Regardless of what anyone says, Manchester United vs Liverpool is still the definitive rivalry in English football. It doesn’t matter if they both get relegated (not that that will ever happen), it’d still be the case. All the money, the reputation, the power of the English Premier League, it’s all been built upon the foundations of what Manchester United and Liverpool have achieved in their storied histories. The fact that both sets of fans have so passionately entwined themselves with those histories only makes it that little bit tastier.

But recent times haven’t been so flash, that’s well known. The balance of power has shifted from Red to Blue in recent times and both of these clubs have felt their share of failure in the process. Poetically, they entered this game with almost identical records. A pair of unconvincing 1-0 wins, followed by a 0-0 draw each (Liverpool’s slightly more impressive being against Arsenal rather than Newcastle) and then disappointing losses before the international break. Manchester United were stunned by a swift strategic swipe against Swansea (alliteration game: on point) while Liverpool capitulated at home to West Ham. 7 points from 4 games, each. It’s still early days but the difference between 10 in 5 and 7 in 5 is pretty substantial. For one thing it’s about seven places on the table and there’s only so far that an expectant fan base is willing to fall, just ask Chelsea.

The thing about missed expectations is that it’s usually less about what got you in the hole and more about how you go about digging yourself out of it. In football terms, that tends to have a lot to do with the transfer market. Both of these teams have made a point of selling off unwanted/unneeded players but it’s Manchester United that are far more willing to throw cash at their troubles. Hence the world record fee for Anthony Martial, a man nobody outside of France had even heard of a few weeks ago. And maybe Arsenal, he helped do them in last Champions League with Monaco. (With the Henry comparisons and the whole ‘Is From France’ thing, it’s kinda surprising Wenger didn’t go for him… but then large transfer fees aren’t his favourite). Between the two starting line-ups, there were nine players signed in the last transfer window, with a further four on the bench (not including Divock Origi, who was signed last year but only joined this one after a loan-back spell). That’s some huge player turnover.

The XIs were more about who wasn’t there, though. No Coutinho, he was suspended, and no Wayne Rooney, he was an injury precaution. But one name did return: David De Gea. A new contract signed, he may as well have been a new signing himself given how inevitable it seemed that he was leaving. Fellaini started for Rooney, Ings for Coutinho. Both men playing outside where they’re usually seen but also not unexpectedly. Liverpool were named in a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield but they actually took the field in a 4-2-3-1 formation, as they usually do, just as Man Utd did also. Ings played on the left side of the attacking midfield trio.

Curiously it was Emre Can at the point of the midfield. This a dude who played right back for Germany last week, was mostly a centre back last year and is ideally a holding midfielder. Presumably he was higher up the field as a strategy for cutting off Michael Carrick only LVG went and started Schweinsteiger as well. Carrick/Schweiny means less defensive coverage than if Morgan Schneiderlin were playing (Schneiders is pretty much flawless in his off the ball work) however it also means two elite passers and that’s pretty tough to stop.

Lucas Leiva and James Milner played as deeper midfielders, both back fours have been unchanged all PL season.

So which team would come out and seize the initiative at this potential turning point in their seasons? Well, neither of them, really. Not if you’re counting incisive play and goal-scoring chances. However Man United at least tried to. In the usual way of the LVG era, it was a slick machine at the back and in the middle… but the cogs fell apart in the final third. Not in a disastrous way, it’s more like a cautious thing. In order to make sure they have that reliable base of defence and possession, they sacrifice a lot of creative, expressive football. That’s actually what the rumoured talks between Rooney, Carrick and Van Gaal were about (the alleged ‘Crisis Meetings’ revealed last week) – the team wanted a little more freedom. Van Gaal doesn’t seem like the type to adapt very easily though, and there wasn’t much change in this game.

But Liverpool were far worse. They couldn’t seem to keep the ball at all. Lucas in particular was having an absolute shocker, while Mignolet somehow managed to roll the ball right into Juan Mata and if Fellaini had a little more composure then he had a real chance there. The kind of chance Wayne Rooney would have loved, so it goes. But Lucas, good God. And even the usually safe-footed James Milner was spraying them.

Yet United rarely had the space to counter with Liverpool looking like they were out to play the spoilers. Martin Skrtel and Nathaniel Clyne did good work on that right side and the left was never threatened with Juan Mata always preferring to drift inside and Darmian only getting far forward on a couple occasions. Memphis was the main outlet but far too often he was picked off trying to cut inside. Six times he was dispossessed. Six times. And he only played 45 minutes.

Memphis exploded all over the Champions League qualifiers but to date it just hasn’t happened domestically. It will eventually, he’s too good for it not to. Yet he’s still a very young player and there’s always a period of adapting when you join a new club, especially a bigger one. The length of that period varies depending on the player. Memphis got a big kick up the arse against Liverpool with his half-time removal.

Nothing else really happened in the first 45 though. A few half chances, some good work in the air from Mignolet (limiting Fellaini’s threat) and otherwise it was all Carrick and Schweinsteiger going about their usual metronomic business. Look, the stuff in front of them was very average at times but this pair was superb.

So while Ashley Young doesn’t offer what Memphis does at the high end, he’s a much more rounded player. He’s predictable and yet hard to stop. Plus where Memphis and Shaw seem to be on different pages of the hymn book sometimes (stuttered runs, hesitant through balls, etc.), Young is extremely clever in how he works with fullbacks. It’s kind of his thing, that and those whippy crosses. He’s also a really direct player and he straight away made the impact. Young got the ball in a bit of space, got his marker one-on-one and slipped it through Clyne’s legs. Clyne then pulled him down as he ran past. Free kick. From that free kick, this happened:

Daley Blind admitted it was a training ground routine. A lovely one too. But Liverpool fans will be feeling let down at how slow their team was to react to this rare unorthodox move from United. It wasn’t especially complicated or anything, Blind made a run to the edge of the box as three other runners broke towards the near post, creating acres of space. As Mata pulled it back, there were ten Liverpool players in the box. Two in the wall, one goalkeeper and the rest either inside the six yard box or moving towards it. Blind struck it perfectly but he had all the time in the world.

(To be fair, Clyne tried to hold up his run, only Schweinsteiger had him in an NFL-quality block).

United perked up with the goal and the home crowd raised the atmosphere. But Liverpool still had their chances, despite how insipid they seemed. David De Gea gave the ball away with a pass down the middle that ended up needing a smart interception from Smalling to halt the move, Clyne slipping a fine little ball in to Firmino who tried to square it. Even then it wasn’t over, following the corner, Danny Ings wasn’t quite able to get full connection on a looping chest-and-volley that still ballooned goal-wards and DDG needed the full wingspan to push it away.

Blind then had to be on his toes to a Skrtel header off the line from a corner. Incredibly, Firmino wasn’t able to do anything with the loose rebound at the far post.

Thirty seconds later, Anthony Martial, the most expensive teenager in football history, was substituted on.

Not that he did much initially. He stepped onto the pitch after exactly 65 minutes and didn’t touch the ball with his feet until minute 77. Granted, a big chunk of that time was taken up by United doubling their lead.

Michael Carrick plays a gorgeous ball into Herrera’s feet, who takes it into the box and gets Gomez sliding in early. At that point, all Herrera needs to do is let it run and take the hit. Then he stepped up and took the penalty himself, blasting it into the roof, no saving that one.

Worth mentioning that the gap for Carrick’s pass was made in part by Martial’s movement inwards.

For sure, the second goal felt like a killer. Even with 20 mins left, the crowd had started to exhale. As had Louis Van Gaal. But there were two more twists in this tale, two wonderful goals to savour.

First up, this needs no explanation or analysis:

If that’s not top five goals of the season come next April then we’re in for an incredible season. But it didn’t really count for much on the day, because before Liverpool could launch a prospective comeback from Benteke’s moment of magic, Anthony Martial went and did this:

Look, let’s not get carried away with hype. It was bad enough when that transfer fee was immediately held against him like people were waiting for him to fail. Now people are making those Thierry Henry comparisons without any hint of the scepticism of before. Good for him, probably.

That third goal really was it. Nothing else happened. A temporary fright was beaten off with a moment that’ll go down in MUFC lore. Whether they can win the title playing like this… well, they won’t. Although plenty can happen over the course of a season and form is always temporary.

Liverpool, on the other hand, have big problems. The fact is, they’re not improving. They missed Coutinho badly but only for his moments of unexpected brilliance. They rely on him breaking the system and creating his own chances. Firmino is a good buy, he’ll only get better despite a poor game. James Milner has fitted in seamlessly but wasn’t near his best. Danny Ings? He was lost and out of position, another example of Brendan Rodgers shoehorning players into a system rather than building a system around those players. You can get away with anything if you’re winning. When you lose to your most hated rival then you have to deal with the backlash. For a man that stresses ‘character’ and ‘passion’ above all else, this was a limp and uninspired performance.

To be honest, both teams will have much tougher games than this one, and United will be hoping they have Wayne Rooney for them. Fellaini will do a job wherever he’s played but he’s only ever gonna be a backup player as a striker. He doesn’t have the instinct to get into the right positions, his finishing isn’t very good and his aerial domination isn’t as dominating when he’s up against the best defenders in the opposition. But, yeah, he’ll do a job. And Rooney’s hamstring doesn’t sound too bad, he’ll likely play next week against Southampton. You can criticise Rooney’s form if you must but United are a much better team with him there.

A few words on a pair of pairs of fullbacks: Joe Gomez has been nothing but impressive in establishing himself as Liverpool’s best option at LB. His transfer sounded like one of those ‘Lad for the Future’ type deals and instead he’s emerged as a genuine, immediate talent. Not his best game against United, though he wasn’t often tested. Unfortunately when he was, he gave up a penalty with one of those tackles that scream ‘inexperience’. He’s getting there, though.

His opposite number, Luke Shaw, is already there. After a disappointing first season at United in which injuries held him back as much as anything, he’s back at 100% and playing better than he ever has. His ability on attack is the main eye-catcher but Shaw really is the full package. He rarely misses a beat at the back. Plus his adventurousness really helped to limit anything Roberto Firmino had to offer, dragging him back in cover far more than the Brazilian would have liked. He might already be the best left back in England.

Then you have Darmian and Clyne, a couple of wonderful new signings. Both have turned their RB position from a weakness to a strength. When you look at the shambles that was Liverpool’s defensive unit last season (aside from Skrtel, who’s always good) and then look at the stability they have now, it’s pretty commendable from ol’ Brendan. Two of his rare undoubted victories in the transfer market. Unfortunately it may all be coming too late.

Man of the Match: Bastian Schweinsteiger. This is what they bought him for. A big game player playing a big game, even more noticeable when you look at the bland performance of his opponents. Schweiny made more passes than any other player. He and Carrick bossed it from the start. Even with a combined age of 65 (a year older than their manager), they look a commanding partnership – which had been a concern, whether they could play together or if they had to rotate around Schneiderlin. Turns out they can play together. Very well in fact.

The Good

Debutants – The first round after the transfer window means a bunch of players making their first appearances. Martial stole headlines, as did 18 year old Man City striker Kelechi Iheanacho with his late winner (his debut actually came last game against Watford, but close enough). Iheanacho played a couple games for Nigeria in NZ at the U20 World Cup, if you were wondering. But there were debuts all round and more than a few fellas making the most of them. Virgil Van Dyk was great for Southampton. Nathan Dyer scored a late, brave winner for Leicester. Matt Jarvis scored for Norwich. Kevin De Bruyne wasn’t as flash but he made a few nice touches off the bench for City.

Steven Naismith (Everton) – A perfect hat-trick. One on the left peg, one on the right peg and one off the head. The sixth man to score a hatty off the bench in the PL. He’s also the first man to score in three different games against a Mourinho-managed Premier League team.

The Bad

Arsenal’s Striking Situation – Not because they didn’t sign a new one, but because of the hole they’re in all the same. Olly Giroud isn’t playing well and he’s the only true striker. Theo Walcott needs to be a striker or he won’t play. Fine. Except that Giroud needs to play to get back in form and Theo needs to play to get in any kind of rhythm. Rotating them isn’t suiting either. At least the Champions League games are coming and there aren’t any other rivals. Buying a new forward would have meant neither of those two get the minutes they need. Oh, and Danny Welbeck’s injured. The funny thing is that both Giroud and Walcott scored against Stoke, except Walcott was completely wasteful every other chance he got and the one he scored was a runaway from distance, as he loves to do. Get him there and he’ll be perfect. But stuck trying to make short, sharp movements in a condensed field as Arsenal pass around the opposition penalty area, that’s very much a work in progress for Lil Theo.

Swansea City – Whoops. Losing to a team that hadn’t had a shot on target for their last three and a half hours of football (it was Watford, if ya don’t read the papers) is a good way to take the shine off a promising start to the season. The Swans can beat anyone at home, they’ve proven that, but on the road is where that European spot will be won or lost. Even a red card in the 64th minute couldn’t boost them towards an equaliser.

Aston Villa’s Resilience – Up 2-0 with 20 minutes to play. Fast forward…

The Ugly

Saido Berahino Getting Booed – Look, West Brom fans, you either want the guy to leave or you want him to stay. If you want him to stay, don’t boo him. If you want him to leave, don’t get upset when he asks to leave. Make up ya damn minds, Everton and Man Utd fans have got it right with the way John Stones and David De Gea were received this weekend.

Emmanuel Adebayor – A deal’s been struck to mutually terminate the rest of Ade’s contract, which presumably means Spurs are paying him massive dollars just to leave. Like, he’s getting paid out for not doing his job. That’s the opposite of how it’s supposed to work.

Alessandro Diamanti’s Tattoos – Let the picture tell 1000 words.