Six Truths: Manchester United need to mix up their style; Ron and Co still Real deal
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ByEurosport
Updated 15/01/2017 at 22:42 GMT
Our writers take you through six things we learnt from Sunday's football.
Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) falls during the Spanish league football match Sevilla FC vs Real Madrid CF at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Sevilla on January 15, 2017
Image credit: AFP
Manchester United and Jose Mourinho got away with one
James Milner, Ragnar Klavan, Dejan Lovren and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Liverpool’s defence was there to be got at. Yet, when chasing the game, Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho sent on Marouane Fellaini. United went route one against a back four that looked susceptible to pace. They got their equaliser but surely the pace of Marcus Rashford would have offered a more thorough examination of a ramshackle defence.
It is illustrative of a wider issue with Mourinho’s United: they are profligate. For all the talk of a return to the ‘United way’ under the Portuguese, they have scored a relatively meagre 32 goals thus far this season. That is just five more than at the same point last term.
In five games against the current top four, United have hit three goals which has seen them pick up five points. United have been on a decent run of form but remain four points off fourth. If they have designs on breaching the Champions League places they need to develop the multitude of ways to break teams down.
Mignolet isn't filling in, he's the number one again
The much maligned Lloris Karius was actually given quite a bit of praise despite Liverpool's 1-0 defeat to Southampton, leading to some speculation that he could be recalled against Manchester United.
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Simon Mignolet saves from Manchester United's Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Image credit: Reuters
That he wasn't speaks volumes of Jurgen Klopp's faith in Simon Mignolet right now, and the Belgian didn't let him down. Not only did he look in control and command his box well, bar one hairy moment in the first half, he made an splendid stop from a free-kick from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. An excellent building block for Mignolet as Liverpool face a crunch period.
It's not just top spot that might elude City...
Pep Guardiola was asked if the gap to the top of the table is now too great after his team were dismantled by Everton. "Yes”, he replied. “Ten points is a lot of points. The second one is three points. We have to see.”
But judging by the heaviest defeat of his career, it’s not just the top spot but the top four that could be beyond Manchester City.
They simply did not have a Plan B against a young, vibrant Everton side, with Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta lacking dynamism in midfield.The City defence also continues to look shaky, while Kevin De Bruyne was the only real ray of hope at Goodison Park.
Guardiola has a big decision to make. Try and stick to his principles of open, attacking football and hope that his side turn it around. Or take a more pragmatic approach in a bid to usurp one of Arsenal, Liverpool or Tottenham who are above them in the league table. Finishing outside the top four would be unthinkable for the decorated Catalan, and would surely put his job in jeopardy.
Koeman takes time to prove critics wrong
October and November were tough months for Everton and in particular Ronald Koeman. Everton were disappointing away from home, losing to Burnley, Southampton and Chelsea. They did secure a good draw with Manchester City but with Ross Barkley drawing headlines things were starting to get a bit uncomfortable for Koeman at Everton.
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Everton's English midfielder Tom Davies (R) celebrates with Everton's English midfielder Ross Barkley after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Manchester City at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north-
Image credit: AFP
Things are looking up. There are two new signings, one of whom scored on his debut, Barkley looks happy again, and there are young players breaking through such as Tom Davies. Everton are still a way off making a play to break into the top six but they are the best placed side to do so and are heading in the right direction under Koeman.
They are still the Real deal
It took an own goal and a speculative strike from Stevan Jovetic to finally do it but although Real Madrid's 40-match unbeaten run is now at an end they are not about to capitulate. If they hadn't given the ball away so easily and allowed the Montenegrin a clear run to the penalty box, with Keylor Navas leaving the right side of his goal gaping wide open, Zinedine Zidane's men would still be on their epic run and hot favourites for the Liga title.
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Real Madrid's defender Sergio Ramos gestures during the Spanish league football match Sevilla FC vs Real Madrid CF at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Sevilla on January 15, 2017.
Image credit: AFP
Yes, they are now only top by a point ahead of Sevilla, with bitter rivals Barcelona back in the fray, but they have Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Isco and Pepe to return to the first team and are still and outstanding side. All that remains is for them not to panic!
Africa's biggest stars have come to the party
For the Africa Cup of Nations one of the overriding themes from tournaments gone by has been how big names fail to deliver. Often the player shining in the big European leagues struggle for whatever reason, and lesser known players, or smaller teams, show them up.
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VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Mahrez double rescues point for Algeria
So far in this year's tournament this has not been the case. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang predictably scored the first goal of the tournament whilst Riyad Mahrez and now Sadio Mane have also stepped up. The three biggest African players right now have all delivered and they will all be crucial for their teams' chances. Can one of them go all the way?
Pete Sharland, Marcus Foley, Kevin Coulson
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