Temat: Piłka Nożna

Other than a 1-0 victory against Arsenal early in the campaign, United have not beaten any of the top nine sides in the league.

Juan Mata was supposed to provide the spark. But despite the fanfare that greeted his arrival, it seems there is no grand plan regarding how to accommodate the former Chelsea hero. Shoved out on the right flank, Mata evidently has licence to roam inside but finding team-mates to interact with is proving rather tricky. His star signing failing to impact the game, the only solution offered by Moyes was to briefly switch Mata to the left.

The Spaniard is at his best with players around him – in those circumstances his lack of pace is no hindrance as clever one-twos can engineer space and carve open defences. One moment of interplay with Rooney aside, Mata too often saw team-mates running away from him when he found those little pockets of space. There was nobody in a United shirt for him to play with.

Van Persie, meanwhile, continues to exist on the fringes of the game. This was the man who was largely seen as having delivered United the title last season. Now it feels a distant memory. On Sunday, he had just 27 touches, the fewest of any starter on either side - including both goalkeepers. Urged to stay high up the pitch by his manager, the game simply passed him by. It all adds to the sense that the team’s problems are – bafflingly – emerging by design. Stylistically, this is how Moyes wants United to play.

And robbed of confidence, it all looks alarmingly one-dimensional. The signs were there right from the outset. The casual Fellaini dispossessed. Vidic and Phil Jones both responsible for poor clearances. Fellaini losing the ball again. Where was the fight? By the time Raheem Sterling beat Michael Carrick to a loose ball, the crowd were agitated. Liverpool were sharp; United lethargic.

Saddled with the burden of Ferguson’s departing request, there are plenty of supporters willing to press on regardless with the ‘stick with him’ mantra. Statistics from 1987 will continue to be dredged up to encourage patience. But the fans need something to cling to. A bone to be thrown their way to hint at progress. A germ of an idea that the team is taking one step backwards in order to eventually take another two forwards.

Liverpool supporters saw that under Rodgers last season even in a seventh place finish. They recognised a team trying to do the right things. But it would be charitable in the extreme to suggest Moyes is offering any such positives. It is difficult to see evidence of a coherent vision that could reap dividends in the long run.