Perspective is important when assessing anything. Although it is hugely important to be fully involved in the business at hand, it pays to be aware of what happens elsewhere in the world. To be perfectly frank, fans of other sports look at football and laugh their arses off at the diving of our players. It is pathetic, tiresome and damaging to the game. It’s finest exponents play for Liverpool FC.

Despite being more positive, more attacking and more incisive than United in this match, the Merseysiders did not have the class to make their advantage count. Instead they resorted to appalling sportsmanship in order to forge their advantage. Charlie Adam’s dive to win their free-kick was almost a masterclass in cheating. If only he had got Rio Ferdinand sent off too, then it would have been perfect. Downing’s effort in the first half was almost as good. I admire the bravery of diving needlessly in front of 40,000 of your own fans.



Fair play winner Charlie Adam
Diving is one thing, racism is another. If we are to believe the post match reports, both were happening frequently throughout the game and headed entirely in one direction. My respect for Liverpool as an institution goes through choppy waters at times like these.

Steven Gerrard is a wonderful player, but the five-fingered salute he used to celebrate his goal does more damage than a 1,000 late tackles against Montenegro. He will, of course, remain unpunished.

United started the match with a team containing several graduate from the youth program. Fletcher, Evans, Giggs and Welbeck formed a solid outfield that secured the club’s first point on this troublesome ground for several years. David De Gea in goal was nothing short of outstanding in keeping the Liverpudlian’s late strikes at bay.

The force is strong with young Chicharito, who rode through some of Liverpool’s more colourful challenges after he came on to score a proper goal that did not involve any conning of the referee.

If you had offered me 2 points from the games against Liverpool and City I would probably have been more likely to take it than 3. We are on track, we have the dignity of knowing we play the game properly and we have improved our result at Anfield. Now, let’s see what the neighbours have got.

Follow Mark on twitter.com/markjpayne