Well, Gary Neville, there was only one pub team on display today…
United saw off their fiercest rivals at Old Trafford with a 3-0 spanking and there was no end to the talking points.
First half goals from Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata followed by van Persie’s strike in the second period set the tone for a sixth straight United win and the fun started pretty early.
Just a word of warning: if you’re Joe Allen, you might not want to watch some of these as Antonio Valencia made a mug out of the Liverpool midfielder for the home side’s opener.
And here’s a better one that just shows Allen’s legs presented for the United wing back.
But it wasn’t all fun and games for Valencia and Rooney, the goalscorer showing the hazards of spitting when the camera is on you. And, of course, the hazards of spitting when your chin is in the way…
Amidst the celebrations in the stadium though, we’re not sure if there was one of the infamous prawn sandwich brigade watching on, bemused as ever. Or if a Scouser had sneaked into the home stand.
And, if things couldn’t get any worse for Brendan Rodgers who must’ve surely thought his luck was changing when he was forced to take Glen Johnson off, Juan Mata bagged the second before the break after a Robin van Persie flick on should’ve played the Spaniard offside.
Throughout that first half though, the United faithful had another very clear thank you to send out to one man who is cementing his status as a great as the weeks go by.
Seconds before the opener David de Gea was at hand to deny Raheem Sterling before the Red Devils swept like lightning up the field.
He denied Liverpool’s 20-year-old again before completely embarrassing him in the second half when Sterling was gifted with an opening. In fairness, he was given quite the helping hand from the English man’s indecision.
Then, just when Sterling had enough and turned away, decided to go back to assisting, just when poor Mario Balotelli thought he had bagged his first league goal for Liverpool and sparked the revival, David de Gea was at it again.
And, within moments, his attackers were returning the compliment when they made the most of their ‘keeper’s Gandalf-like stubborness, Juan Mata laying in van Persie after another quick breakaway.
After a while, people were just shooting at de Gea just to see what else he would save – just for the craic. Needless to say, he kept coming up trumps.
And, now, this man is as short as 2/1 to be the next Premier League manager to leave his job. Behind only Nigel Pearson of Leicester.
