Liverpool could make Man United miss their transfer strategy

One of them was part of a vital victory on the outside this weekend. The other had the taste of defeat on the road.

We are sitting at the top of the Premier League table. The other is 10 points behind six games.

One is an essential point of attack for his team. The other is a strong advocate but is more limited in the future.

One did not cost a dime. The other was 50 million pounds sterling.

The contrast between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Aaron Wan-Bissaka was striking this weekend.

Liverpool's right-back shot a free-kick and achieved a solid overall performance in the 2-1 win at Chelsea.

He almost reaped a decisive pass when Firmino nearly converted his center early in the second period.

The 20-year-old has already scored two goals in the league so far this season, which adds to the 12 that he had put on the ground last season.

But especially for the Reds, he excelled at both ends of the field Sunday.

As Alan Shearer pointed out during the match of the day: "When Liverpool was in control in the second half, [Alexander-Arnold was] first to the ball, he had to be at his best in defense.

"His positioning was perfect and his distance from the center was perfect, which player and which future."

Shearer added, "It's no surprise, that's what Liverpool is asking his side-backs, they give so much to their team both on defense and in the future and that tells this story."

And it also hints at another story that unfolds along the M62.

Wan-Bissaka made a reasonable performance, but was helpless against Man United's 2-0 defeat at West Ham.

There is no doubt that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has ensured exceptional talent by spending a lot of money for the Crystal Palace in the summer.

And it was clearly a position in which United needed a new rookie, veteran Ashley Young being the backbone of the right-back club in 2018/19.

The England international took a pretty decent start at Old Trafford, impressive in the 4-0 win over Chelsea in particular.

Wan-Bissaka has made 31 tackles in the league so far, which is more than any other player.

At age 21, he will improve further as he installs and supports the huge expectations of his new club.

He may be given more licenses to move forward as United builds his team and strengthens his defense.

But will he be able to match the performance already offered by Alexander-Arnold and is it certainly necessary to really dominate in the league and in Europe?

Wan-Bissaka scored three assists in 3135 minutes of the league last season. For Alexander-Arnold, he was 12 in 2467.

Nowadays, there is hardly any high-level club in the Champions League that does not significantly attack with its back sides.

And it is perhaps hard to say that Wan-Bissaka would be the first choice of many of them.

If United has the ambition to return to this level – which surely suits one aspect of its stature – where is their man at £ 50 million?

The offensive side of the Wan-Bissaka game can undoubtedly be developed in the field of practice.

But for the moment, it is not unfair to make a final comparison.

A player looks like the future at the back. The other looks like a very strong defender whose current skills might belong to the past for this broad stance.