OPINION
Liverpool secured a 3-1 win over Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday, and there were plenty of talking points to take away from the game.
The Reds managed to get one over their bitter rivals thanks to a goal from Sadio Mane and a brace from substitute Xherdan Shaqiri, with Jesse Lingard netting the visitors’ consolation strike.
Jurgen Klopp clearly knows what his team he needs to choose in order to maintain Liverpool’s unbeaten run, and despite his side’s magnificent unbeaten run in the Premier League so far, there were still a few things he would have learnt from the Reds’ performance.
Live 4 Liverpool has rounded up three things learned about Liverpool after their 3-1 victory over Manchester United on Sunday:
Shaqiri is a super sub
It is safe to say that Xherdan Shaqiri really is a super substitute. One thing is for sure though, he is a lot more effective coming off the bench than he is making the starting XI. Five minutes after he was introduced, he scored and won the game for the Reds. There is no denying his talent, but often there are players who are a lot more useful when they come on later in the match. The impact he makes is really something to behold, and Klopp should be incredibly lucky to have a talent like Shaqiri sitting on the bench ready to tear things up.
Fabinho worth his weight in gold
Fabinho may have made a slow start to his career at Liverpool, but there were certainly no signs of that on Sunday. The 6ft 2in [Transfermarkt] star was fabulous against United, and there is no doubt that he is really worth his weight in gold. He put in strong tackles, was the first to every ball, and he was not afraid to have a shot on goal. Yes, the last one was not as successful, but he was definitely the best midfielder on the pitch. The midfield position is certainly his for the taking following this display – but that is not a surprise.
Liverpool are miles ahead of United
This game used to be incredibly competitive due to how close each club was to each other in the league, but those days are now a distant memory. Liverpool’s title credentials were there for all to see on Sunday, and the difference in quality between the two sides is really rather shocking. The Reds are now a momentous 19 points ahead of the Red Devils now, which is rather extraordinary. The gap is beginning to widen with every season – something which the fans will be delighted about.
