Why Manchester United are still on the right track despite Liverpool draw

By Mark Weasley

After James Milner had put Liverpool ahead in what could turn out to be a crucial goal in the race for the title, Manchester United must have felt relief at the final whistle, after rallying back from a goal down to equalise courtesy of a typical Zlatan goal in the 84th minute.

The Old Trafford faithful were expectant, as they had seen their team win the last nine games in all competitions, but Sunday’s draw led to a lot of positives, which is good going forward. There was a show of resoluteness, the will never to give up which has been synonymous in the history of the club. The game was so full of emotion that Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho almost came to blows on the touchline just before halftime, the Liverpool manager incensed by an Ander Herrera challenge on Roberto Firmino.

This period is a season of transition, so if United don’t get to win the Premier League this year, despite their summer splurge it will be seen as disappointing. The club have been beset with mediocrity in recent years following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, and Jose Mourinho is on the right track to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford. Gone is the fearful demeanor of David Moyes, the boring, labouring game of van Gaal, and that has been replaced by fast-paced, attacking style of the Portuguese, which has been surprising given his trademark pragmatic style.

Mourinho has always won the league in his second year so far in his managerial career, so there is expectation that next season may be the year the Theatre of Dreams will host another league title, in what will be our first league title in five years. There will be more signings, and the current players will have had a full year to grasp the philosophy of the manager.

However, this season is still not over, the club is almost through to the EFL Cup Final, already in the last 32 of the Europa League, still in with a chance of the Premier League, and still fighting in the FA Cup.