Painting It Red

It is interesting to see how the once greatest game in club football - Liverpool v Manchester United - has degenerated into how many will Liverpool score kind of game; but on this occasion at least; you could sense the two sides still had something left to prove.

United have been far from optimal this season; but for this game at least; they played with an organisation and defence that belied their shaky form. When the final whistle was up; the relief on their faces showed quite clearly who was the happier team in the end.

Liverpool were admittedly not at their best; a rather strange proposition considering the prize at stake of reaching the summit of the Premiership; but they did fashion decent chances from the likes of the hybrid-evolving Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez. In the end though; United did have their fair share of play as the game opened up in the second half; and arguably had the best chance when Rasmus Hojland was put through after a fine pass from Scott McTominay.

In the end; it was a good exhibition of football from the greatest club match in the world; with a rather cagey first half leading to a sublimely open second half. Kobbie Mainoo of United looks like he could be the new Paul Ince; while the drama was further ratcheted after Diogo Dalot was bizarrely sent off for what seemed a double-yellow for dissent.