and simple. He regularly leaves gaps and lets people run off him. Maybe it’s a discipline thing or an understanding thing, I don’t know, but it’s an issue in his game that leaves us exposed at times.
I also agree with Souness that Pogba isn’t the type of player that will dictate the flow of a game. But I think that’s just the kind of player he is. He is actually very similar to Gerrard in that way.
We need to buy somebody in the summer to play alongside him. A proper Carrick replacement who can sit at the base of the midfield - that will improve the team and Pogba massively.