Besides the full-back/flair player, the dominant figures at Old Trafford were the quartet who formed a box in the centre of the pitch: Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne, with the other three rotating ahead of the Spaniard. Arguably a Manchester derby win came with one as City’s most advanced player, Phil Foden on the left wing, and another as the left-back, in Cancelo. Nobody collects technical, creative midfielders quite like Pep Guardiola. Like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cancelo is redefining the full-back’s role. But for David de Gea’s athleticism, he would have had at least one goal, if not two.
On such days, he feels like the most creative footballer in a side packed with playmakers. And while it was a sign of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tactical failings that he selected a system that meant the Premier League’s most creative left-back spent the whole of the first half unmarked, the quality of Cancelo’s supply line is extraordinary. But whether or not he is credited with it, the reality is that Cancelo has created five goals in Manchester City’s last two games: three against Club Brugge, two in Saturday’s derby. The problem with own goals is that even those as spectacular as Eric Bailly’s do not earn anyone an assist officially, anyway. A theatre of discontent has become a stage for Moyes’ remarkable renaissance.
The London Stadium felt like an intimidating place on Sunday. But perhaps his greatest feat lies in the mood shift. He has a set-piece expertise forged by attention to detail, excellent delivery and sheer size: West Ham’s 32 goals from dead-ball situations since Moyes’ return is ludicrously good. He has got a striker who used to be used at right-back and who torments defences, in Michail Antonio. Moyes has got flair players who work – Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma – and workhorses who can create. Moyes has been accused of showing an inferiority complex in the past but West Ham attacked Liverpool in the second half: they have the belief to complement their quality and they have scored more goals than City. Beating Liverpool at the London Stadium, however, was a landmark result, ending a 25-match unbeaten run, leapfrogging them in the table, offering further evidence that West Ham are the best team Moyes has ever assembled and a side with the stature to make a top-four finish very feasible. With both him and Serge Aurier not quite impressing consistently enough, Jose Mourinho has a bit of a selection dilemma for the right-back slot going forward.Premier League winners are topped by David Moyes, but it’s the losers where we will find Manchester United, Alisson and a couple of sacked managers.ĭavid Moyes has famously never won at Anfield. He has managed to produce just a solitary assist so far.
Do we still have his receipt? I’m just playing but the man does need to step up his performances. Good performance from everyone today except Doherty. Jose said "He's shit so I'll be playing RB from now on". Tottenham Hotspur have released Matt Doherty affective immediately following the reaction of Jose Mourinho to the red card incident. Matt Doherty arriving for training tomorrow /EDv0750ioE Here’s how some of the supporters reacted to the right-back’s poor display against the Whites. And his latest performance on Saturday didn’t please the fans much. Doherty has struggled to impose himself since arriving at the club this past summer.