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MANCHESTER UNITED provided further evidence as to why they could win the Premier League title.
But equally, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s attractive but slightly dysfunctional team proved why exactly they will not be replacing Liverpool as champions this season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is getting things right at Old TraffordCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Here was the latest proof that Solskjaer must follow Jurgen Klopp’s blueprint to winning trophies.
Even when Klopp knew he possessed an irresistible front three of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Bobby Firmino, the Liverpool manager knew goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius had to be jettisoned out of Anfield.
The same applied to Dejan Lovren in defence.
Privately, Solskjaer – although overseeing an improvement at Old Trafford despite the stick he has been getting – must still make a couple of big calls.

Offensively, United’s strength in depth was illustrated beautifully in the 2-2 draw at Leicester.
Not just because Marcus Rashford made amends for a shocking early miss to score his 50th Premier League goal.
Despite arguably being lucky to stay on the pitch, Bruno Fernandes sprinkled more stardust over this team.
While the talented Mason Greenwood remained on the bench, Solskjaer was able to call on Edinson Cavani who, in relative terms considering his large wages, will still provide to be something of a bargain.

Bruno Fernandes is proving to be United’s jewel in the crownCredit: Reuters

He will play an increasing part for United this season and they need to tie him down for next season as well.
Within seconds of being introduced in the 75th minute, the fit-again Cavani chased down Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel, blocked a poor pass out from the goalkeeper and then held off a challenge from Wesley Fofana before bringing Luke Shaw into play.
And no sooner had Cavani put himself about, he then made space for himself before to create the perfect pass for Fernandes to score what should have been the winner.
But to finish top of the table, you have to make sure you win at Leicester when leading 2-1 with 11 minutes left. And United failed to do so.
There are not many teams in the Premier League who have conceded more than United’s 23 goals this season. And none of them in the top half.
United’s defensive stats last season were pretty decent and they should have been a lot more credit for those.

Manchester United look to be in the title hunt this seasonCredit: Getty – Pool
But despite Solskjaer’s claim yesterday that the team are paying the price for their attacking tactics, it is possible to make improvements.
Harry Maguire still needs a top defender with pace alongside him and then we get to the old chestnut of David de Gea.
He is still capable of moments of pure class but still needs to be replaced. He is still at a better level than either Mignolet or Karius when they were given the boot by Klopp.
Equally, United’s problem is that Dean Henderson is nowhere near as experienced as Alisson when he arrived on Merseyside from Roma. Equally, Henderson needs to start each week.
De Gea avoided an early disaster after he failed to clear a pass from Dan James and instead lost possession and was thankful for a stunning tackle from Fred.
After Rashford’s opener, United were made to pay for a catalogue of errors before Harvey Barnes scored.

Marcus Rashford scored the opener but could have had a few moreCredit: AP:Associated Press
Maguire slipped as he cleared, Fernandes was too ponderous on the ball and Scott McTominay failed to move quick enough to try and block Barnes.
And while the shot was decent enough, De Gea – not for the first time this season – was guilty of some poor footwork and was one step away from getting a hand near the effort.
With Fernandes looking to have secured a win, United were undone again by some good movement from Vardy although it took a wicked deflection off Axel Tuanzebe and De Gea was nowhere near.
Compared to last year, United are in a better place. After the same number of games, United were ninth with just 18 points, They had scored 21 times and conceded 17.
Now, United have scored 30 goals and conceded 23. United’s strengths – but also their weaknesses – have never been more obvious.
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

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MANCHESTER UNITED were forced to settle for a point against Leicester despite taking the lead twice.
But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will feel his side were worth the win after missing a host of chances.

Bruno Fernandes thought he had sealed the three pointsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Goals from Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes cancelled out by a brilliant Harvey Barnes goal and Jamie Vardy’s late equaliser.
Here, SunSport’s John Hutchinson rates how United’s stars fared in the draw.
David De Gea – 6
Might feel he should have done better for Harvey Barnes’ goal, but he was clearly unsighted.
Keeping Dean Henderson out of the team – for now.

Victor Lindelof – 6
Shunted out to right-back to accomodate Bailly coming in at centre-half.
Didn’t do too badly before he was forced off with a back injury.
Eric Bailly – 7
The Ivory Coast centre-half has a big season ahead of him to prove he can finally become a first-team regular.
Still some positioning skills to work on, but could be the one to partner Maguire.

Scott McTominay had a battle on in the middle of the parkCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Harry Maguire – 7
United captain appeared calmer with Bailly alongside him.
Might feel he should have scored from a couple of corners, but was solid at the back.
Luke Shaw – 7
Left-back has raised his game following Alex Telles’ arrival and is keeping the Brazilian on the bench.
Industrious going forward and pinged in a few tasty free-kicks.
Scott McTominay – 6
Needed to get close to Leicester’s middle two in the first 45, but did up his game after half-time.
Not as good as he was against Leeds but didn’t make many errors.
Fred – 6
Did his usual no-nonsene screening of the centre-halves with minimum of fuss.
Dan James – 4
The Welsh youngster was anonymous in the first 45 minutes.
He had a chance to play in Fernandes in the early stages of the second half who would have been through on goal.
But James fluffed his pass, and was soon hooked off for Pogba.

Dan James struggled before he was subbed offCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Bruno Fernandes – 8
Portuguese playmaker bagged another assist for Rashford’s goal.
He then kept his cool with a delightful finish to put United 2-1 up. Undroppable.
Marcus Rashford – 7
Should have opened the scoring in the first ten minutes, but made up for that miss with a cool finish for the opener.
Subdued in the second half but was always a willing runner.
Anthony Martial – 5
You’d have been forgiven for forgetting Martial was playing in the first half.
Things didn’t much better after the break before he was subbed off for Cavani
Substitutes
Paul Pogba (replaced James, 53) – 6
Was busy and always wanted the ball.
But you have to wonder whether he will be happy with cameos from the bench.
Axel Tuanzebe (replaced Lindelof, 65) – 6
Outfoxed by Jamie Vardy for Leicester’s equaliser.
Edinson Cavani (replaced Martial) – 7
Managed an assist less than ten minutes after replacing Martial.
Not used: Mason Greenwood, Jesse Lingard, Dean Henderson, Alex Telles, Nemanja Matic, Donny van de Beek.
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MAYBE THIS IS just how it is.
And that was how it was.

United scrapped their way to a heard-earned point against CityCredit: EPA

Manchester United had a manager that just doesn’t come along anymore in Sir Alex Ferguson.
Players the like of which the club may not see again.
A perfect storm that can never again be forecast as academy graduates mixed with established stars to produce teams that would conquer the world.
The bar was set just too high for it to be fair for the four subsequent managers who have tried and failed to reach the heights of the glory days under Sir Alex.

Any other club outside of Liverpool and Manchester City themselves would have been delighted with the last seven years that United have had.
Not least Tottenham who have one trophy in 21 years
In the time since Sir Alex retired they have won the FA Cup, EFL Cup, Europa League, reached an FA Cup Final, three Cup semi-finals finished second in the league and third.
Yet this is seen as a period of chaos in the club’s history.

It was a dour display between the two Manchester sidesCredit: Rex Features

No mitigating factors are allowed, not least that other clubs have caught up and United could not go any higher.
All clubs who used to finish below the Red Devils have long since stopped accepting their fate, Leicester showed them the way.
There was not a good enough squad left to David Moyes for him to immediately take the baton and stay ahead of the rest.
It was dragged to it’s last title by Sir Alex, but had gone past it’s best.
I have said many times if, subsequent managers at United had simply replicated his success then he wasn’t that special after all, but he was.
They don’t score enough goals at United anymore.

Harry Maguire led by example as United kept a clean sheetCredit: PA:Press Association
But there is no Cristiano Ronaldo, he could never be replaced, neither could Wayne Rooney.
Name a poacher they could have realistically got to match the predatory instincts of Ruud van Nistelrooy.
A captain in the mould of Roy Keane and one of the greatest players ever in Paul Scholes.
Has any club found a pairing to match Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in the heart of their defense since they hung up their boots?
Things were always going to change.
It is accepting that change which has been the hard bit.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eased some pressure with a hard-earned pointCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
The angst that United fans put themselves through is off the scale.
As is the criticism the subsequent managers have got, well, apart from one.
Davis Moyes was not given time to start rebuilding.
Jose Mourinho had a brilliant two years but was not backed in his battle with Paul Pogba became disillusioned and was sacked.
The football was not that bad under him, but not goo enough for many.
It was bad under Van Gaal, really dull, but to suggest he was a busted flush by the time he arrived at Old Trafford is ridiculous.

United simply did not allow City to find their rhythm at allCredit: Reuters
Even he won an FA Cup in his instantly forgettable two seasons at Old Trafford.
He was trying to lay down a template for the club for the future, but it just did not click with the players he had – sometimes it doesn’t.
Now we have Solskjaer who is currently four points off top.
He is a point ahead of Pep Guardiola, who can do no wrong, even if his failings in Europe with Manchester City might suggest otherwise.
The finger gets pointed at Executive Vice-Chairman Ed Woodward, who apparently has not backed bosses even though in the region of £800million has been spent on new players under his watch.

United nearly had a penalty – but VAR ruled Rashford was offside before being fouled by Kyle WalkerCredit: Reuters
People will say it was the departure of David Gill at the same time as Sir Alex that had a massive effect on recruitment.
It didn’t. The change happened because Fergie left and the team was past it’s best with nobody in the squad to make it better.
There is nothing wrong with wanting those glory days to return.
Now apparently Maurico Pochettino will have all the answers.
At Spurs he achieved two thirds and a runners-up spot and a place in a Champions league final.
But how long before that is not enough.
He won seven of his final 26 games in charge before he got the bullet just over a year ago.
With a bigger budget that would be available at Old Trafford he might go one better than those runner-up spots, maybe not.
That budget is not going to be huge though with the hit everyone has taken with the pandemic.
A goalless draw at home to Manchester City after going out of a tough Champions League Group in midweek will not be seen at Old Trafford as a bad result.
That is just how it is right now.

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MANCHESTER UNITED went in with a ‘don’t lose’ gameplan – and executed it to perfection.
They hustled and harried fierce rivals City in what became a dour 0-0 derby clash.

This was about as exciting as it got in a dour derbyCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

The point gained just days after the Champions League dumping won’t cover those cracks, but it will restore a small bit of pride.
But this game will be quickly forgotten by fans of both sides probably wished they’d tuned in to Strictly Come Dancing.
Here, SunSport’s John Hutchinson rates how United players fared in their big derby clash.
David De Gea – 7
Stood strong to deny Riyad Mahrez a golden chance in the 34th minute.

City had TWO shots on target the whole game – an easy night’s work for the Spaniard.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 6
Quiet first 45 as he was wary to bomb on too much against City slickers.
But he probably could have as City offered nothing down the flanks.

Harry Maguire led from the back for a resolute UnitedCredit: PA:Press Association

Victor Lindelof – 7
The centre-half might feel like he could have done better with his header from a corner five minutes before half-time.

Was barely troubled by City’s off-colour attack.
Harry Maguire – 8
Solid first 45 from the United captain as he had Gabriel Jesus comfortably under wraps.
Looking like getting close to his best which will delight his manager and the fans.

Pogba did his bit in defence and attack during the gameCredit: AP:Associated Press
Luke Shaw – 7
Surprisingly picked ahead of Telles, and like Wan-Bissaka, clearly had strict instructions to keep his position.
Dealt with Mahrez effectively, and then the same for his replacement Ferran Torres.
Fred – 6
Injured his hip early on in a collision with Kevin De Bruyne, but was determined to try run it off.
Does a job but offers little going forward.

Fred fought off a hip injury picked up in the first ten minutesCredit: EPA
Scott McTominay – 6
Battled hard in the middle of the park to close down City’s midfield.
Snap in the tackle and was just inches away from poking home the opener in the first half.
Paul Pogba – 7
Finally came into the game in the last five minutes offering himself as option out wide to build an attack that almost led to Greenwood getting a chance away.
Grew as the game went on in an attacking and defensive sense, and was happy to muck in when needed.

Marcus Rashford was fouled in the area leading to a penalty – but it was ruled out for an offside by VARCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Bruno Fernandes – 6
Had a chance from a free-kick from 25 yards that he surprisingly fluffed.
Looked off his game in this one, heavy touches in attacking positions and couldn’t find that killer pass.
Marcus Rashford – 5
Anonymous in the first 45, but that was because the ball was hardly coming into him.
Mason Greenwood – 4
Harried the City defenders without looking too threatening.
Subbed off for Martial on 72 minutes and you’d be surprised if he gets the nod over the Frenchman next time out.

Mason Greenwood is struggling for form at the momentCredit: Reuters
Subs
Anthony Martial (replaced Greenwood, 74) – 5
Not really hit it off this season and struggled to get into the game.
Not used: Eric Bailly, Juan Mata, Dean Henderson, Alex Telles, Nemanja Matic, Donny van de Beek. More