Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool : Five Talking Points

Defeat at home is starting to become a recurring theme for Manchester United. Although they don't come much better than Liverpool these days, it was still tough pill to swallow for United fans. Vidic got his customary red card against the Reds, and Suarez got one, Gerrard scored twice from the penalty spot and missed his third to seal a comfortable 3-0 victory over 10-man United. Here are the major talking points.

#1 Have United hit the nadir?

This was United’s fifth home defeat of the season, as many as they had in the last three seasons combined. That certainly is a damning statistic and one that will continue to haunt David Moyes and United until the curtain comes down on this season. Against Liverpool, it wasn’t the result as much as the performance that was the problem. Once United went 1-0 down from a penalty, there was no familiar backs to the wall defending. There was no urgency in attack, there was no pinning Liverpool back.

To the naked eye, it looked as though United had raised the white flag soon after they went behind. Anyone who saw the game would tell you that the result was never really in doubt. With every passing game, the pressure on Moyes is increasing. And although the fans were chanting and spurring United on, late in the game, there is a limit for everything.

For now, Moyes has the faith of the fans, but if results continue to deteriorate, there is no telling how long the fans will be in his side. So, the Scot better turn it around fast. And the mid-week crunch Champions League clash against Olympiakos at home, is a good place to start.

#2 Liverpool continue their march towards the title

It is not often that a side comes to Old Trafford and goes away with a 3-0 victory. But given United’s home form this season and Liverpool’s attacking prowess, it certainly looked a million miles away at the start of the game. And so it proved as Liverpool continued their stunning away form that has seen them score three goals in a game, five times this season. In fact, given the way the game went, they could have managed more.

Nonetheless, it was enough to see the Merseyside club climb to second on the table, just four points away from League leaders Chelsea with a game in hand. It was all thanks to yet another wonderful performance from Steven Gerrard, who scored his ninth penalty of season, to make it nine goals in 33 games against United.

That coupled with Suarez’s scintillating form, that has seen score 25 league goals already this season means that the Reds have the best attack in the League. And the away side’s fans chanting “We’re going to win the League!” is starting to sound more plausible with every passing week.

#3 Clattenburg had some tough decisions to make

Refereeing a derby is never easy. Although this wasn’t one, it is certainly one of the most heated rivalries in English football. In fact, this fixture is only behind the Merseyside derby, in terms of red cards received. Having officiated in the League Cup fixture between the two sides, Mark Clattenburg certainly got a taste of this fixture already. But, nothing could have prepared him for what was to happen at Old Trafford.

Although there were three penalties and a red card, Clattenburg still managed to leave the game with his head held high. Truth be told, the referee was in fact a little lenient when it came to a few decisions and understood the nature of the game. When the tackles were flying in, a lesser referee might have put his hands in his pocket more often and spoiled the entire game.

But, Clattenburg, barring a couple of debatable decisions, had a game to remember and ensured that the football made all the headlines and not his decisions.

#4 Penalty, Penalty, Penalty

There are not many times when one word can encapsulate an entire game. But, today was one such occasion. Penalty. When Rafael handled the ball in the first half, the referee pointed to the spot. It was the first since December 2011 that United had conceded a penalty in the League, a run stretching back 85 games. Gerrard duly converted, but the buck didn’t stop there as United conceded two more penalties in the second half.

The first of those was just 24 seconds into the second half for a foul by Phil Jones. The Englishman stepped up once and scored Liverpool’s 95th penalty in the Premier League- the most of any club. When Gerrard stepped up once again, it looked certain that he would complete the first-ever penalty hat-trick in the League. But, it wasn’t to be, as he hit the post and justice was served as it was achieved thanks to a Sturridge dive.

There probably could have been more and United fans might feel they should have had one in 49th minute for hand-ball by Johnson, but it wasn’t deemed deliberate. In the end, penalties, the ones that were given and not given, continued to be the theme of the day.

#5 United looked listless in attack

An attack consisting of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Juan Mata and Adnan Januzaj shouldn’t have too much trouble creating chances. But that is precisely what happened against Liverpool. Unfortunately for United fans, this has been occurring with frightening regularity and merely compounded the defeat.

The season hasn’t been one the greatest by any stretch of the imagination, but what has been worrying is not the defense or the midfield, but the attack. For all the changes elsewhere, the front line has been the same from last year, in fact, it has been bolstered with the addition of Mata and Januzaj.

But, the attack has never quite gelled and with every passing game, it continues to look more and more listless.