Mixed feelings are left after this performance against Liverpool as LVG’s strategies seem to be holding Manchester United back. There is a lot of potential with the current lot but something is not how it’s supposed to be. Van Gaal’s post-game statements say it best: “To beat Liverpool is always important and today it was important because our competitors have lost points and when the gap is like this you can oversee the points gap. “We started 2015 very good with a lot of wins and we didn’t lose. This game is a big boost to the players, to the fans, to everybody. We have to continue of course and we can do it because we show every week that we can do it. “I have to admit that we survived the first half because Liverpool were more aggressive, we could not get the ball and we did not create anything. In the second half we came into the match and we created two chances and scored from one of them.” The fact that he finds the two chanced Manchester had as a satisfying way to win a match is worrying. Sure, if during the previous games they had 10 chances or more and if this season would have been one to take pride in, being satisfied with a 1-0 win against Liverpool by scoring one of two chances would have been fine. It`s not the case though.
There are some positive things to think about as well after this game. Manchester did defeat Liverpool with Rooney’s goal. It`s good to see the skipper make his 4th goal in a row even though he is clearly not at his best. In the good old days, he would have blazed passed a defender like Toure while now he struggled to find his way to goal. He will be a lot of help for youngsters like Martial who are the club’s future. Hopefully Rooney will inspire those to come as determination like his is hard to find. If Depay or Lingard pay attention, they will grow into some of the best players in the world.