After the heroic win against Napoli that saw them progress to the next stage of the Champions League, Liverpool faced their fierce rivals Manchester United on Matchday 17 of the Premier League.
United came into the game on the back of a 2-1 Champions League defeat at the hands of Valencia. And United's blue neighbours, City, had put pressure on Liverpool after their 3-1 victory over Liverpool's Merseyside neighbours Everton.
But none of that affected the Reds and they won 3-1 thanks to a brace from Xherdan Shaqiri. This win put Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League table.
Here is a list of five things we learned from the game:
1. Shaqiri has been a bargain for Klopp
Shaqiri was relegated with Stoke last season, and in order to ensure that he didn't face a season in the Championship, Liverpool triggered a clause in his contract which saw him arrive at the club for a fee of £13.5 million.
Shaqiri's signing created mixed reactions at Liverpool, with some wondering why Klopp and Edwards decided to sign someone from a relegated club, and others hoping he could prove to be good cover for Salah and Mane.
But Shaqiri has been more than a back-up to Klopp since he arrived at Liverpool. He has been an integral part in the way the German has set up his side this season whenever he has played.
The Swiss came off the bench in the game against Manchester United and scored two goals, which proved to be the winning goals. Both goals may have been aided by a deflection but that hardly matters; Shaqiri's haul shows that he is a big game player and someone Liverpool can rely upon, if needed.
This brace against Mourinho's United now takes his goal tally to 5 for the season in just 13 games, with six of these games coming as a substitute. Four of his goals have come in his last five games at Anfield. The Swiss international also has three assists in all competitions for Liverpool this season.
At £13.5 million, the 27-year-old now looks like a steal.
2. Fabinho is settling in well
Fabinho arrived at Merseyside from Monaco in the summer for a fee of £40 million. It has taken a while for him to get regular game time, but in recent weeks he's made the defensive midfield position his own.
His first outstanding game came against Red Star in the Champions League. He rarely lost a duel in the match, and his passes always seemed to find their man. After a few solid performances in recent games, he produced another outstanding one today.
The Brazillian international was immense in the middle of the park for Liverpool and dictated the tempo of the game. Fabinho usually plies his trade as a defensive midfielder, but he also showed his excellent playmaking abilities today.
Whilst winning 4 defensive duels in the middle of the park, the 24-year-old also created two chances and assisted Mane's opener in what turned out to be a stellar performance.
Fabinho has really impressed on a couple of occasions now, and if the Brazilian continues what he is doing he could continue to keep club captain, Jordan Henderson, out of the starting 11.
3. Mourinho's days at United may be numbered
Mourinho is world-renowned as one of the best managers to grace the beautiful game, but in recent times at Manchester United things haven't been going his way. Whether it's not getting the players that he wants or falling out with his own players, it seems to be going from bad to worse at United for the Portuguese manager.
He's spent over 400 million pounds since he took over at Old Trafford, but his squad seems to be in pieces. Lukaku hasn't been scoring as much as he used to, and Pogba looks like half of the player that they signed from Italian giants Juventus.
Worse still, the former Chelsea manager's tactics look out of date, and they go completely against the United way.
His United side have been massively out of sorts this season. After the Liverpool defeat, they now languish in sixth place, 11 points off the top 4. They are also closer to bottom club Fulham (17 points) than they are to Liverpool at the top of the table (19 points).
If he can't change the fortunes at United, and continues to go about his business the way he is right now, Mourinho's days could be numbered.
4 This is a completely different Liverpool
Manchester United have had the better of Liverpool in recent years, thoroughly dominating this fierce rivalry. Jose Mourinho has also had a very good record when facing Liverpool over the last few years.
United were unbeaten in the last eight games against Liverpool in the league, and Mourinho was also unbeaten in his last six games at Anfield. The Reds hadn't beaten United since 2013, when Sturridge scored in a 1-0 victory.
However, the comfortable victory today showed that this is a completely different Liverpool side that Klopp has built. The Reds outclassed United and managed 36 attempts on goal whilst having most of the possession.
This was one of the most dominating performances in the fixture's history and it just shows how much this Liverpool team have improved.
It wasn't even Liverpool's strongest side, yet they still bossed the game. Milner, Gomez and Alexander-Arnold all missed the game, but it didn't look as though Klopp missed them too much with such a stellar performance from his men.
Liverpool now sit 1 point clear at the top of the table after this convincing victory, and 19 points clear of Mourinho and United.
5. Clyne can still do a job for Liverpool
Liverpool have endured some injury problems at the back in the last couple of weeks with Gomez, Matip and Alexander-Arnold all missing due to injury. Luckily for Klopp, Clyne and Lovren had both just returned to training and were fit for the big game.
Clyne had not started a league game for the Reds this season and some would have thought he would have been off the pace. However, that was far from the case and he looked rather comfortable at right back.
The England international was rarely troubled and dealt well with Rashford on the left. He deserves massive credit for coming in and performing as well as he did after such a long time out of the first team, and that too in such a big game for Liverpool's season.
Clyne also offered great support going forward. He often overlapped Mane to create space for the cross by dragging players out of their positions or just as another option for Mane when the cross wasn't on.
The former Southampton man has been linked with a move away from the club in the coming transfer window. But with performances like this one, he could prove to be a solid back-up to Trent Alexander-Arnold.
voddrt
236
The problem with Utd is the coach he goes and pay a fortune on players and he doesn’t play them it’s not the players it’s the coach. You can’t buy attack minded players and expect them to play defensive soccer. Look at all our players none of them can play defensive soccer as we have attacking players I say change the manager he doesn’t have the capacity to coach a big team like Utd. There is an old saying you only as good as your last game therefore Mou has not performed at all this season and he must go. He is totally out of his depth with Utd. No new players coming from the academy it just shows his inability to develop younger players. The board needs to catch a wake up before it’s to late. Players that need to go for free or we paying other clubs Lukaku, Jones, Pogba, Andrea Herrera , Bailey,
wiseswizzywizzy
232
manchester united fans be like i didnt see them
RealMd13
203
😂😂😂😂😂 When he wins its special when he loses its special and thats why he is he special one
Sosdkmpstz
199
Arguing or debating about all this can not help the situation JM is to blame for all this like it or not. If you are Jose’s fan face the truth his tactics are outdated, he doesn’t see eye to eye with some of his players(what kind of father who doesn’t speak to his children). Klop has shown that he’s far better than Jose Mourinho. Why did he want Fred & pay so much for him to sit on the bench?(yes he was good at Shakhtar, the problem is Mourinho’s tactics that he doesn’t fit in same applies to Sanchez, Pogba,etc.) He only likes Matic others comes after. The only way to solve this, Jose Mourinho must GO like Moyes&LvG. Some of these players are very good, but not happy because on one man.
Alakiri
185
Mou is a virus to Manchester united.
GodCool
172
why blame Mourinho? we played are mid table team the result is expected. When a top team plays a mediocre mid table team and win 3-1 it's normal isn't it? I mean when u are not playing well and the only player u look to bring on is elbow McGee feillaini, surely u are just a mediocre mid table team. A mid table club, with an average but arrogant manager and average players are expecting to win an unbeaten top team at their home turf where they haven't been beaten for 18 months... come on get real. Expect the expected, Mourinho to stay.
Mohsen_Af_07
152
when there is no management then you can't be successful... Mou can't handle his team and he can't make a good relation with his players so if United want to be a real UNITED again should change players or coach...players are really good but manager is out of date so it's better for José to leave this team,I don't know what should happen for this team worse than this... this team is sick and the coach is the thing that made this team like this...please Mou please go... you just made the rivals happy and you did nothing for happiness of United fans...nobody could destroyed a team as well as you did,Mr coach...
Spartacus_Aye419
133
Criticise him all you like, Mourinho is not Manchester United's Problem alone but the Players too. I'm not gonna stress myself too much to explain it, but the truth is None of this Current Players at Old Trafford can make a starting XI in any of these Big Teams cos all of them are Below Par Players. If not for De Gea and the defensive game that Mourinho is somehow applying, by now Manchester United will either be in the 18th Position or even relegated last season. Why will the owner refuse to buy good Players, why will Lukaku even dribble past a Goalkeeper and then lose the Ball, why will Pogba not focus on his football rather than his Instagram lifestyle that affects him on the field, why will Sanchez still be performing below his usual self, why will Fred not live up to expectations and why will Jones/Smalling/Bailly and even Lindelof play as if they are always under Pressure. These and many more are some questions we need to ask ourselves. Lastly, like I always tell people, even Guardiola cannot succeed in Manchester United with these Current Players
robscoolkays
94
*Have been doing some research* Mourinho left Real Madrid a month after the 4-1 defeat by Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund in April 2013; two years later Mourinho was sacked at Chelsea a month after a traumatic 3-1 defeat by Klopp’s Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool vs Man United today . If you know you know. What a research. ⚽⚽⚽🤣🤣🤣😷😷😷✈✈✈
Dakacelz
68
United now 11 points clear of top four, Pogba the virus has not played in the last 2 games who will be Mourinho’s next excuse. Lukaku should pay for a ticket as a spectator he does nothing and is completely useless. Matić should be given a wheelchair to speed up his pace. Young should be substantiated after the coin flip as captain. But most of all Mourinho should find another career, maybe as a bus driver because he has a lot of experience. Let’s go Woodward, you know what needs to be done “Just Do It”
SINGAM23
68
Mou's days may be numbered... this is as what none expected for Mou is not given ample time to set the pace and live up with best level at Man Utd. (Go back to those downfall years in 1986 when Ferguson couldn't cope up and were about to get sacked. Luck steamed up and United they were to climb the summit in success)... As same goes to Mou - he needs time and new players to enhance Devils into new era of victorious journey
Poopoomaic
65
I do appreciate the empathy on your current ManUtd form and in more ways Mourinho is not to be blamed. If you look at our Liverpool, many were asking Klopp why won’t he spend for new players during his early season. Thinking back has we spent out of desperation and pleasing we would probably be in the same situation. The high prize sale of Coutinho, did assist our piggy bank for players like Van Dijk, Alisson, Fabinho and Naby. And their prize were fair had if we had our sale made first and with the money all the blood thirsty hound would want a share. It was smart for FSG and Klopp to take their time and hit it when the time was right. Mourinho has no choice being inherit from Moyes, Van Gaal etc. The money game was too expensive already. In general €400 millions spent is not much for Mourinho time since being manager. He’s still the special one and one of the best in the world.
tiger_bd
58
wocbnost
30
People if u have truly been watching mourihno's games I don't blame players because as a coach who has been in Premier league,he should have known by now that defensive football no longer work in this era of football, bringing in 7 defenders like seriously n u say you can blame Mour first of all he rested players for a game he was supposed to win in Spain and go top of the UCL but wat did he do there ,he lost and of coz we expected him to win this game n instead he just defended and y does he defend nothing completely. It wud be best if he cud defend after scoring like 5goals that wud b understandable but nothing no pliz he is got to go really coz we might end up in championship or even worse