Chaotic Draw in the Snow, But League Table Still Looks Sweet

2-2 madness in the icy cold, but United are dangerous underdogs in this fixture

Paul Tomkins, Andrew Beasley, Daniel Rhodes and other TTT regulars will give their thoughts on the match for 24 hours after the game, so the article received via email is unlikely to be the final version. There's statistics from the match and videos too.

Post-Match Thoughts

Paul Tomkins

To thwart Liverpool the football gods tried with the storm, and they tried with the fog, and now they tried with the sleet and the snow; in 2019, it was with a plague.

I said on the site before the game that I felt it was important not to underestimate United, as badly as they’d been playing. I’ve said they’ve had a puncher’s chance before, and right now, it felt more like a drunk puncher’s chance; a drunk puncher with nothing to lose, so bad had it got, despite a ton of expensive and talented players.

Across the two league games last season, the Reds averaged 5.9 v 1.5 on the xG balance, yet drew both; and averaged 63% possession across the trio of matches with the cup thrown in. And somehow, lost in the FA Cup when well on top for a large part of the game.

This was a 3-1 xG “win”, but a 2-2 draw. United games are intense, and maybe things will be back to normal after this one.

Plus, the Paper/Rock/Scissors, in that some teams are just more awkward for you than other teams who may be better.

Spurs, with their openness, are generally good for Liverpool to play against (unless Liverpool have two men sent off and a legitimate goal ruled out by a VAR who was half asleep).

Man United’s more defensive, reactive style suited this game, where they could go and shut up shop and hit on the break. It doesn’t suit having to go and win games at home, it seems.

Despite what Gary Neville said, Liverpool were the better side, but also, a bit nervy, and dragged down to United’s level at times, which is what happens in derbies.

The game thankfully ended with Peter Kay saying “‘ave it!”.

The majority of my analysis and the analysis of the others follows for The Tomkins’ Times’ Main Hub subscribers only.