Atomic Kick

Liverpool played some nice football during their 3-0 win over Everton, but their reliance on Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez is worrying Matthew Stanger…

Liverpool huffed and puffed to a 3-0 victory over Everton but the Merseyside derby demonstrated their lack of quality in depth.

At times the Reds played exciting, flowing football that pulled and stretched a strong Everton defence into disarray. A swift and incisive passing move resulted in the chance for Steven Gerrard to put Liverpool ahead on 33 minutes and the captain duly obliged.

It was Everton, however, who dominated for long periods of the first half. A central midfield pairing of Jack Rodwell and Marouane Fellaini looked a tough test for Steven Gerrard and Jay Spearing on paper and it proved to be the case on the pitch in the opening 45 minutes. Combine that with the mismatch of Steven Pienaar playing against Jordan Henderson down the Liverpool right and it was the Toffees who created several good opportunities to take the lead.

It was from one particular Everton attack, though, that Liverpool managed to break to open the scoring. Luis Suarez collected the ball near the half-way line and through several quick exchanges managed to work a pass to Martin Kelly to shoot before Gerrard curled in the rebound. In Suarez, Liverpool have a wonderfully creative talent and the striker also played a key role in the second and third goals with his captain praising his contribution in the post-match interview. Gerrard said, “I have to give my teammates a special mention, especially Luis Suarez. He put two on a plate for me.”

Aside from Suarez again missing several decent chances to grab a goal for himself, the real concern for Liverpool is that without the Uruguayan and Gerrard, the team is no better than the Everton side they faced on Tuesday. In fact, they almost certainly would have lost if it were not for the dazzling duo.

While it’s clear that Jay Spearing is a poor man’s Lucas and will be replaced as soon as the Brazilian returns from injury, Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll were all bought to be first-team players and yet they were barely noticeable in a 3-0 victory that largely passed them by.

Indeed, Downing and Henderson were both upstaged on the wings by the Liverpool full-backs, Jose Enrique and Martin Kelly. The defenders took the initiative on several occasions to bomb forward down the flanks while the two players supposedly charged with this role sat back and let the play unfold around them. Kelly was particularly impressive, constantly providing an outlet on the right and standing up to the threat of Pienaar and Leighton Baines admirably.

Carroll was the most conspicuous of Liverpool’s costly recruits, if for nothing other than his large frame and hard graft. But how long can we continue to defend the striker on the grounds of his effort? John Toshack was once the ‘big man’ in the Liverpool line-up and not only did he work his socks off to help retain the ball and create chances for teammates, he also averaged a goal every two-and-a-half games.

Kenny Dalglish has persisted with his signings despite his faith yielding little in terms of improvement. But looking at the Liverpool bench on Tuesday, it’s not as if there are many options to replace the underperformers. Indeed, it could be argued that Everton possess a stronger set of reserves.

There is a solid foundation to this Liverpool team - the defence is one of the best in the Premier League - but to qualify for the Champions League next season (the opportunity has surely been missed this year), more quality must be recruited. Ultimately, a 3-0 win over Everton, regardless of it being a derby match, is little to get to excited about when the team remain ten points off fourth. The real thrills will come when Liverpool possess the players who can challenge at the top.

Considering their talent, some players should have won a lot more in their careers. Matthew Stanger picks a top ten whose trophy cabinets should be a little brighter…

10. Christian Vieri
Being something of ladies’ man, Vieri had several trophy girlfriends during his career, but unfortunately, that’s not the sort of success we’re quantifying here. It’s medals we’re after - big’uns - and despite Vieri having a phenomenal scoring record, he struggled in this department. The striker’s early spell at Juventus - where he picked up a Serie A title along with the UEFA Super Cup - was as good as it was going to get and while he also added the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup with Lazio, a single season in Spain playing for Atletico Madrid failed to yield anything shiny. It was at Inter, however, where Vieri really learned the meaning of the word ‘barren’. A whopping 103 goals in 143 matches brought just one Coppa Italia success and one Supercoppa Italiana (the equivalent of the Community Shield). To top it all off, Vieri scored nine goals in nine World Cup matches for Italy but was omitted from the squad in 2006. Ouch.


9. Alan Shearer
Can you believe that terribly dull man on the telly was once the best centre-forward in the Premier League? Yet Shearer knows only fractionally more about winning trophies than he does Hatem Ben Arfa. The striker’s only silverware is a solitary title with Blackburn in 1994-95 and a move to boyhood club Newcastle scuppered his chances of gaining any more honours. Shearer was a league runner-up and played in two FA Cup finals with the Toon but deserved a lot more for his 206 goals in a decade of service. It proves there’s no room for sentiment in football as Shearer would’ve been better moving to Manchester United when he had the opportunity. Still, he got his own back on Newcastle, dragging them down to the Championship in his eight games as manager. 


8. Gabriel Batistuta
Having the first part of your surname combined with the word ‘gol’ is very cute, but it doesn’t represent success in the same way as a trophy. You can’t exactly whip it out to show people at awards dinners, can you? Pointing to a name badge with ‘Batigol’ written on it just doesn’t have the same effect. But that’s what Batistuta is resigned to after a spell in Italy that was less fruitful than a bunch of bananas. A Serie A Championship with Roma was the highlight, as nine years and 207 goals at Fiorentina yielded nothing more than a Coppa Italia and a Supercoppa Italiana. Two Copa America victories with Argentina ease Batistuta’s pain, but considering all of the great moments he gave to Italian football, you’d expect he’d have more to show.


7. Gary Lineker
Perhaps you have to get a bit angry to win trophies, as mild-mannered Lineker - famous for never receiving a booking - picked up just one FA Cup winner’s medal during his spell at Spurs and even less than that at Everton. His short stay with Barcelona brought a tad more glory as the striker won the Copa del Rey and European Cup Winners’ Cup during his three years in Spain. Lineker led England’s strikeforce in the 1986 World Cup and he ensured progression to the semi-finals in 1990 with his two goals to defeat Roger Milla’s Cameroon. The forward gave everything to the England cause, even defiling the pitch at one point in his quest for success. With his clean character, sparkling eyes, glowing skin and winning smile, Lineker is shiny enough without a house full of silverware. It’d be like a hall of mirrors.


6. Carlos Valderrama
‘El Pibe’ was one of the finest players of his generation and would be a perfect fit in the current Barcelona team. Care to disagree? Orchestrating the play from midfield, Valderrama bobbed around the pitch conspicuous by his…what to call it…hair?…and is fondly remembered for leading Colombia at World Cup 1994. His career what somewhat nomadic, however, and it was perhaps for this reason that the trophy cupboard in the Valderrama household is dominated by afro-perm awards. A French Cup with Montpellier and two Championships at Atletico Junior don’t do justice to the wonderful talent of Colombia’s finest, yet his career was nonetheless entertaining.


5. Robin van Persie
Van Persie may have made his name at Arsenal, but the UEFA Cup he won with Feyenoord in 2002 is still the biggest silverware of his career. With players such as Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira among the Gunners’ ranks, it’s no wonder Van Persie jumped at the chance to move to London in 2004. He couldn’t have timed it any worse, however, as the gradual dismantlement of the Invincibles team coincided with a decline in Arsenal’s success, resulting in the Dutchman lifting just one FA Cup and one Community Shield in his time at the club. The Carling Cup shambles and World Cup final defeat in 2010 add to Van Persie’s woes, but with the striker currently performing in the elite bracket, a move to a winning club may not be too far away. 


4. Ruud van Nistelrooy
Van Nistelrooy’s time in England was characertised by the bulging of the net. The striker scored 95 goals in 150 appearances for Manchester United and was the focal point of the team in the five years he was there. That he only won one Premier League title is unrepresentative of the Dutchman’s contribution as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and a succession of dodgy ‘keepers conspired to ensure the striker only needs the one shelf in his trophy cabinet. As a further kick in the knackers, Van Nistelrooy was dropped for the League Cup victory in 2006, picking up a medal without playing a single minute in the final. Only David May would be happy with that. Van Nistelrooy was Champions League top scorer on three occasions while at United and was unlucky not to win more.


3. Socrates
The Brazilian man-mountain was the leader of his generation, captaining the Canarinhos at the 1982 World Cup and playing a key role in 1986. In national team colours, Socrates had Paolo Rossi to blame for dashing his chances of glory in 1982. Brazil were expected to sneak past Italy in Group C, but Rossi had other ideas, scoring a stunning hat-trick to leave Socrates crying into his headband. Despite playing for a host of top clubs, the midfielder only picked up a handful of domestic trophies in his playing career. He was a winner in other respects, however, becoming a symbol of cool for football fans across the world.


2. Michael Ballack
The nearly man’s nearly man. Ballack has come so close to glory on so many occasions that one wonders if he actually wanted to win. His list of achievements reads like a step-by-step guide of how to finish second, with silver medals in the Bundesliga, Champions League (twice), German Cup, European Championship and World Cup. While it’s easy to poke fun at such a spectacular tally of failures, Ballack’s record also shows what a terrific player he has been and three double-winning years at Bayern Munich punctured the cycle of torment. Hugely important at all of his clubs and for his country, the midfielder reached so many finals because of his wonderful ability and leadership. His impact for Germany is demonstrated by this simple, but colossal statistic: Caps 98, Goals 42. If he were English, he’d be fourth in the list of all-time top goalscorers, and still a loser.


1. Eric Cantona
A league winner on seven occasions with three different clubs - plus a few domestic cups - suggests that Cantona won plenty enough. However, a player of his sublime skill warranted a career at the top level and as good as Cantona was - especially at United - he left the game before the real glory came. Retiring in 1997 when he was only 30, Cantona bowed out 12 months before France’s World Cup victory and two years before United lifted the Champions League. He should’ve been playing in both those finals - the level befitting of such a talent. The polymath has since spoken of his regret at quitting too soon, but maybe I’m looking at things the wrong way round with this one. Perhaps trophies didn’t win enough Eric Cantonas.

Blackburn gained a huge win at Wolves, but is Steve Kean a ‘winner’ or a ‘loser’? We’ll let him decide. Plus, the title race gathers pace while Liverpool struggle…

Winners


The Premier League
A thrilling title race, fierce rivals battling for third, the team in fifth still striving for fourth, eighth to 13th separated by a single point and the bottom five embroiled in a relegation dogfight. It’s going to be an exciting finale to the season.


Manchester United
Well, that was easy. It was always the case that United would have the opportunity to reclaim top spot before the showdown with Man City on April 30, but to do so following their rivals’ first fixture of a difficult run must have been a welcome surprise. Alex Ferguson will have been delighted, perhaps toasting City’s downfall with a nice glass of Chilean red and a nibble of Lanarkshire blue cheese, feet up on the desk in the Old Trafford manager’s office with highlights of an exasperated Roberto Mancini on the television. Ferguson said on Sunday, “The City defeat was a bonus I didn’t expect but I am happy to be top because only a few weeks ago we were seven points behind them.” 

But this particular juncture represents a new challenge for Ferguson’s latest cycle. His team have spent most of the campaign chasing City at the top and now the roles have been reversed, with United coming under increased scrutiny as the league leaders. Half of Sunday’s starting line-up (David de Gea, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick, Wayne Rooney and 0.5 of Javier Hernandez) look capable of maintaining the requisite composure that crucially eluded City at the Liberty Stadium. Questions remain over the other 50%, though, and the coming fixtures will reveal which half holds sway. 

In truth, they really should win the title from this position, with those fixtures. Finishing second to City would have been painful as it was, but now the eventuality requires United to relinquish the lead, the prospect is made even more frightening. 


Blackburn Rovers
Steve Kean’s blue and white army? Probably not, but a consummate performance at Wolves sees Blackburn nose-bleeding in 16th and shattering their point-per-game target for survival. With Wolves, QPR and Wigan all floundering, Rovers are now masters of their own destiny and the next two fixtures against Sunderland (h) and Bolton (a) could provide healthy breathing space. ‘Masters Of Destiny’ sounds like a kick-ass rock band John Nicholson might listen to and Blackburn are certainly hitting all the right notes at the moment (what a cringe-inducer). 

Riddle me this, if Rovers do stay up - which is looking fate-temptingly likely - has Kean a) over-achieved, b) stagnated, or c) under-achieved? 

Blackburn fans will surely argue ‘b’, with the team failing to improve on last season’s form and Kean displaying little evidence of having learned anything in his short managerial career. 

Outsiders looking in would argue ‘a’. With little resources provided by Venky’s and supporter unrest, Kean has, to an extent, overcome great tribulations in recent months. 

But let’s leave the last word to the man himself. Said Kean in November: “I don’t look at this season in terms of trying to salvage something. I think we have a good enough squad to be in the top 10.” 


Junior Hoilett
The Blackburn winger has been disappointing of late, but reminded everyone of his dribbling and finishing abilities on Saturday. A free agent in the summer, Hoilett will surely attract suitors, with Bayern Munich thought to rival Liverpool and Stoke for his signature. It’s not a bad position to be in at all, and he’ll leave with the best wishes of Rovers fans if he keeps them up beforehand.


Bolton Wanderers
As Nick Miller pointed out in his ‘do or die’ feature, Bolton have the most favourable run-in of the relegation candidates and earned a massive six points against QPR on Saturday -although perhaps more rewarding for Owen Coyle was the well-worked opening goal. Have some of that, Zonal Whatever.

Wanderers have picked up 13 of their 23 points this season against the other sides in the bottom five, and with fixtures against Blackburn (h) and Wolves (a) still to come in March, it bodes well for their survival bid. 


Adam Bogdan
I thought the Hungarian was meant to be awful? He was certainly dreadful in his first few displays, in particular the 5-1 hammering by Chelsea. However, as an alternative, less fashionable talking topic to David de Gea, the former bench-warmer is now a crucial part of Bolton’s success.

Bogdan’s superb reactions to get a strong arm to Clint Hill’s header momentarily puzzled Bob Pollock (the ‘blind guy’ (the linesman (the assistant referee))) and saved Bolton from a nightmare start.


38th Minute Substitutions
It was refreshing to see the Premier League Robertos react positively to slow first halves by attempting to instigate ascendancy before half-time in their respective matches.

As mentioned in 16 Conclusions, Roberto Mancini’s decision to replace Gareth Barry with Sergio Aguero was the right move, even if it didn’t whip City out of their funk.

And Chelsea improved greatly following the introduction of Juan Mata; the Spaniard’s delightful through ball to Didier Drogba resulting in the game’s only goal. 


Kenny Dalglish
Has he been to a spa or something? Liverpool may have lost, but for once it wasn’t excruciating to watch a Dalglish post-match interview.


Losers



Manchester City
Home is where the heart is, away the league departed. Using assonance to prove a point, City’s away form is going to cost them the Premier League title and, worse so, a legitimate star on the crest. They have won just two of their last eight away matches (scoring just four goals in the process) and Roberto Mancini needs to find an immediate antidote to the slump with games at Stoke and Arsenal in the offing. Basically, it ain’t looking good.


Roberto Mancini
A poor performance, a costly defeat, Gareth Barry’s reaction to being substituted and reports of a half-time bust-up between Yaya Toure and Mario Balotelli - it could be suggested that City are doing what is known as a ‘Rafa Benitez’.

This is now the real test of Mancini’s managerial ability. The players’ confidence will have dropped after losing the grip on top spot and doubts will be creeping in. If City are to succeed in their title quest, it’s imperative that the manager retains his composure and instills calm amongst his troops. I can’t see him achieving that, though.


Gareth Barry
The inevitable decline. Not long ago Barry was irreplaceable for club and country. Now, Nigel de Jong is preferred at City and Scott Parker is ahead of him for England. It could be a long old summer for Barry.


Mark Hughes
Evidently furious after QPR’s defeat, but rather than point the finger of blame elsewhere, Hughes should look at what he’s contributing to the cause.

The Hoops’ league record since he took over reads W1 D2 L5 and unless he can mastermind a dramatic revival, they’re doomed to the Championship.

Perhaps Hughes, who left Fulham citing a ‘lack of ambition’, feels managing QPR is beneath him. But it’s his reputation that’s currently on the line.


Goal-Line Technology
Is it really such an issue? If QPR are relegated this season, it won’t be because of a ‘£60million goal’ that wasn’t given - it will be because they are awful. The very same reason England lost to Germany at the 2010 World Cup.

Human error is football’s common denominator. All teams will suffer from misfortune at some stage and very rarely does it prove ultimately defining. QPR have every right to feel aggrieved, but let’s not the rest of us wet our pants.


Ricardo Fuller
That was a proper old-school bonkers stamp, wasn’t it? Fuller made no attempt to disguise his actions, exacting the full force of his frustration at having to play with Salif Diao on Branislav Ivanovic’s midriff. The Serbian is lucky Fuller’s foot didn’t land on his lad. 


Harry Redknapp
It’s remarkable that Redknapp chooses to play his two best players out of position simply because Aaron Lennon is missing. If ever evidence was required to show that ‘Arry is a personnel rather than positions man, Saturday provided it. 

The Spurs boss has shot himself in the foot. If Tottenham let third place slip from their grasp, it will be forever remembered that he was culpable in their astonishing implosion.


Steve Morgan
So let me get this right, you’re blaming the team’s terrible form on Steve Bruce - a man who’s never had any involvement at Wolves? Yeah, I can live with that.


Liverpool
The last time Liverpool lost three league matches in a row ‘Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word’ was number one. Of course, this is nothing but mildly amusing, which cannot be said of the Reds’ form at the moment. 

The current slump is rather alarming, as Carling Cup success should have brought confidence to the team. Instead the season has ended prematurely, with Liverpool out of the Champions League chase by mid-March and continuing to struggle in front of goal.

Tuesday’s game against Everton is huge, if only for the purpose of subduing the tentative ‘Kenny Out’ calls.


Danny Welbeck
Welbeck hasn’t scored in the Premier League since January 22. Since then, he’s missed a hatful of decent chances, the worst of which came towards the end of Sunday’s match against West Brom. The young striker is a wonderful player, but he must start contributing more to United’s goal tally to aid the team’s momentum. 


Matthew Stanger
After watching Welbeck miss a sitter against West Brom, I had a nagging feeling that I’d done something wrong. You know the one - similar to when you’ve been sick after a night out but can’t remember where. It grew throughout Sunday evening, until I eventually placed a finger on it. This praise of Danny Welbeck. I am truly ashamed.


Any ‘Friends’ Of Roberto Di Matteo
Said the Chelsea manager, “I think ‘friends’ is a big word. I’m not sure how many friends I have. I don’t have any, actually. If someone comes up to me and says ‘I met a friend of yours the other day’, they are a liar. I don’t have any friends. That’s my outlook. I’ve had a few experiences in my life which have taught me about friendship.”

With the title race taking another twist on Sunday, Matthew Stanger draws 16 conclusions from the action involving the top two. Where do Man City go from here…?

* Both teams started sloppily. Manchester United were thoroughly outplayed against Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League on Thursday and while the six outfield players that remained in the team for the West Brom match may have been suffering fatigue, nerves also played a part in a subdued start. Keith Andrews’ early chance should have resulted in a goal for the visitors as Phil Jones allowed Liam Ridgewell far too much room down the left and Andrews’ run wasn’t tracked in the centre.

Several members of this current United team have no experience in chasing the title and the fans’ support will be vital. Grumbles and groans followed the defeat to Athletic and Sir Alex Ferguson pointed to the need for harmony in his programme notes on Sunday. “I want Old Trafford to be the launch pad to make sure the Premier League title stays with Manchester United,” wrote the manager. “It’s time to ignite the chemistry between the team and our supporters.” 

City also began slowly, and after losing to Sporting on Thursday, Roberto Mancini made five changes to the starting line-up. While this shouldn’t have affected the attacking performance, organisation was an issue with Kolo Toure and Stefan Savic starting together for the first time in defence. A lack of understanding and familiarity was exhibited after just five minutes when Wayne Routledge was allowed to surge into the box unmarked to win the penalty.


* Although Joe Hart was responsible for fouling Routledge, he again showed how important he is to the City cause by saving Scott Sinclair’s spot-kick. As the foundation for many of City’s successes this season, Hart is certain to play a key role in the remaining ten fixtures.


* United have struggled with the goalkeeper position this campaign, but David de Gea has now cemented his place as ‘number one’. After several unconvincing displays earlier in the season, the 21-year-old has clearly focused on what he is best at, with the rest following naturally. His late heroics against Chelsea, Norwich and Liverpool, and throughout the defeat to Athletic Bilbao, have seen the Spaniard grow in confidence. Perhaps having Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans as a consistent partnership in front of him has helped, but the United ‘keeper looks much more assured and assertive when organising his defence. 

De Gea made an excellent low save from an Andrews free-kick after 15 minutes, which, if it had been converted, could have allowed post-Athletic anxiety to creep into United’s performance.


* Should Danny Welbeck’s form in front of goal be a concern? The rangy forward hasn’t scored since the 2-1 victory at Arsenal on January 22 and spurned a simple chance in the second half when the goal was gaping. With United still eight short of City’s +49 goal difference, contribution is needed across the front line.


* Wayne Rooney’s current strike rate can’t be questioned in the same manner with his two goals on Sunday taking his current tally to 14 in as many matches and 20 in the league this season - only the second time he has reached this total. The striker looks incredibly sharp at the moment and his two finishes from open play in the games against West Brom and Athletic Bilbao showed exceptional alertness. Ferguson must hope that Rooney’s present purple patch runs until the end of the season because, as always, we know there is a barren spell to follow.


* It was an odd decision for Roberto Mancini to start Mario Balotelli on his own in attack. The intention was surely to flood the midfield in order to stifle Swansea’s ball retention and dictation of the play. However, Balotelli was largely isolated in the forward position, having to hold onto the ball until support arrived - which is not his main strength. If the idea was to counter-attack through a targetman acting as a central pivot, surely Edin Dzeko would have been a better choice?

And Mancini clearly felt he had made a mistake in his initial selection, bringing Sergio Aguero on for Gareth Barry after just 37 minutes.


* Managers are often criticised for needing to make early changes in a match, but Mancini deserves credit for trying to gain the initiative before half-time. In doing so, he accepted that his starting line-up was not the right approach, but showed a desire to improve the performance through the shape of team. It was a good move and on another day should have reinvigorated an ailing City side.


* In saying that, what was up with City? They weren’t out-classed or out-fought by Swansea in the way Arsenal were at The Liberty Stadium earlier in the season; they were very much the architects of their own downfall. Strikingly, the players seemed to be struggling with the pressure they are under. There were reports of a tunnel bust-up at the interval and on the pitch the team appeared incredibly frustrated, ultimately hindering the fluency. 

Experience is missing to an extent. Not necessarily in personnel, but in terms of this being a winning group. The FA Cup success last season was a different proposition entirely; winning the Premier League is the culmination of a season-long slog which requires terrific mental endurance and team spirit. 


* In terms of concentration, United have had a distinct target to chase most of the season. While they have been hunting their fierce rivals, City have been chasing the prize in first. It’s not always easier to be at the top, as United may now find out.


* Given their run until the Manchester derby on April 30, United will only have themselves to blame if they don’t hold on to top spot. West Brom were a good test to see whether complacency will creep in. The Baggies have been in excellent form lately, winning their last match against Chelsea and beating Sunderland and Wolves comprehensively in recent weeks. With a dynamic forward line in Peter Odemwingie and Marc-Antoine Fortune, and the impressive James Morrison in midfield, United had to be alert to the threat of their opponent’s movement and creativity. They passed the test with flying colours.


* The gap at the top currently stands at one point, but given the respective fixture lists of the two teams, it could well increase before the crucial showdown on April 30.

United’s next seven fixtures: Wolves (a), Fulham (h), Blackburn (a), QPR (h), Wigan (a), Villa (h), Everton (h).

City’s next seven: Chelsea (h), Stoke (a), Sunderland (h), Arsenal (a), West Brom (h), Norwich (a), Wolves (a).


* Micah Richards’ header was a terribly close call, but he was just offside. Credit to the assistant referee Sian Massey for spotting that one.


* Do City have a discipline problem? Gareth Barry reacted badly to his substitution in the first half (although he is possibly injured) and while no player should enjoy such ignominy, a level of understanding is required. Especially considering how similar disagreements have harmed City this season.

Not only must Mancini retain authority over his squad on matchdays, he also needs to rein in Balotelli for the next nine weeks. No more sexy parties if City are to win the league. 


* Talking of indiscipline, Carlos Tevez’s return could prove crucial in City’s title bid. The Argentine brings goals, experience and workrate - potentially a bitter but delightful cocktail for Mancini. Cometh the hour, cometh the man and all that.


* Manchester City’s bench had registered 50 strikes between them this season, yet they couldn’t buy a goal against Swansea.


* Maybe - just maybe - Ferguson knows what he’s doing with Paul Pogba.