Thursday, November 23rd, Ten Hag put the Premier League table up on the Carrington screen — not to celebrate it, but to make a point.
UNITED — 28
LIVERPOOL — 27
CITY — 26
VILLA — 25
ARSENAL — 24
TOTTENHAM — 24
"The gap means nothing," Ten Hag said. "One draw and we're not top anymore. Everyone in this league is going to start treating us like the team to knock down. That's the only thing this table tells you."
Then Everton.
The analysts moved fast through the obvious point — the table position created by the deduction had nothing to do with the quality of Everton's actual football. Physical duels expected. Second balls contested hard. Calvert-Lewin a constant aerial threat, McNeil delivering into the box, Doucouré running beyond midfield looking for the loose ball.
And a stadium that would try to turn every decision into fuel.
