4 things we learned: United’s costly conservative approach, Chelsea and Arsenal’s major slip-ups

Matchday 8 featured a lackluster Liverpool – Manchester United derby, another dominant Manchester City performance and a very disappointing day for Chelsea and Arsenal. Here are the main takeaways after the weekend’s games.

Manchester United’s conservative approach may prove costly

Liverpool – Manchester United was the top-billed attraction of this matchweek. Fair to say the game did not exactly live up to expectations. Without Paul Pogba, Eric Bailly and Marcus Rashford — all out due to injury — it was highly unlikely that Jose Mourinho would approach this game with anything but the usual conservative approach of “destroy first, worry about creating chances later” he’s come to be known for.

This is a fine strategy for a mid-table club looking to steal a point on the road against one of the Premier League’s top teams. Manchester United is not that team. (Real Madrid wasn’t that team either, but I digress…) United has a deep enough roster made up of world-class talent and has shown itself worthy of Premier League title aspirations in the early part of the season.

And while the strategy may be par for the course for Mourinho, who is no stranger to conservative tactics, it may end up costing United the title. Liverpool’s shaky defense was never tested in this game, and you have to wonder whether United will rue the missed opportunity of not going after their rival’s Achilles’ heel. By inviting Liverpool to take the initiative, United exposed itself to a number of chances that were barely missed, either by millimeters or by David DeGea’s brilliance in goal.

Coming away with a point from Anfield Road is not a bad result on its own merit. There is nothing wrong with a pragmatic approach in the long race to the title. However, with Manchester City averaging five goals a game and cruising through the early part of the Premier League season, you have to wonder if Mourinho’s approach will end up having a steep cost.