COMMENT: They were walking. WALKING! All 22 players, walking in the first-half of a Manchester United v Liverpool game.
It was insipid. Turgid. Dire. The worst 45 minutes in the history of this fixture. A fixture that should be all about blood and thunder. Yet was reduced to a pathetic, Saturday stroll by two managers hellbent on imposing their 'possession game' onto the Premier League.
Would Bryan Robson stand for it? Steven Gerrard? Incey? Sparky? Tommy Smith? Carra? Souey? No chance, absolutely no chance. The tone would've been set from kickoff. That first tackle. That first 50-50. Where the only thing screaming is the ball. They'd make it count.
Need to know how bad it was? The most exciting act in the first-half. The one moment that had the Old Trafford crowd raising a roar was Bastian Schweinsteiger, just before the break, chasing down the ball in Liverpool's half. The visitors were in possession, but Basti actually took a gamble and chased down a lost cause. It was all the home fans could cling onto, a mistake from Dejan Lovren or Simon Mignolet in possession. Were they cheering, hoping for a Reds error? Or was it simply Schweinsteiger had broke ranks and was actually closing down a Liverpoolplayer in their own half? Whatever it was, that's how desperate the game had become.
Daly Blind's goal after halftime was decisive. But as pleasing as it was for Louis van Gaal to see his training ground plans succeed, the manner of Blind's strike was no surprise. Liverpool never closed the Dutchman down. Of course they didn't! They hadn't closed anyone down throughout the first-half. It wasn't inexperience or naivety. It was the flow-on from a timid, passive approach to the first 45. With no intensity or passion running through them, Liverpool were always open to such a free-kick routine.
And this was the difference on Saturday. After halftime, United's players, led by Schweinsteiger, actually put their foot in. Ander Herrera won and converted the penalty for United's second goal. But it was also the Spaniard who, in the lead up to Joe Gomez's clumsy challenge, twice won possession back for United with a couple of decent tackles.
The goal of Anthony Martial was spectacular and deserves the headlines. But, for United fans, what should be just as pleasing was a physical stoush he had with Lovren before his wonder strike. It was on the halfway line and Lovren really made Martial work to keep hold of the ball. But the Frenchman didn't tumble over or cough up possession. He held his ground, refusing to be intimidated. It was an impressive little moment from the teen.
For United, on paper it looks the perfect evening. A comfortable scoreline against your most bitter rivals. A debut goal to remember from your record signing. What's the problem?
But if Brendan Rodgers, as he conceded afterwards, is concerned about Liverpool's lack of creativity - then where does that leave Van Gaal? Simon Mignolet, the Reds goalkeeper, did not make a single save for the full 90. Yeah, he picked the ball out of his net three times, but that was it.
In contrast, United needed David de Gea at his best to deny Jordon Ibe and Danny Ings. Daley Blind cleared off the line. And Chris Smalling, who was again outstanding, intercepted a certain tap in for Christian Benteke. In terms of chances created, as bad as they were, Liverpool were far the superior team.
For Van Gaal, he'll point to the result. His possession game is working. At home, they're in touch with runaway leaders Manchester City and this week kickoff their Champions League group against PSV Eindhoven. The mission is on track.
But this isn't the United of Sir Alex. His mantra of 'the third pass must always go forward' appears long forgotten. Now it doesn't matter how many times you pass it backward - just keep the ball. The adventure, for now, is gone. And if this continues, so will be the magic of Manchester United versus Liverpool.
INJURY TIME
By the manager's admission, Anthony Martial is Ryan Giggs' signing.
Louis van Gaal announced at a supporters' function last week that Martial, all €80 million of him, had been bought not for him, but "the next manager, Ryan Giggs".
This revelation came after Van Gaal had revealed earlier that Giggs had scouted Martial "for 12 months". So, for all intents, we can credit the French teen to being Giggs' first major signing for United.
But, if Van Gaal accepts he is to pass the torch onto Giggs in 2017, shouldn't all player decisions be made in consultation with the Welshman? Particularly if Giggs has different ideas about how he sees United playing?
LVG virtually wrote off Adnan Januzaj on Friday. Discussing the loan move to Borussia Dortmund, Van Gaal admitted he offloaded the Belgian as he couldn't play "for me in the position of nine and maybe of 10". The manager went on to hint Januzaj's time with United could be coming to an end.
But if Giggs has plans to re-introduce wingers to United, then a long-term decision regarding Januzaj should be left to him.
And where does this leave United's U21 and U18 transfer policy? For example, is Callum Gribbin being coached to play as a "No10 or nine" with the U18s for Van Gaal? Or should he be encouraged to develop his football as an out-and-out winger with the view to playing for Giggs?
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