Analyzing Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup through data and tactical analysis: a thread.
#MUFC’s plan was to progress the ball wide through the flanks to find runners and/or switch the players — and it was well executed.
Issues:
(A) Henderson’s ball distribution was not well utilized to find forwards through long balls.
(B) Weak verticality/central presence.
This can be better seen through the territory Manchester United occupied in both halves — although they dominated through the left flank, they progressed well through the right as well.
The height of central presence increased as a result of substitutions: Fred/Bruno.
EXAMPLE: #MUFC’s dominance in the left was seen in multiple formats which include:
(A) Construction of triangles — to cross, create space and perform third-man runs.
(B) Rashford dribbles > cutbacks.
(C) Overlaps from Luke Shaw.
(D) Long balls from deep to find runners.
So how did #MUFC move the ball?
In the first half — they looked to build-up *and* progress to the left flank to create opportunities to exploit #LIV’s high line i.e long balls, overlaps.
Directness improved in the second half with a more dangerous forward presence.