Wednesday 13 January 2016 10:23, UK
After the tedium came the thrills as Manchester United shrugged off their 'boring' tag by playing their part in a 3-3 draw with Newcastle at St James' Park.
Louis van Gaal's men took the lead from the penalty spot thanks to Wayne Rooney and looked to have it won when Jesse Lingard doubled the lead.
Newcastle got back in it with a fine volley by Georginio Wijnaldum and drew level with the help of an Aleksandar Mitrovic spot-kick before Rooney put the visitors ahead once again.
Paul Dummett's deflected shot with minutes remaining earned Newcastle a share of the points and left Van Gaal with as many questions as answers. Here are just some of them…
Better than being boring?
Van Gaal's comments about the lack of excitement generated by his team provided the backdrop to Tuesday's game. "There are also matches where I'm very bored or angry because we are not disorganising our opponent's defence," said the Manchester United manager. "But that is football." That's football, indeed. He won't have been bored at Newcastle but he might still be angry.
Van Gaal's side scored from their first three shots on target and looked threatening on the counter-attack. But they were also shaky at the back and failed to provide enough protection from midfield. Losing a two-goal lead to a team in the relegation zone cannot be considered encouraging and they go to Anfield having won once in eight Premier League games. Balance continues to elude Van Gaal.
Is Rooney back?
He can at least take some comfort in the flickering of form from his much-maligned captain. Rooney has now scored four goals in his last three appearances for United. Two have been penalties but the other efforts have showcased his deft touch - the back-heeled flick with his left foot against Swansea - and his powerful finishing. Against Newcastle, the latter looked to have won the game.
In between his two goals, Rooney showed real intelligence to set up Lingard. With pace around him, perhaps he can still prosper. After all, Rooney had failed to score and assist in the same game even once in 2015 so, whether he's back to his best or not, this performance undoubtedly represents progress of sorts. And that might just be one less thing for Van Gaal to worry about.
Pace or control?
The decision to drop Juan Mata was explained by the need for "speed on the wings" and that's what Van Gaal got with Lingard and Anthony Martial. The former made more sprints than anyone else during his time on the pitch, while the latter was the game's fastest player having been clocked at 35.4 kilometres per hour. They looked dangerous and Lingard, of course, came up with a goal.
The team's total of 10 chances created was a joint-high away from home but that creativity came at a cost - it's also the first time they've conceded three in the Premier League since the trip to Arsenal. Substitute Memphis Depay summed up the situation by playing a part in Rooney's second but then failing to provide cover for the equaliser. This is not the control that Van Gaal craves.
Can Fellaini be trusted?
One man who rarely gives that impression of being in control is Marouane Fellaini and this was another display from the Manchester United midfielder to baffle and bemuse. Supporters seem reluctantly prepared to accept the idea of him as a one-man Plan B - toss it to the big man and hope for the best - but remain rather less convinced by him in a deeper role. It's easy to see why.
Fellaini committed four clumsy fouls in the opening half an hour but he couldn't cope with Georginio Wijnaldum and might have been sent off when appearing to kick out at Fabricio Coloccini having been booked. He had a role in goals at both ends and his header should have finished it at 3-2 but he couldn't do it. Unfortunately, the feeling that Fellaini can't do it is now unlikely to ever fully go away.
Who is the No 10?
While Fellaini might be better in an attacking midfield role, he isn't the answer there either. But who is? Ander Herrera was preferred to Mata in that position at Newcastle and played a quality pass to Rooney for his team's second goal. The Spaniard also showed remarkable awareness to feed Lingard after the break for a chance that could've restored their two-goal advantage.
And yet, if Van Gaal is committed to getting pace into this side, what does this mean for Mata's chances? Moreover, Rooney's fine strike came after he'd dropped deeper following Herrera's withdrawal. They can't all play as a No 10. Managers might talk about good problems to have but Van Gaal needs answers here in his search for fluency. The role is too important to toy with.
So what next?
In short, Liverpool, and a renewal of Van Gaal's rivalry with Jurgen Klopp. The former Borussia Dortmund coach's style troubled the Dutchman in the Bundesliga and while Klopp hasn't got the Reds playing precisely the sort of high-intensity football that he prefers just yet, Liverpool are likely to start as favourites in a game that United can ill afford to lose.
Van Gaal pointed to Newcastle's good fortune and his own side's failure to take their chances as the decisive factors on Tuesday. But supporters will not be in the mood for explanations if the result goes against them on Sunday. "You have to be happy as a Manchester United fan," Van Gaal had said at the weekend. But for how long? We'll find out at Anfield.
