Middlesbrough 0-1 Watford
Let's be fair, this game was terrible. But Watford deserve a lot of credit for that. After a really poor first half, notable for Boro's totally inept striker Negredo almost scoring an own goal and the totally inept Roger East inexplicably failing to send off Barragan, as well as missing a couple of decent penalty shouts across the ninety minutes. But once Watford moved in front following a stunning strike from Jose Holebas, they shut up shop perfectly, and managed to totally kill the game. Boro showed nothing in terms of penetration or creativity and were totally unable to break down Watford in the second half.
It didn't help that Negredo was useless, Gaston Ramirez contributed nothing and Karanka left it far too late to introduce impact substitute Jordan Rhodes, who had no time to have an impact on the game, although his other attacking change, the introduction of Adama Traore did at least add something to their attack, albeit not much.
But overall, this was an easy victory for a Watford side keeping their first clean sheet of the season, as their back five were rigidly solid, and once they scored they never threatened to lose that lead. In terms of Watford's attack, Isaac Success was the most enterprising player on the pitch. He was direct, attacking and influenced the play more than any other attacking player, although that isn't saying much.
I was really disappointed with Boro, particularly the way that they responded to falling behind. Although they didn't concede too many chances, once they were a goal down they needed to chase the game and they didn't look like they were really capable of doing that at any point. Yes Watford did an excellent job of killing the match dead, but Boro had absolutely no answer to those tactics. Boro don't look to me like a team in danger of relegation, because they've not collapsed yet, and always seem to keep going until the final whistle and don't concede many goals. But talk is cheap and unless Boro get points on the board very quickly then they will be in serious trouble, and they don't look like scoring at the moment.
As for Watford, this was far from their best performance, but it was their most solid defensive display of the season and they came out with the three points that they needed. A few more results like this one, especially when they don't play at their best, will be very welcome indeed.
Southampton 3-1 Burnley
Southampton turned the screw on Burnley to move 8th in the Premier League, with two goals from Charlie Austin and one from Nathan Redmond, and truthfully it could have been more but for some wonderful goalkeeping from Tom Heaton, who did brilliantly to deny Austin in particular in the first half, but also Dusan Tadic, Redmond and substitute Jay Rodriguez.
And overall this was a thoroughly comprehensive display from Southampton, as in the second half they swept a side that clearly wasn't anywhere near their level. Burnley ran hard and defended okay, but in truth Southampton were just a class above them, carving out a handful of good chances before three goals in fifteen minutes early in the second half took them clear. Two of those goals were for Austin, who had fluffed his lines on a couple of occasions from good positions in the first half before fortunately scrambling one over the line off a corner, a good header from Van Dijk setting up the situation. It was the kind of scrappy goal that strikers like Austin love to score, and he added his second from the penalty spot after fill in Saints left back Sam McQueen (exceptional playing after second choice left back Targett pulled his hamstring) was bundled over.
And either side of those goals, the man of the match Nathan Redmond rifled in from the edge of the box after Burnley failed to deal with another corner. Burnley's away form continues to be awful, and defensively they just don't look as solid away from Turf Moor, shipping nine goals now in three games to Chelsea, Saints and Leicester, compared to just three goals conceded in five games at home. It's an issue that absolutely needs to be addressed and quickly.
As for Saints, this was a confident, powerful display and with Austin up front their side looks so much more balanced. With ten points from their last four games, they're surging up the league table and look very much like top half finishers yet again this season.
Liverpool v Man United
So, the main event. Liverpool vs Man United. After Saturday's results, the stakes could not be higher. For Liverpool, a victory would take them level on points with Arsenal and City, and potentially top of the Premier League. If Liverpool win, they move six points ahead of United, who would be stuck in 7th, already five points off the top four.
Conversely, if United win, then the momentum is all in their favour. For all the talk of Liverpool's good start to the season, defeat tonight would leave them level on points with United and Chelsea and maybe outside of the top four. If United win, then all of the top six sides will be within three points of the top of the table.
So we can automatically see how big this six point swing can be. At this early stage of the season, this is a pivotal strategic game for both sides. For United, it's already almost a must-win, whilst for Liverpool, it's a real opportunity to put themselves very much in the mix for the title, and an opportunity that they cannot afford to drop. But nevertheless, with a three point lead over United at kick off, it's very much more United who are under pressure to secure a result.
But to be blunt, that's just the icing on the cake. The tip of the iceburg. The points situation in the Premier League right now is nothing but a bonus. This is Liverpool vs Manchester United, it doesn't need a title race to be exciting. It's the biggest game of the season for both of these teams. The fact that it comes at a pivotal moment in both of these team's seasons only adds to the excitement.
This game just feels different this year. For the first time in a long time, arguably for the first time since 2009, it feels like a game between two heavyweights. Liverpool have been languishing in previous seasons, and the only time in the 10s that they've been a real contender United were sat in 7th under Moyes and it was a walkover. But this year, both of these teams, headed by Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho, are expected to challenge for the title, if not at the least make top four. I'm personally not sure yet if either of them are capable of building a sustained title challenge, but for both teams, Liverpool especially, tonight is an opportunity to demonstrate that they are.
It's as much about sending a message as anything else. Klopp has made it clear that it's not about that, that it's about securing the three points and to an extent that's true. But Liverpool right now are in a better place than United, and they have the perfect opportunity to turn up on the pitch and make that the case. Liverpool should win tonight. That's the truth. They have the home advantage, the superior firepower, the superior intensity, and the superior tactics. They should win.
But nevertheless, this is Man United. They always find ways to win games. That's what Man United do. Especially against Liverpool. Louis Van Gaal's United were not better than Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool in January but they won that game. In fact, United have won the last four against Liverpool and whilst it would be unfair to suggest that Liverpool have been better than United for the last two years, as this simply isn't the case, the truth is that they should not have lost the last four games to their opponents.
Years when Liverpool beat Man United are years where they have sent messages. Liverpool have done the double over United just twice since 2002. And on both of those occasions, Liverpool went on to mount the only two serious title races that they've had since the turn of the millennium: 2008/9 and 2013/14. Beating United would send a serious message that they're not just going to be the Liverpool we've seen over and over again for the last decade, two steps forward and one step backwards, but a Liverpool side that are going to keep moving forward and mount a serious title challenge.
That isn't to say that losing tonight is necessarily fatal to Liverpool's chances, but it would be a huge blow to a side that have been seriously impressive so far this season to fall back behind United, a side that up until this point they have been superior to in the league. Everything is set up perfectly for Liverpool to win this game, and as a result, everything is set up perfectly for them to blow it.
And then of course there's the option that I haven't considered at all yet. The draw. Personally, I don't think a draw would be a bad result. Certainly I think with this game more of a must win for United than it is for Liverpool, a draw for LFC to keep them in the top four, keep them within striking distance of the top two and keep United down in 7th and at arms length would be pretty solid, especially given that we've already beaten Arsenal and Chelsea this season, as well as drawing with Spurs.
But on the other hand, a draw wouldn't be the result that Liverpool are capable of, and it certainly wouldn't send the message that fans want it to send. Whilst it would be a worse result for United than for Liverpool, it nevertheless wouldn't be a bad result for United either, to come to Anfield and take a point when you would wager on current evidence that not too many teams are going to do that this season.
And ultimately, that is what it all comes down to. Rationalisation, as I have tried to do in this piece, is absolutely pointless. Because it's Liverpool vs Man United. And nothing has ever been needed to make that game a must-win. These are two teams that hate each other with every fiber of their being, that want to crush the opposition more than anything. Even when it's been more of a battle of mid-table mediocrity than a clash of the titans, for Liverpool and United fans, the only motivation needed has been to crush the opposition.
And tonight is simply no different. However you spin it, however you shape it, it all just boils down to one simple thing.
I really, really, really want to beat United.
The Hard and Fast Section
- Ben Duckett continues wonderful tour form.
- England's women collapse as West Indies level series.
- French flying as Clermont and Bordeaux win in Europe.
- Inter Milan are in total disarray.
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