Edinson Cavani’s Manchester United season started slowly. The Uruguayan didn’t sign until transfer deadline day and after moving from France he had to quarantine before being allowed into United’s first team bubble. He wasn’t fit enough to play back in Paris against his former club in October, then he came on for 32 minutes in a 0-0 draw against Chelsea. Cavani didn’t start any of the first nine league games in which he was involved, while a knock kept him out of December league games against Manchester City and bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United, who Manchester United meet at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Cavani had shown his quality with the timing of his run before his goal at Everton, the way he changed the game at Southampton. United were 2-0 down at half time when he came on, but won 3-2 with him on the pitch after he'd scored two and set up a third.
Cavani started in Champions League home games against Basaksehir and PSG, but his first league start didn't come until December 29 against Wolves. He's since played 90 minutes in three of the four league games since – and United won all of them. He missed a week's football earlier this month serving a suspension for a comment made to a friend on a social media post, but he's been one of United's best players since, equalising against Fulham and performing superbly in Sunday's FA Cup win against Liverpool.
The Uruguayan with 118 caps and 51 international goals made a dummy run to free up Mason Greenwood to score United’s first. He also played the ball to Greenwood who set up Rashford for United’s second and won the free-kick which led to Bruno Fernandes’ winner. Before that, he lost the ball which enabled Liverpool to score their second. Cavani, who communicated with his teammates mostly in Spanish, ran non-stop and hit the post with a late header.
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Man United v Liverpool ratings
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MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: Dean Henderson, 7 - Spread himself to save Salah’s opening goal but couldn’t be blamed. Salah’s second went through his legs after 58. Fine save at near post from Robertson and easily handled a Salah shot as he went for a hat-trick. Getty -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 7 - Challenged as Liverpool overloaded on the left and Greenwood didn’t always come back. He’s the main doubt about United’s defence this season, but did well to beat Robertson in an 80th minute attack. Finished strongly like his team. Getty -
Harry Maguire, 7 - Captain and mainstay in an unchanged defence. Hit hard by Milner in an early challenge. Kept busy but nothing wrong with his pass to Cavani which led towards Liverpool’s second. AP -
Victor Lindelof, 7 - Caught on the half turn before Salah’s superb finish but the pass beyond him was a fine one. Smart block on Fabinho as Liverpool enjoyed a purple patch twenty minutes from time. AP -
Luke Shaw, 8 - Will be disappointed with Salah’s goal but he made superb overlapping runs down the left and was involved in United’s attacks. Enjoying a fine season. AP -
Paul Pogba, 7 - In form but had an early warning when he lost possession – and that happened to several United players. Superb defending to start move which led to equaliser. Headed well over after 35. Stretched to make a super block on 38. EPA -
Scott McTominay, 7 - Caught Firmino on edge of area to concede a free-kick in a dangerous position. Another player who headed over in the first half. Liverpool were dangerous when he – or any other United player - lost the ball. When you’re playing the best, you have to be at your best. Getty -
Donny van de Beek, 6 - Wants to play more and does okay when he does. Closed in on goal as United pushed to go ahead but faded and was the first player to come off. Needs to have a bigger impact on games if he’s to start in the biggest ones. Reuters -
Marcus Rashford, 7 - Lively start running and cutting in. Sublime pass over James Milner for Greenwood’s equaliser. Skinned Reece Williams on a counter to create a chance just before half time. Put United ahead after 48 minutes, controlling and side footing ball in. Switched to right in second half. Walked straight up tunnel after late substitution. Reuters -
Edinson Cavani, 8 - Beautiful early movement, intelligence and vision. Focal point and peerless off the ball, an example to those around. Involved in build up to second goal but then gave ball away which led to Liverpool’s second. A rare blemish. Later won ball from Thiago to set Pogba free on the right. Headed against post after perfectly timed run on 88. Getty -
Mason Greenwood, 7 - Ran in from right in tenth minute and could have pulled back to Rashford. Did even better with a tremendous finish across the keeper to equalise. Then he returned the favour by setting up Rashford to put United ahead. Getty -
SUBS: Bruno Fernandes, 7 - On for Van de Beek after 65 and hit two stray balls towards Alisson’s goal. Took and scored the crucial winner, a free kick which he cleverly swept past Alisson to confirm a great victory. EPA -
Fred, 7 - On for Greenwood after 65 and immediately suffered Mane following through in a challenge, for which Mane was only yellow carded. Lively. AP -
Martial, N/A - On for Rashford after 85, fresh legs to help see the fine win out. Reuters -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker, 5 - The Brazilian should not have been beaten on his side of the goal by Fernandes’s winning free kick. The goalkeeper was uncertain outside his area, too, and lived dangerously quite a few times. AP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold, 4 - United poured down the right-back’s wing in the first half, exploiting the space behind the 22-year-old. He was better after the break, when he was more disciplined and Milner slotted in to help. AP -
Rhys Williams, 3 - A painful afternoon for the 19-year-old. His deficiencies were shown up in the first half when he missed two sliding tackles and things got worse after the break when his miskick allowed Rashford to score. Getty -
Fabinho, 5 - The Brazilian has been exceptional at centre back but there are jarring moments that remind everyone he is not a natural defender. Conceding the free kick that led to United’s winning goal was one of them. Not his best performance. Getty -
Andrew Robertson, 5 - The Scot was reduced to shouting at Greenwood when the United forward scored in the first half. It was that sort of day for the left back: plenty of noise, little positive production. Getty -
Thiago Alcantara, 4 - The 29-year-old is not athletic enough to play in the team in its present form. It is hard to see how Liverpool will get the best out of the playmaker unless they build the side around him. AP -
Georginio Wijnaldum, 5 - The Dutchman had to do most of the running in a midfield that was not as mobile as usual. He put in a shift and showed a few flashes going forward before he was subbed for Mane in the 62nd minute. AP -
James Milner, 5 - The 35-year-old got caught under the ball for United’s first goal. He showed some clever passing when going forward and should have scored just before Liverpool’s equaliser. His build up play and dummy for Salah’s second goal were superb but his lack of mobility is a problem. EPA -
Curtis Jones, 6 - The 19-year-old operated up front for the first hour and did well without creating any real danger. He moved into midfield after Wijnaldum went off and was much more comfortable. AFP -
Mohamed Salah, 8 - The Egyptian has been frustrated in recent weeks but has always looked sharp and found good positions. He was clinical against United and could easily have had a hat-trick. Getty -
Roberto Firmino, 7 - The Brazilian produced a magnificent ball for the opening goal by dropping deeper to find space. His link play, which makes him so important to the side, was back to near its best. Withdrawn for Origi in the 81st minute. EPA -
SUBS: Sadio Mane, 6 - Replaced Wijnaldum just after the hour. The Senegalese worried the defence but was unable to carve out any real chances. Reuters -
Divock Origi, 5 - On for Firmino with nine minutes left. The Belgian could not impose himself on the game though he never lacks effort -
Xherdan Shaqiri, 5 - Joined the action for Thiago in the 81st minute and brought an injection of energy into the match. He was unable to turn his cameo into anything substantial, however. AP
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When The National asked his boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer what Cavani is bringing to his team, the United manager replied: "How long have we got? When a striker of that age runs almost 12 kilometres, he chases down every time a centre-back has the ball. He chases down every time the keeper has the ball. He back tackles centre midfielders. He made a mistake for the second goal and Liverpool scored, but he was the one who was closest to winning the ball back inside the 18-yard box. His reaction, his work rate and his habits and the threat in the box. The humility of coming in every single day and doing your best, we could go on and on. But his experience and attitude has given us a lesson, every single one of us."
Cavani is 34 next month but given how little football he’s played, he doesn’t need resting. He’s also a positive influence on United's younger players.
“Mason [Greenwood] is more mature and he’s been training with Edinson Cavani for half a season now,” said Solskjaer. “He’s learning good habits. Whoever doesn’t learn good habits from a professional like him or Bruno [Fernandes], that’s a pity.”
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Striker Edinson Cavani of Manchester United prepares for the FA Cup tie against Watford. Getty -
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer oversees the training session. Getty -
Jesse Lingard, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Daniel James train with Manchester United. Getty -
Juan Mata in action during training. Getty -
Eric Bailly, Alex Telles, Teden Mengi, Brandon Williams, Nemanja Matic and Edinson Cavani compete during training. Getty -
Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic and Fred. Getty -
Alex Telles, Fred, Juan Mata, Edinson Cavani at training. Getty -
Mason Greenwood during the Manchester United training session. Getty
“Edinson’s experience can be really helpful. He’s there as a backup, as a mentor. It doesn’t matter if it’s Anthony [Martial], Marcus [Rashford], Dan [James] or Mason, they all have things to learn. The more humble you are, the more hungry you are to learn and listen then the better you will become. Edinson has been in every single position to score a goal or win a ball back throughout his career and there’s so much to learn from him.”
Cavani speaks Spanish, Italian and French but not English.
“The football language is one common language so he’s learned the most important words,” explained Solskjaer. “He can’t sit down and do the long analysis with players but we have Juan [Mata], Nemanja [Matic], Bruno and Paul [Pogba] to help out and do the translations. In squad meetings, if there’s something he wants to lay across then he’s never shy to put his message across and the players will help. Some of the coaches also speak the language and they will help. I don’t and if I go back to my school days I regret not learning Spanish.”
There were some sceptics among United’s fan base when he was signed, but those who knew Cavani were adamant he was still a world-class footballer.
Cavani models himself on Gabriel Batistuta, the Argentine who stunned Old Trafford with a goal for Fiorentina in 1999 and then combined with Rui Costa to defeat United in Florence.
“Batistuta was the striker who basically brought together all the attributes and everything that I liked in a player, from my point of view of how I was as a player and how I lived and appreciated the game of football, and my style of play too,” Cavani said in Sunday’s match programme. “And yes, you tried to learn and pick up some of those attributes. If you look at him, one of the things that Batistuta had was that intuition, that ability to anticipate, to move and make a run to get rid of his marker, so he could get in on goal and get his header away.
“I think there are similarities in some of my goals with many goals that he scored. But it's true that he was the striker that I really liked and admired, because he had the ability to decide a game with his great fighting spirit, huge desire and great strength.”
Cavani, with five goals so far, is in-form and fit to play tonight, Marcus Rashford too after coming off against Liverpool with a knee injury. Despite scoring the second highest number of goals in the league, United’s attackers have yet to fully gel this season, but Solskjaer and his coaches are adamant that Cavani is a force for good in training and games and it would be difficult to argue with that given the evidence so far.
