Listen to the roar of approval in Manchester. Listen to the silence of depression in Merseyside. As emphatic Liverpool were nine months ago, that was Manchester United today.
Six straight wins, third on the table. That is Manchester United’ fortune, thanks to goals from Rooney, Mata and van Persie, but most notably, the saves from David de Gea.
Liverpool for their part, had plenty of chances, but failed through a combination of their own ineptitude, plus the opposition goalkeeper’s brilliance.
Where now for both teams? It’s another week off for the freshened Manchester United, as they next travel to Aston Villa.
Liverpool have to face Arsenal at home next weekend, but before that, they have the League Cup tie at Bournemouth, who are flying high in the Championship this season, and well on track for a Premier League promotion by season’s end. Given the respective form of both sides, you just cannot imagine how Liverpool can win that game.
FINAL SCORE:
Manchester United 3
Liverpool 0
It is the headline feature of the English Premier League season, where the resurgent Manchester United are at home against struggling Liverpool. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 00:15 (AEST) on Monday morning.
March 16, 2014 will be forever marked as one of the darkest days in Manchester United’s history – or so told by a man no less than Sir Alex Ferguson.
After spending the better part of 28 years to build the football behemoth that is Manchester United Football Club, Ferguson had to endure the sight of his beloved Red Devils being outplayed by the old foes from down the M62 – the same foes that he successfully “knocked off the perch”.
Adding further insult was that Ferguson himself was largely to blame – he of course overseeing the David Moyes and Manchester United marriage and divorce within nine months.
In those nine months, gone was United’s ability to compete for a league title, as well as their lucrative spot in the Champions League.
Times were different then for Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers, too. Whereas Rodgers’ battles against Ferguson were marked with two defeats, the manner of victory at Old Trafford last March heralded what increasingly looked a season of triumph at Anfield.
Nine months later, the fortunes of these two old foes cannot be more diametrically opposed.
Put the respective position of both teams to one side. Manchester United – the club stumbling to seventh spot last season – flourished the chequebook to acquire some of football’s brightest attacking talents. Liverpool – the former giants who went within a whisker of reclaiming England’s title – had to make do with a contingent of promising up-and-comers, while their superstar Uruguayan Luis Suarez looked to new pastures.
Look at the results now. United, without Champions League football, may well have it again come May. Liverpool, with Champions League up until last Wednesday, are headed towards a finish that could return them to the midtable anonymity they’ve become accustomed to.
Robin van Persie’s double at Southampton over the weekend may have papered the cracks over what was otherwise a “lucky” win – as van Gaal put it – for United, but the ability to capitalise on a few moments of coherent and fluid play is a formula likely to catapult United’s top-four charge this season.
The Dutchman should start again, ably supplied by the likes of Juan Mata, Angel di Maria and Wayne Rooney. With United only having to play one game a week regularly this season, van Gaal will see little reason for change in his attacking formation.
What change may likely come is a reliance on a stronger defensive front, with Marouane Fellaini likely to make way for either the defensive midfielder Darren Fletcher or the centre back Jonny Evans.
For Liverpool, this game was always likely to be dictated based on what happened in the Champions League. From this, where does Brendan Rodgers go to save a season where little has gone right? With Suarez’s exit and Daniel Sturridge’s continued absence, Rodgers has had no choice but to place unhealthy expectations on Raheem Sterling, while Steven Gerrard’s talismanic abilities seem restricted to the odd set piece.
The real sufferance for Rodgers comes at the back, where Simon Mignolet and his defensive line continue to offer folly aplenty.
All said, this is a derby, and the greatest one of all. Yet as that did little to help Manchester United last March, so it must be for Liverpool this time around.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Roger's signing of Super Mario is baffling. The boy has the gift but doesn't deliver. A proper striker would have buried a couple of his chances in this game.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
16 matches played. Shocking results early in the season, but best record in the EPL over the past 6 matches and... ... not playing well. When ManUnited start clicking as a team - perhaps around the 30 match mark - things could get really interesting in the race to the EPL title. African Cup of Nations & European competition will make it tougher for Chelsea, Arsenal & ManCity. No such issues for Man United.
AZ_RBB
Guest
A very average game in terms of quality. Just a whole lot of bash and run. But that's English football for you. But that aside it was decent viewing. Once again the scoreline flattered United thanks to some typically brilliant keeping from De Gea. Surely the best keeper in the EPL now? And I'm a big fan of Rooney in that deeper role. Gives United much greater presence and protection in midfield. He is a class above the rest of that midfield.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool Listen to the roar of approval in Manchester. Listen to the silence of depression in Merseyside. As emphatic Liverpool were nine months ago, that was Manchester United today. Six straight wins, third on the table. That is Manchester United' fortune, thanks to goals from Rooney, Mata and van Persie, but most notably, the saves from David de Gea. Liverpool for their part, had plenty of chances, but failed through a combination of their own ineptitude, plus the opposition goalkeeper's brilliance. Where now for both teams? It's another week off for the freshened Manchester United, as they next travel to Aston Villa. Liverpool have to face Arsenal at home next weekend, but before that, they have the League Cup tie at Bournemouth, who are flying high in the Championship this season, and well on track for a Premier League promotion by season's end. Given the respective form of both sides, you just cannot imagine how Liverpool can win that game. I'll be back next week to bring you more Premier League action. Today though is all about Manchester United. At fulltime, it ended Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+3: McNair concedes the corner, and this play may likely see us out. One last chance for Liverpool to grab something to show from their day. de Gea is not having any of it, as the corner goes straight into his magnet-like arms. Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+1: Three minutes added on. What can you say other than Manchester United now have a significant cushion inside the top four, thanks to this result? For all the talk about how incomplete this United team is, they are only five behind Manchester City. That amount is peanuts in this time of the season. Liverpool's stumbles continue. To be honest, despite the scoreline, they have played very well in patches. The three goals they conceded epitomise their continued defensive issues - that is likely the only constant from this season to the last. Had it not been for de Gea though, they may have had more joy from this game. Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'89: Falcao and Young stand on this. Falcao hits the wall, and the follow up again does the same, as the chance amounts to nothing. Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'88: Cheap foul by Toure to halt Herrera's run. It's central, and what a chance to get a sweet fourth to cap this all off. On will come Paddy McNair for Phil Jones, who has been excellent today. Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'87: GREAT SAVE JONES! Our Aussie replicates what's going on at the other end, as van Persie tried a smart lob effort to go over Jones, but the Armadale man had a good hand to lob it over the crossbar! Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'84: van Persie with a header grabbed by Jones, who attempts a throw to get Liverpool back on their way. At the other end, Balotelli has a shot from distance that had de Gea scrambling, but was slightly wide. Gerrard booked for an earlier tug on van Persie. It's been plenty of activities in the book. And once again, Balotelli comes off worse against de Gea! Another fine save to deny Liverpool a consolation! Make no mistake, United have been the better team. But how this result may have been different had it not been for David de Gea! Great ball from Markovic found a running Balotelli, who didn't do much wrong with his effort, except not find a spot not covered by the brilliant Spaniard! Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'82: DE GEA! Saved once more! This is a great effort by Balotelli to put his foot through the ball even if he was on his way down. The direction though once again was too close to de Gea, who has repeatedly proven that there needs to be a truly special effort to beat him. Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'81: United now toying with Liverpool, as even Jonny Evans enters into the final third. van Persie's shot from distance is beaten down by Jones. Jones in all honesty hasn't done much wrong. This is more symptomatic of Liverpool's poor defence than of what the keeper has done. He may have earnt another game here, even with conceding three. Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'79: Falcao's first involvement was nearly a winner, but the run by Herrera was offside, but Jones seemed to have done enough to swat away Falcao's through ball. Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'77: The captain's day is done, as Rooney is cheered off. There is no better feeling for a boy made by Everton, from a man built by Manchester United, than to beat Liverpool. On comes Falcao. Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'77: As if the scoreline can't get worse, it really can. About to come on is Radamel Falcao, in a clear sign that van Gaal intends to show no mercy. Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'76: Audible chants of "you'll get sacked in the morning" get louder by the beat, in direct reference to Brendan Rodgers. We have to ask the question now: just how much credit is Rodgers entitled to for the plaudits he won last season? Or were they even deserved in the first place, with more of it having to do with one absent Uruguayan? Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'74: This is a reversal of last season's fixture, where Liverpool won 3-0 in a game they thought was going to catapult them to title glory. It never happened, and now they stand to be humiliated at Old Trafford. Balotelli goes into the book for a swipe on van Persie. Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'72: Only a matter of time until that was going to happen! Liverpool piled forward, and then the counterattack was on by Mata. In the midst of it was an absolutely pathetic attempted clearance by Lovren, which allowed United to continue the attack, before Mata spread it wide to van Persie, who caught Jones off his line and simply passed it into the net! Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'72: VAN PERSIE! 3-0! IT'S OVER! Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'71: James Wilson's night is up, as he is applauded warmly off by the Old Trafford faithful. On comes Ander Herrera, who is likely charged to bring control to the midfield. Manchester United 2-0 Liverpool