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23rd August 2022
02:01pm BST
Christian Eriksen of Manchester United in action against Liverpool's Roberto Firmino. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)[/caption]
"Sometimes you get players who show for it but they're not really showing for it. You want to see the whites of their eyes. You have to want the ball, that's where courage comes into it. "Courage is a big part of being a footballer. Courage doesn't mean booting somebody. It's wanting the ball when you don't actually want the ball, if that makes sense. Bravery. Courage. We need to see that."Following United's victory over Liverpool, Keane again beat that drum. Several players, he noted, had been courageous in demanding the ball in tough positions and making things happen. Eriksen drew a fine finger-tip save from Alisson, early on, and linked up with Malacia for Sancho's opener, but his willingness to demand the ball and get his team moving again was what stood out against Liverpool. It was not all perfect, but he was part of a midfield trio that dominate their Liverpool counterparts and set the platform for a much-needed win. His balls around, through and over the Liverpool defence caused the visitors problems all night. Interestingly, most of the usual statistics will tell you that Eriksen was better against Brighton and Brentford [more touches, runs, presses and better pass completion] but he looked exactly like the midfielder United want against a strangely off-colour Liverpool. Some fans likened Eriksen to Juan Mata when he was signed, over the summer, but that undersells what the Dane can deliver. He was one of Spurs' best players for years, has been a talisman for Denmark ever since his international debut and won a Serie A title with Inter in 2021, before his Euro 2020 cardiac arrest threatened his life, and career. In truth, United have snagged a very tidy player and a courageous one. A lad that will back himself to get his side out of a bind and make telling contributions. "We were the better team in the first half," Eriksen told MUTV after the Liverpool game. "I think on the ball, the team could have done better than we did today, but in general, the intensity, getting on the level and playing to punish them how they play [was great]. "I think [our togetherness] started after losing two times. This week has been about coming together and getting back to the basics. We didn't do that against Brentford."
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