Look
no further; seek no more. Michael Carrick is the perfect foil for Paul Pogba.
Classy, intelligent, and accurate on the ball, none other compares to him.
Undervalued for what he truly is, his is a rare breed. Manchester United
winless in the premier league in four games prior to this, against Swansea, and
without a goal in 306 minutes of premier league action, came into the game
under immense pressure. Not least Frenchman, Paul Pogba, and enigmatic striker, Zlatan
Ibrahimovic. The former—a world record signing—has not had it all rosy and
plain sailing since his return back "home". But on a bright afternoon
in Wales, United's football—particularly in the first half—more than glowed.
Pogba had an astonishing 96% pass accuracy against Swansea. Always demanding
for the ball, picking the right pass, fantastic hold-up play, running at the
opposition, he pretty much ran the show, opening the scoring with a sweetly struck volley from all of 23 yards.
Paul Pogba was outstanding in United's 3-1 victory victory over Swansea City, away at the Liberty stadium in Wales.
Dominating the middle of the park, he
was unplayable at times in the first hour of the match. It's no coincidence
therefore, that Pogba has had his best displays for Manchester United this
season, with Michael Carrick in the side .Put
simply the English man makes other players around him better. His ball playing
qualities are exquisite, if not extraordinary, given the dearth of such in the
Premier league. With age no longer on his side, Carrick's great performance
belies imagination, considering the fast and furious nature of domestic
football. With a 92% pass accuracy in the first half, United had eight shots on
goal, three on target, three goals--that's what you call effectiveness.
Roaring in delight: Pogba pictured celebrating with Michael Carrick
Zlatan Ibrahimovic added Manchester United's second and third goals. He is pictured (center-left) celebrating with teammates Phil Jones and Ashley Young
Cool finish; Ibrahimovic scored United's third goal, off a Wayne Rooney assist
A partnership that works; Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney, combined to lethal effect to ensure United's victory
Flying Legend; The striker was back in among the goals, with a brace, after his six game scoreless run in the League
Provided with a platform to thrive, Pogba surged forward with verve, energy and
gusto, ably confident of counting on Carrick's stable shield behind him. He
pressed when out of possession, purposeful when in it, he dribbled,
entertained, scored a beauty. Pogba was everything he could be, bar some loss
of possession in the second half. In the six games Carrick has played in this
season, United have won all of them, coinciding with some of Pogba's best games
(remember Fenerbahce at old Trafford, and here against Swansea). As Jose
Mourinho said in the post-match interview, the midfielder “played very well”,
by the coach’s own admission however, it is impossible to play him every week.
However Carrick has hardly played at all this season, with the exception of a
few games, and if not for the suspension of Ander Herrera, it is anybody's
guess if the 35 year old would have played any part against Swansea at all.
Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, was sat in the stands, after his touchline ban
Ardent
United fans will hope this victory doesn't prove to be a false dawn, like that
against Leicester (a 4-1 win at old Trafford in September) after which United
went on a four game winless run in the league—prior to Sunday’s victory over
Swansea City. However with Zlatan back in among the goals—grabbing his sixth of
the campaign—and Rooney delivering his best performance in a long time, while
setting a record as only the third player in the premier league to record 100
assists, the signs look promising at least. Next up is Arsenal, who drew 1-1
with Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates. A game Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss
through suspension, after picking up his fifth booking of the season. But
despite that, it offers Mourinho the chance to try out youngsters, Anthony Martial and
Marcus Rashford, in their favoured central striking role. If anything, at least,
we have learnt that Jose Mourinho's side won't go down without putting up a fight.
What a spectacle it promises to be.
HARRY KANE WHIPS ARSENAL IN
ENTHRALLING NORTH LONDON DERBY.
Put
simply, Tottenham Hotspur are not the same team without the presence of Harry
Kane in the side. Last season's league top scorer has taken on an enhanced
status, as Spurs seek to lay an assault on the English premier league title—a
plan that pretty much revolves round the goal-scoring form of their English
striker. Fully fit, half fit, Kane has goals in his DNA. Out of action for over
a month since suffering a knee injury against Sunderland in September, his
influence was muted, but his only significant contribution gave his team a
share of the points. That's a big game player.
Big game player; Harry Kane brought Tottenham back on level terms--converting a penalty--in the north London derby against Arsenal. The game finished 1-1
Clinical; Kane sent goalkeeper, Petr Cech, the wrong way, from the penalty spot
Arsenal had earlier taken the lead through a Kevin Wimmer own goal, but that lead was to be short-lived
Five goals in four games against
Arsenal, “one of our own” as the Spurs fans love to call him, despite his Arsenal
roots, even if shallow. Drawing their fourth consecutive league game, might
leave many teams scratching their heads, but a point against an in-form Arsenal
side , away from home is certainly a fantastic result. Besides Tottenham remain
the only unbeaten team in the league thus far—so much for making your own luck—
with just ix goals conceded, thus holding an enviable defensive record in the
league. Still, manager, Mauricio Pochettino should find a reliable deputy for
Kane, to share the goalscoring burden, but for now he has his star striker back—and
firing too—oh how he savours that. The Spurs army, clad in white, go marching
on.
UPWARDS IS THE ONLY WAY FOR
LIVERPOOL; THEY ARE BRUSHING ASIDE OPPONENTS WITH CONSUMMATE EASE, AND ITS
FRIGHTENING
When
Jurgen Klopp took over as manager of Liverpool, in October last year, the fresh
wave of optimism that engulfed the side was remarkable. But even the most
faithful of supporters, would not have envisaged the rapid rise that has
occurred at the Merseyside club. Not since May 2014 , when Liverpool narrowly
lost the league to Manchester city—remember Steven Gerrard's slip-up—have they
been top of the table. It won’t be farfetched saying that not sine the moon
stood on one’s feet, have Liverpool been this brilliant. How time flies. Going
into the international break, Liverpool are sitting majestically atop the
table, despite spending less "quid" than most of their rivals. It
goes to show that money alone does not buy you success, hard work is written
somewhere in between, which makes Klopp's achievement all the more stunning.
The refurbishment the German tactician has carried out at the club is
unprecedented. Smart piece of signings, tightly-knit team spirit, magnificent
attacking style of play with an identifiable pattern, his impressive
man-management has everyone pulling in the same direction. His team has the
world at its feet.
Unbeaten
in twelve games in all competitions, a streak stretching back to August 20, the
2-0 loss to Burnley that faithful afternoon at Turf Moor is the only blot in
the copybook. 30 goals scored in the league, a +16 goals difference in the
league, winning plaudits week in week out for every sumptuous goal scored, the
numbers are staggering. How long can Klopp go on downplaying his team’s genuine
title credentials? On this evidence, not very long indeed. Under his guidance,
the quality of the performance from his players have been taken to another
level. Philippe Coutinho, “the magician”, now has five goals and five assists
in the league, Senegalese international, Sadio Mane is proving to be the
shrewdest buy of the summer—and a big hit too—Joel Matip is elegant and
outstanding at the back, the list is endless. It says so much about the quality
of attacking options at Klopp's disposal, that the likes of Daniel Sturridge
and talented Divock Origi, can't even get into the side. What a luxury problem
to have.
Sadio Mane's brilliant deft header put Liverpool in front against Watford, at Anfield stadium.
Phillippe Coutinho made it 2-nil to the hosts soon after
Emre Can got his side's third goal with a superb header, that left the Watford goalkeeper no chance
Further goals from Sadio Mane and Wijnaldum, made for an emphatic scoreline at the end( 6-1)
Liverpool are riding high this season, under the guidance of coach Jurgen Klopp. Is there any stopping them?
The Brazilian "magician", Coutinho, (pictured above) is in the form of his life this season, with five goals and five assists thus far in the league
6-1,
read the scoreboard at Anfield boldly, as Liverpool took Watford to the
cleaners. In truth, the visitors, Watford, were lucky not to leave with more
goals conceded in their basket. It was one-way traffic, and there was only going
to be one outcome. Not many teams defeat Watford by such margin—ask Jose
Mourinho—Walter Mazarri's side defeated Manchester United 3-1 in September.
However they were dealt a double dose of that medicine, by a brilliant
Liverpool side. Captain Jordan Henderson tempered expectations in the
post-match interview, saying, "I don't like to compare teams, the past is
the past", when asked if his side were to be considered as serious title
contenders. With displays such as these, Liverpool are reaching for the very
ultimate—the league title. Is there any limit to what they can achieve? Take a
bow; Liverpool are proving to be the early pacesetters. The wave of optimism
rides on.
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