Manchester United finally have something to celebrate, and you can bet Michael Carrick will be breathing a huge sigh of relief.
After a miserable run of results that had left Carrick fighting for his future, United produced a dramatic comeback to beat Roma 3-2 in the Champions League.
From a Liverpool perspective, though, there could be another reason to enjoy the result.
Hopefully, this victory keeps Carrick in the Manchester United job for a few more weeks – at least until they visit Anfield!
Carrick gets some much-needed breathing space
United looked to be heading for another embarrassing evening when they went into half-time 2-0 down against Roma.
But they showed some character after the break, with Bruno Fernandes getting them back into the game before Matheus Cunha scored twice to complete a remarkable turnaround.
It was the sort of result Carrick desperately needed.
One victory doesn’t suddenly make all those problems disappear, but it certainly changes the mood around Old Trafford and gives the manager some breathing space.
Liverpool could benefit from Carrick staying
With Manchester United due to visit Anfield on November 22, that’s where things get interesting from a Liverpool point of view.
Wouldn’t it be lovely if Carrick’s victory bought him enough time to remain in charge for that fixture?
Manchester United are our biggest rivals, and there’s always something special about welcoming them to Anfield.
The last thing Liverpool need is to face a United side with a new manager bounce and a fresh sense of optimism.
Let Carrick enjoy his victory. Let United believe things are finally turning around. And hopefully, he’s still sitting in that dugout when they arrive on Merseyside!
One win doesn’t fix Manchester United’s problems
I’m not getting carried away with United’s comeback.
They deserve credit for fighting back from two goals down, but their recent struggles haven’t disappeared overnight.
United supporters will want to see consistency rather than one memorable European night. Their next league fixtures will tell us much more about whether this is the beginning of a genuine recovery.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have plenty of their own problems to sort out.
Andoni Iraola’s side need to improve after the disappointing defeat against Arsenal, and the players owe the supporters a response.
Hopefully, Carrick is still in the dugout at Anfield!
There’s a little bit of mischief in hoping Manchester United keep their manager, especially with a trip to Anfield coming up.
Fair play to United for their comeback against Roma, but from a Liverpool perspective, I’d be quite happy if Carrick gets a few more weeks to prove himself.
We don’t want United bringing in somebody new just before facing the Reds, do we?
Let Carrick have his breathing space, let the pressure stay away for a little while longer, and hopefully Liverpool can make sure his next visit to Anfield is a miserable one!
There’s nothing quite like beating Manchester United at Anfield.
Jamie – (The Kopite View)
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