Ole Gunnar Solskjær Passes Another Test Despite Suffering First Half Injuries – Jürgen Klopp Blames Manchester United Disruptions For Liverpool Misfiring!
By Marc Gingell
25th February 2019
| 2/24 | 14.05 | Old Trafford | Manchester United | 0 | Liverpool | 0 |
| REF: M Oliver | ||||||
| ATT: 74,519 | ||||||
Ole Gunnar Solskjær – Mini Game Challenge 3
At the end of Solskjær’s three game mini challenge he’s lost one, won one, and drawn one. But the drawn game can be classified as a winning challenge. Against PSG, United’s last appearance at Old Trafford, Solskjær’s game plans were disrupted by two first-half injuries. How do you beat that? Well, try four first-half injuries in the next game.
But Rashford Stayed On
Ander Herrera went in the 21st minute, Juan Mata in the 25th, and Jesse Lingard, who’d replaced Mata, in the 43rd. Marcus Rashford, who also picked up a knock, had to stay on. Liverpool lost Roberto Firmino in the 31st minute.
Matip in Unfamiliar Territory
Apart from the bench action, not a lot happened during this much-anticipated game. In the first minute, after a poor back pass from Ashley Young, Liverpool were awarded an indirect free kick inside the box after David de Gea handled. James Milner fired into the wall. On 15 minutes Liverpool centre back Joel Matip got his gangly legs moving forward and he showed some clever ball skills to ghost past three United players. Herrera chopped him down just outside the box. Mo Salah tried an up and over the wall from the free kick but he didn’t get any dip on his shot and missed by a long way.
Alisson’s Big Left Arm
On 41 minutes Romelu Lukaku put Lingard through for a one on one with Liverpool keeper Alisson who stretched out a big left arm to make a good save. A few seconds later Lingard departed from the action.
Ton Up For de Gea
So the big Old Trafford event of the weekend finished 0-0 and it’s the first time since 1991 that this has happened at the Theatre of Dreams. But United adapted well to their disruptions and showed their newfound togetherness. They kept their shape with doggedness and determination as David de Gea kept his 100 Premier League clean sheet.
Ruud Gullit Sends A Message
After the game, former Dutch international Ruud Gullit sent a clear message to the United board about Solskjær who’s taken a 26 from a possible 30 Premier League points. He talked about the three failures since Sir Alex. David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, and José Mourinho, and how United needed to go in-house and give Solskjær the job now.
Jürgen Klopp
Klopp spoke about how he felt United’s first-half problems disrupted his team’s performance which sounded quite strange really. They had an opportunity but instead of going for the jugular they seemed flat with not a lot happening from the front three. They are a point in front of Manchester City and need to push on with goals to pull back City’s goal difference advantage.
29 Years Waiting
It’s 29 years since Liverpool finished a top-flight season in front and the way the form looks now it’s not going to be this season. Unless the goals start to flow again.
Player Ratings
Man Utd: De Gea (6), Young (6), Smalling (7), Lindelof (7), Shaw (8), Herrera (5), McTominay (7), Pogba (8), Mata (5), Rashford (7), Lukaku (6).
Subs: Pereira (7), Lingard (5), Sanchez (6).
Liverpool: Alisson (7), Milner (6), Van Dijk (7), Matip (6), Robertson (6), Fabinho (6), Henderson (6), Wijnaldum (6), Firmino (5), Mane (6), Salah (5).
Subs: Sturridge (5), Shaqiri (n/a), Origi (n/a).
Man of the Match: Luke Shaw
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