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I spent Monday morning sitting on the couch at a mate’s place watching Liverpool secure a solid 3-0 victory over arch rivals Manchester United.
It was a match filled with incidents that have had the footballing media buzzing.
One of the strange things for me, though, is the media roaring over how United were “destroyed”, “blown off the park” and “dismantled” by the Reds.
This is nonsense. Liverpool, like United manager David Moyes admits, deserved the win because they were the better team.
But to consider this match a thumping is irrational.
Liverpool scored two fair penalties and Luis Suarez, the best forward in England, scored the third when United were down to ten men after Nemanja Vidic was sent off.
Much of the commentary on the game suggested that Liverpool had created countless goal-scoring opportunities, but really Liverpool only had four more chances than United.
Three of Liverpool’s chanced were penalties, which means they really only had one more shot on goal.
The aforementioned mate is a full-on Liverpool supporter and he agreed with my argument that United were not dominated in the way the media portrayed it.
Liverpool are a top side, yet the way that football pundits have described the “Old Trafford massacre” is nonsense.
Before the match none of them had tipped United to get the three points, so it seems rich for them to berate United’s “shock” defeat.
Fox Sports commentator and former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich put on his serious face after the match and made out as if United had gone down 5-0 to Oldham United in an FA Cup second round match.
He is probably still disenfranchised with United after the comments of his former manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, in his recent autobiography.
Anyone who has tracked United and Liverpool this season could not have been too shocked with the result.
Liverpool are an attacking juggernaut and United are struggling.
Yet possession was even and the time spent in the attacking thirds was evenly spread, so perhaps the Red Devils were a tad unlucky.
I do want to mention the referee, Mark Clattenburg – easily the best on the ground.
It would have been a tough game to officiate and the first two penalties were spot on, the decision not to book Rafael was correct and the decision not to give the Glen Johnson handball was correct.
He did make an error with the third penalty, but the blame falls on the lap of noted diver Daniel Sturridge.
I hope Vidic’s red card is overturned.
Liverpool were perhaps unlucky not to have received a fourth penalty, but that was another close call.
Manchester United didn’t play that well, so there is room for improvement.
Juan Mata has yet to offer anything to the side, Robin van Persie looks down on fitness and confidence and Wayne Rooney seems like he’s not attacking enough and spending too much time defending.
I really hope to see Shinji Kagawa on the pitch soon, as well as Nani, who has recently been deemed fit to return to play.
Special mention goes to Phil Jones, who looks to be establishing himself as key United defender, and Marouane Fellaini, who could fulfil his price tag against all odds as he becomes more accustomed to his new position.
David De Gea also pulled off the save of the season with a reaction effort from a Luis Suarez shot.
I am looking forward to the game against Olympiakos and hopefully the Red Devils can overcome the two goal deficit.
It would bode well leading into the EPL matches against West Ham and local rivals Manchester City.
The club is fighting with Tottenham and Everton to finish in fifth position and in the end, that isn’t too bad.
Football fans, especially those of the top clubs, need to understand that there is no divine right to constantly win trophies.
People who are pulling their hair out over United’s under performing season need to get over themselves and realise it is just a game.
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