United So Ruthless

They say you need a goalkeeper and a striker before you can think about having a team. Well, Manchester United have several quality forwards and Raheem Sterling might need persuading there’s only one David de Gea after meeting his match at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday was not risk-free but with David de Gea in this form and the strikers scoring goals there’s time for Louis van Gaal to get the rest of the team sorted, writes Adam Bate…

In truth, despite a 3-0 win over rivals Liverpool, there’s plenty in between the goalkeeper and the strikers that United need to work on. Louis van Gaal was frank about that in his post-match press conference. He might have taken umbrage at the Dog and Duck comparison but the United boss was content to concede the need to get better.

“We have to improve our playing style,” said Van Gaal. It’s an understandable assessment given the sloppiness that was on show in the early stages. Gary Neville’s comment that United “can’t get out of their defensive half” was a fair reflection of that first 10 minutes as Marouane Fellaini was wasteful in possession and too much of the home team’s play was slow and slack.

Ashley Young almost let in Sterling in with an underhit backpass – just as Jonny Evans was to do in the second half – while Phil Jones was turned far too easily by the same player to allow Liverpool the first opening of the match. Crucially for this United team, the last line in their defence is a barrier that takes some breaching.

De Gea made eight saves on Sunday. No goalkeeper has made more than that all season. Indeed, the eight-save mark has been hit six times so far this year in the Premier League and in four of those matches, the team lost. On the other two occasions, the goalkeeper was De Gea. Just as Arsenal did at the Emirates last month, Liverpool went home pointless.

Sterling was twice denied on his left foot during the first half before Mario Balotelli found the Spaniard just as difficult to beat after the break. “It’s probably the best performance I’ve seen from a United keeper at Old Trafford,” said OIe Gunnar Solskjaer in the Sky Sports studio. “You want him to make the decision for you but David stands tall.”

Taken in isolation, perhaps there was no one save so outstanding that it would make the 2014/15 highlights reel. However, together they built an overall picture of a goalkeeper whose positioning and anticipation is as good as it gets. “That’s one of the best goalkeeper performances I’ve seen, agreed Jamie Carragher. “It was textbook goalkeeping. He was the difference.”

By the time that Sterling went through one-on-one following the aforementioned Evans backpass, there was a sense that De Gea had already won the psychological battle with the Liverpool forward. “He’s starting to become a great goalkeeper,” said Neville on commentary. “Great goalkeepers control one-on-ones.”

At the other end of the pitch, the forwards are taking their chances too. After scoring with two of their three shots against Southampton on Monday Night Football, United also found the net with their first two efforts against Liverpool too.

Wayne Rooney got the first with Juan Mata adding a second before half time. Robin van Persie stroked home the third after more good work from his fellow forwards and Van Gaal also had the luxury of introducing Radamel Falcao late on. Each of the four players are producing either a goal or an assist every 140 minutes of action this season.

In contrast, Balotelli has neither a goal nor an assist in 730 Premier League minutes for Liverpool. “I think that’s been the startling difference,” said Neville. “The ruthlessness and clinical finishing that United possess over Liverpool.”

It’s that ruthlessness that’s ensuring Van Gaal’s United can pick up the points amid the uncertainty elsewhere in the team. The defence continues to change and the formation has had to remain flexible, but the wins continue.

That’s six in a row in the Premier League – the longest sequence of any team so far this season, including Chelsea and Manchester City. While any suggestion from United supporters that their side can win the league might be more in hope than expectation, they are not completely cut adrift from the top two.

Indeed, there are two ways of looking at that situation. “No chance,” says Carragher when quizzed on their title prospects. But the fact that they should be within range – and above 17 of the other 19 teams in the division – while showing such obvious flaws might be a hint of what Van Gaal could achieve if and when those issues are addressed.

Ten points clear of Liverpool, Van Gaal is delivering results during the transition process – precisely what David Moyes struggled to achieve. There’s been plenty to scribble in the notebook but he’s watching his team win while it happens.

January offers the chance for further reinforcements and the prospect of constructing a defence and midfield to go with his goalkeeper and goalscorers. However long that journey takes, United look at home again in the top four with the scope for further improvement there for all to see. It’s not bad for a pub team.

Credit: Skysports.com