There’s deja vu, and then there’s the sort of nasty, head-spinning deja vu Manchester United supporters find themselves suffering from every time Erik ten Hag’s side take to the pitch.
Another goal conceded from a set-piece, another penalty given away, more points dropped late on. In the space of just one week, against Brentford, Chelsea and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, Manchester United have thrown away victories in the 99, the 100 and the 84 minute.
The manner of Liverpool’s Old Trafford opener, in particular, left a bad taste in the mouths of a Red Devils legend who, had he been on the pitch, would surely have found some way to get his head on the ball long before it fell into the path of a grateful Luis Diaz.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who also gave away the late penalty put away by Mo Salah (albeit very controversially, if you’ve seen the angle we’ve seen) was beaten to the flick-on by Darwin Nunez, Casemiro also out of position as Diaz was given the freedom of Old Trafford to slam past Andre Onana.
Manchester United drop more points against Liverpool
“You see Wan-Bissaka here with a player,” Vidic, a member of Sir Alex Ferguson’s 2008 Champions League winning side, tells Premier League Productions. “You have five players in a line (zonal marking in front of the goal).
“Casemiro, he didn’t attack the ball. He should be taking the responsibility for that position. He is late then, obviously, Nunez gets the better of Wan-Bissaka.”
To say Wan-Bissaka endured a rather mixed afternoon would be an understatement. Yes, he probably should have done better for Liverpool’s opener. Yes, he probably should have decided against diving in on Elliot, even if the Liverpool substitute certainly did his best to dramatize the very minimal contact, as Chelsea did twice on Thursday night.
But, playing out of position at left-back like in that FA Cup quarter-final thriller in March, the former Crystal Palace man did assist Kobbie Mainoo’s stunning second-half strike with a well-weighted pass.
Fernadnes and Mainoo produce stand-out moments
“Very poor,” was Wayne Rooney’s assessment of Wan-Bissaka going to ground, a failed attempt to produce one of his trademark telescopic-legged lunges.
“When you go back a bit, Bruno Fernandes is too easy to get past when Joe Gomez is taking his run down the line. Bruno dives in and lets him get past, which is why Aaron Wan-Bissaka then has to come out. If he stays on his feet you don’t get to this situation. But it’s very poor from Wan-Bissaka.”
Man United did, however, claim a very creditable point thanks to a pair of stunning finishes from Bruno Fernandes and the ever-impressive Kobbie Mainoo.