Weekend review

David Moyes, Liverpool's SAS and the resurgent Ramsey dominate our weekend review.

Spotlight on Moyes

Six matches into David Moyes' six-year contract and Manchester United lie 12th in the Premier League, two points behind Aston Villa, for whom the fixture computer fiddled an even harder start. Only Swansea and the bottom three have conceded more goals than the champions, who haven't scored from open play in the top flight since the first match of the season. It's really not going to plan. Perhaps the worst part of United's dreadful form is that Moyes still hasn't got to grips with the increased media exposure. Since his first day in the job on July 1, the manager has looked like a rabbit in the headlights, and that uncertainty has translated to the players' performances. First came Moyes' wide-eyed admiration of the strength in depth he suddenly had at his disposal. "The squad Manchester United has, without any additions, will be tough opponents for any team this year," said the manager of July 29. "That is the squad that finished 11 points clear in the Premier League. I am confident in that squad." Moyes also added, "I wouldn't be worried if I didn't add to the squad." But then, after only Marouane Fellaini arrived on deadline day and following a 4-1 thrashing by City, doubts began to creep in, with the manager claiming that the reason for United's title victory "was probably the (form) of other teams that were poor". Now United need "one or two to go right into the team". The squad lacks "five or six world-class players" to win the Champions League and, in what is the most small-time quote for a manager of Manchester United, Moyes insisted after the defeat to West Brom that: "We will just go out and try and win the next one." We will just go out and try and win the next one... Moyes also hasn't helped himself by haemorrhaging signs of weakness as the questions become more pointed. Why did Moyes claim that United aren't good enough to win the Champions League on the back of a hugely disappointing home defeat to West Brom? That may be true, but with the champions' confidence lower than it has been in a long time, the last thing the squad needed was another kicking. Moyes has already suggested that last year's title victory owes much to the weakness of United's Premier League rivals and undermining his team in this manner is unlikely to engender improved performances. MS

SAS mission

Fitting Luis Suarez back into the team and continuing to get the best out of Daniel Sturridge was always going to be a challenge for Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool. The fact that Suarez scored a brace on his Premier League return with Sturridge setting up both and scoring another has to regarded as an emphatic triumph. Sunderland simply could not cope with the pace and quality of the front pair. Rodgers has had to change his formation to 3-4-1-2 in order to avoid pushing one of the two star men out to the wing and the switch has proved a qualified success. There will be tougher tests than Sunday ahead, but with Philippe Coutinho seemingly ideally suited to that role in the hole, there could be improvements to be made too. With Crystal Palace at home next up, there is cause for cautious optimism again at Anfield. AB Read an in-depth match analysis of Liverpool's win at Sunderland by clicking here