Tom Oldfield


As the Liverpool midfield outfought Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes at Anfield, it brought back memories of the Champions League final. That fateful night in Rome, Barcelona gave a masterclass in passing and movement, leaving United chasing shadows and heading for a humbling defeat. Very little went right. The loss to Liverpool recently was hardly on a par in terms of importance but it brought the same concerns pouring down on manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
 
There were question marks over Dimitar Berbatov, who continues to disappoint when it matters most. The Bulgarian, who had little impact as a second half substitute in Rome, strolled around Anfield without ever showing the appetite to make a match-winning contribution. Ferguson must surely rue spending around £30M on the former Spurs striker – it is painful to think that for that sum he might have secured the clinical David Villa’s signature.
 
Defensive frailties were also clear for all to see. Against Barcelona, it was Nemanja Vidic who allowed Samuel Eto’o to fire the Spaniards in front but against Liverpool the finger was pointed at central defensive partner Rio Ferdinand. The England centre-back was shrugged aside by Fernando Torres who raced on to drill Liverpool in front. Added to the error against Manchester City in the derby, Ferdinand is facing a mini slump in form.
 
But it was in the centre of midfield where Ferguson will have seen the most troubling comparisons to the Champions League final defeat in May as the ghosts of Rome returned to haunt him. Admittedly, he was again missing Darren Fletcher’s energy and ball-winning prowess but United were weak and over-run. Strangely, Ferguson opted to pair Carrick and Scholes at the heart of the midfield, despite knowing he would encounter the tough tackling of Javier Mascherano and eager workers like Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun. It was a fixture that called for fresh legs, making it all the more surprising that Anderson was left among the substitutes.
 
Scholes looks increasingly uncomfortable when the pace of the game is cranked up like it was at Anfield. Without time on the ball, the years begin to show and he was picked off several times in dangerous positions. Carrick also struggles when the heat is on in midfield. He was badly exposed against Barcelona and is not always quick enough or mobile enough to protect the back four. Furthermore, the pair made few attempts to support the attack against Liverpool, leaving Wayne Rooney and Berbatov isolated. United just did not get enough from their midfield duo.
 
Ferguson was fortunate enough to be able to call upon Roy Keane year after year to patrol midfield and dictate the tempo during the glory years of the 1990s and onwards. The Irishman rarely let his manager down. But since Keane’s exit in 2005, only one man has come close to filling his boots in terms of work-rate and midfield dominance – Owen Hargreaves. And how United fans would love to see a fit-again Hargreaves back in the side.
 
On that score, though, there may finally be some good news. Hargreaves has not played since September 2008 at Chelsea due to injuries to both knees but reports coming from Old Trafford suggest he will make his long-awaited return before Christmas. United fans have suffered frustration after frustration as the England midfielder’s comeback has been frequently delayed but the latest prediction – of early December – could finally be the one.
 
While United have rolled on impressively without Hargreaves, they still miss him badly in the big games against more skilful, more mobile opponents. Fletcher and Anderson, to a lesser degree, have worked hard to fill the void but Hargreaves remains a cut above – so long as he can regain full fitness.
 
Hargreaves has set his sights not only on a return to the fold at Old Trafford but also on a place in the England squad for the World Cup in South Africa next summer. That may seem ambitious yet, from a United viewpoint, is just adds to the midfielder’s motivation to impress. He told reporters this month: “It’s looking very well. I want to make sure this last hurdle is successful and hope I’ll be back with the team very soon.”
 
Though United fans may not see the Hargreaves of old until the last few months of the campaign – or even the start of next season – his imminent return is excellent news for the long-term. His tireless style of play, economical passing and flawless tackling have been sorely missed and it will genuinely feel like a new signing when the midfielder is available once again. With the club pressing to compete both domestically and in Europe, a player like Hargreaves can be the difference between success and failure – and United need him back.

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