Manchester United's 2-1 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford was built on their ability to exploit the deficiencies of Jurgen Klopp's side — and particularly the ailing Dejan Lovren, writes Desmond Kane.

This was a game of two halves. Or rather a game of two centre halves. Anything Eric Bailly can do, Dejan Lovren can do worse.
By comparison, the oft calamitous Chris Smalling stood as tall as the Stretford End after Marcus Rashford punctured any notions of an away victory on his first start of the year.

That United were assisted in their quest by a slipshod Liverpool is undisputable.
Lovren contributed two elementary blunders that burned Liverpool before Bailly’s own goal interjection almost gave them a way out of the self-harming hole they dug for themselves in the first 25 minutes.

Yet Bailly redeemed himself with shuddering pinpoint tackles on Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino in the death throes after Lovren’s dismal contribution had fatally wounded the visitors.

Jurgen Klopp’s side ended the day five points behind their bitter North West foes in third place. They can have few complaints despite an animated attempt at a salvage operation that saw them binge on 69 percent of possession, but managed only two shots on target out of 14.

“We have to defend better,” said Klopp. “In these situations, we are not there. If you don’t make mistakes, the other team cannot score.”

How Lovren, with 35 Croatian caps and 133 Premier League appearances behind him, is deemed aware enough to take his place in central defence for Liverpool for so long is one of life’s great mysteries.

Up there with Area 51, the Bermuda Triangle and Tom Hicks' Stanley Park Stadium.
Liverpool began this match as favourites, but fell over on the start line.

Much was made of United missing injured France midfielder Paul Pogba in the joust to finish best of the rest behind champions-to-be Manchester City, but Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic enjoyed an afternoon made for them in protecting a United lead hewn from two shots and two goals.

Mourinho’s side went long to extract the three points from a visiting defence who were happy to play the role of stooges.

Lovren had said prior to this contest that a break-in at his home in Liverpool had affected his form earlier in the season, particularly in slumping to a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham in October at Wembley.

Which is unfortunate in the extreme, but he ended the afternoon all out of excuses as basic defending proved too much for him.
In particular, his awareness was a real crime against stoppers when you consider this was a man who cost Liverpool £20m from Southampton when Brendan Rodgers was manager four years ago.

United’s victory resembled something akin to a football mugging as United accumulated 36 percent of possession in the first half yet were 2-0 clear at the interval.

Mourinho obviously worked on his tactic to target Lovren as the weak point of the Liverpool defence. And how they benefited from their strategy.

A clearance by David de Gea allowed Romelu Lukaku to peel off Lovren before heading on for Rashford to win the second ball.

He wasted little time in rinsing Trent Alexander-Arnold before walloping a shot beyond Loris Karius before he could even smell the fumes off the ball.

It doesn’t have to be pretty if it is effective. Liverpool were unforgivably found wanting from a similar move only 10 minutes later.
Another De Gea long ball saw Lukaku ragdoll Lovren. After the ensuing panic saw £75m man Virgil van Dijk fail to clear as Juan Mata bounded towards goal, Rashford was unmarked to sweep the ball into the rigging for a second goal.

Mata could easily have made it three before the turnaround as he harpooned a volley a yard or so wide with Liverpool again ball watching.

“I’m happy, the boys are happy. I don’t care about anything else,” said Mourinho.

Bailly somehow managed to turn a Mane cross into his own net when he was facing outward on 66 minutes to give Liverpool false hope of a recovery.

They might have had a penalty when Antonio Valencia handled, but it was difficult to dispute if it was intentional. There was no dispute who had the right to the three points.

“Maybe they are not in the best shape. but still they win ugly. What matters is the points," said Lovren of United in an interview prior to this of severe foreboding.

On such regretful days, Liverpool certainly know how to lose ugly.