Chris Smalling: Manchester United have nothing to fear from Liverpool after stifling them during Anfield stalemate
Red Devils defender skippered the side to a resolute but dull draw which he believes shows their new found resilience
CHRIS SMALLING left Anfield on Monday night claiming there was nothing to fear from Liverpool.
Not if you can stifle them like Manchester United did at Anfield on Monday night.
The team that was supposed to stamp their mark on the title race had failed to break the visitors down.
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The early optimism, had been just that.
Asked if they were troubled at all by Liverpool Smalling said: “To be honest, no. Up until the last 20 minutes when we sat a little bit deeper than we would have liked, but until 70 minutes we were comfortable and we had a good start and the crowd started to turn on them.
“There was a lot of talk about how Liverpool play and they have started the season quite well and scoring a lot of goals but we knew if we were compact and stifled them the crowd could turn and they did.
"We played our game plan.”
Indeed the goalless draw merely enhanced United’s own belief that it is they who can snatch the title this season not Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Smalling said: “I think we have more than enough to do well. We have shown we can score goals.
“We have shown we can keep clean sheets and not give too much away to our opponents. We have shown we can do both sides of the job.
“It is all about consistency now. We need to go on a little run and show people we are a team who are a threat.”
It was vital for United that they began a tough run of games without a defeat.
They entertain Fenerbache on Thursday but then it’s a trip to Chelsea and the small matter of a visit from neighbours Manchester City in the League Cup.
Smalling said: “The fixtures we have got this week I think we can make it a turning point in our season.
We have got a clean sheet here and that is something we have not had in a few games so we can kick on now on Thursday and Sunday. Our confidence is good.”
While United were happy at keeping Liverpool at bay there was still the need for a couple of top draw saves from David De Gea.
The perfect response after his blunder allowed Stoke an equaliser last time out in the Premier League.
Smalling said: “We all know David's error against Stoke was a rarity.
“He doesn't make many mistakes and you can tell even in this game he didn't have much to do until about 70 minutes and then you can see he is the right man in the right place.
“There are not many goalkeepers who could have stopped both of those chances.
“There was no change in him after Stoke. If you let one mistake affect you then it can bring you down all week and you don't want that to happen. David never changed. He was still the same in training and you always know he will be there when you need him.”
Monday was the fourth consecutive game in which Smalling has worn the captain’s armband with Rooney on the bench and that has made the England centre back even more determined to put in top class displays.
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He said: “It is nice that the manager has given me the responsibility of being captain.
“It doesn't change my game on the pitch but it is a nice touch in crucial moments in the game the team will look to you and you have to make sure you are up to it.
“You have to make sure you are up to it because you don't want to be a captain who is putting in an under par performance.
“I like it. I was ready for that responsibility.”