In just nine months, Manchester United have flipped the script with Liverpool

In the grand scheme of things, 273 days is not a particularly lengthy period of time, but in football it can seemingly feel like an eternity. Two hundred and seventy-three days ago Liverpool decimated Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford to move 14 points clear of their rivals and stick another nail in David Moyes’ coffin. Two hundred and seventy-three days later, United turned the tables and stuck three past Liverpool, opening up a remarkable nine-month points swing of 24 points, to leave Brendan Rodgers, the reigning LMA manager of the year, facing more questions over his increasingly uncertain Anfield future. [caption id=“attachment_1850549” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Robin van Persie celebrates Manchester United third’s goal. Reuters[/caption] These are truly troubled times at Liverpool, make no mistake about it. Their haul of 21 points after 16 matches is their worst start to a league campaign since the 1964/65 season. Even Roy Hodgson, during his doomed spell on Merseyside in 2010/11, had managed one point more at this stage before he eventually succumbed to owners FSG’s axe. Prior to the match at Old Trafford, Rodgers’ men had undergone a mini-resurgence of sorts, following up four straight defeats with a five-match domestic and European unbeaten run, which the Liverpool boss attributed to his decision to opt for a more solid, back-to-basics tactical approach. Having seen that approach eventually contribute to Liverpool’s pitiful Champions League elimination at the hands of Basel in midweek, Rodgers, in his own words, sought to return to a “technical game, with intensity and a high level of technique”. In came playmakers Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho, with winger Raheem Sterling nominally deployed as a centreforward. For a while it seemed as though it might bear fruit; three times in the first half Sterling found himself in scoring positions, but a combination of weak finishing and assured - albeit not particularly extraordinary - goalkeeping from David de Gea denied the England youngster. And although Sterling, not noted for his finishing ability, toiled in front of goal, it was difficult to point the finger of blame at the 20-year-old, with Liverpool’s transfer committee arguably more culpable for his failure to find the back of the net. Why, when they were aware Luis Suárez was on his way out of Anfield, did they fail to procure a striker with similar attributes to the Uruguayan? In Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert, two immobile, reactive forwards, they purchased players who represent the complete stylistic antithesis of the Barcelona striker. And while Liverpool’s performance was characterised by a sense of profligacy – they racked up nine shots on target, three more than United – the hosts’ was once again synonymous with efficiency. Louis van Gaal’s developing side are yet to showcase the sort of flamboyant football that supporters might have expected when the Dutchman arrived earlier this year, but they have exhibited unbelievable ruthlessness. Despite the fact Liverpool shaded the opening period, United went in at the break with a two-goal advantage, with both of their shots on target finding the back of the net, repeating a statistical pattern that had been evident in the preceding wins against Arsenal, Stoke City and Southampton. This was symbolised in visceral fashion when Wayne Rooney, who was completely unmarked at the edge of the box, received the ball from Antonio Valencia and clinically swept the ball beyond Brad Jones, just 23 seconds after De Gea had denied Sterling for the first time at the other end. Further errors – one from a linesmen, the other from the hapless Dejan Lovren – gifted United their second and third goals, adding gloss to a victory which owed little to the fluidity of their play. United have now racked up six wins in a row, their best winning streak since March 2013, and more significantly they remain within five points of Manchester City, thus keeping alive the possibility of turning a two-horse title race into a three-horse one. Speaking before the game, goalscorer Robin van Persie spoke optimistically of mounting a title challenge this season if United continue in a similar vein of form of beyond Christmas and into the New Year. While United have looked far from impressive at times this season, his words could prove to be prophetic if Van Gaal finds a way to harness and marry fluidity and sparkle to his side’s clinical ruthlessness, with a bit of luck thrown in for good measure.