Manchester United vs. Liverpool: *Bumper* Post-Match Analysis

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

I’m not bothered. But once it starts, I’m bothered.

Just not that bothered.

With penalties looming, I again wasn’t that bothered when United got the winner, as the game was end-to-end by then, when it should have been 11 vs 10 60 minutes earlier, and not even got to this stage.

After so many games lately and so many injuries still affecting so many players, I was more annoyed at another Reds-harming refereeing display than anything more the Reds could have done. It’s never nice losing to United, but this is the best possible game to lose to United.

I mean, missing Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones, Ibrahima Konaté, Thiago, Stefan Bajcetic, Ryan Gravenberch (not 100%), Ben Doak, and both Mo Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai having their minutes managed post-hamstring tears. The kids and reserves could only hold out so long, after a relentless run of games.

By then it was clear that ITV didn’t want integrity. The game is just entertainment now. Like Formula One, as I keep saying. They get a good game, granted (and Liverpool fluffed numerous attacks). But that’s not how sport is supposed to work.

“We don’t want that”, said the commentator, Sam Matterface, at the notion of a 100% deserved second yellow card for Bruno Fernandes at 2-1 to Liverpool, as if he was saying we don’t want a last minute penalty for Liverpool as that would ruin the fun of the run-in. So the ref didn’t give it. “It is game management by the ref?” Matterface then asked Lee Dixon, as if not booking players for clear yellow card offences is some really smart thing.

John Brooks could send Virgil van Dijk off at Newcastle early for a harsh red but still he’s never given Liverpool a single Big Decision (beyond the late consolation one here for a lad not retreating 10 yards, then taking his top off; this is the second time Man United’s players have only got their second booking against Liverpool this season when it was game-over. It’s vital that the game stamps out those nasty shirt-removals).

Fernandes on Dominik Szoboszlai was as clear a second yellow as you’ll ever see; they were even checking to see if it was a red, even if it wasn’t that bad.

But a second yellow, without doubt, and Bruno Fernandes should have been off. Again we heard from Lee Dixon that it’s a definite yellow, and would have been given anywhere else on the pitch or in a different scenario. Maybe not at Old Trafford, obviously, by John Brooks, obviously. At least, not until added time (which is usually the time goalkeepers get booked for timewasting for the previous 90 minutes).

“Don’t ruin the game” didn’t seem to be the mantra when the refs and VARs were sending two Liverpool players off early at Spurs and disallowing a great goal. Or when Brooks sent off van Dijk after half an hour at Newcastle.

When does “don’t ruin the game” come into play? Does it apply at Anfield? (No.)

Liverpool had to run and run hard for 120 minutes away from home after a Thursday cup game.

Of course, Brooks can find his second yellow card in the 123rd minute, for a non-dangerous yellow; foul decisions when Liverpool are involved are becoming like the Twilight Zone.

Joe Gomez was booked for winning the ball cleanly as his follow-through was a little high. But a week ago, three times as high, into the chest, was not even a foul. Conor Bradley won the ball really cleanly, but his follow-through was penalised. Follow-throughs are bad today, not last week.

It’s not inconsistent, it’s outcome-related.

I also didn’t want Liverpool’s run-in ruined by clashes against Man City or Chelsea in the semis (as it would likely have been), and more rearranged league fixtures; as I noted before the game.

The quadruple idea was nice, but the danger was overload. (And overloads on the pitch are what Liverpool messed up today.) It’s time to focus on winning the league and the Europa Cup, both of which are more important than the FA Cup.

It was Man United’s cup final. They won their cup final. They play really reactive, counter-attacking football with super-fast, tricky attackers, that’s too limited to succeed over a season, but gives them a chance in individual games.

The Reds did enough to win, but a tired end to the game was no surprise, after the workload from much the same players with 10-12 injured most weeks lately. There’s no shame there, with some muddled decision-making in the final third.

The second half of my analysis and the analysis of the others follows for subscribers only.