In this thread, we'll look at couple of the highlights and tactical tweaks both teams used to attack each other. We'll look at Man Utd's mistakes that lead to the goals as well. #MUFC
Right from the off, Liverpool looked to hurt United with quick switches of play to catch out their out of possession 442 setup. A quick switched ball from Robertson to TAA catches Rashford, Shaw and Maguire OOP & force them to adjust quickly. Rashford is vital here for TAA's run.
United looked to do the same but with Rashford. Switch the play or drag Liverpool out, find Rashford, and Rashford looks for Cavani and/or Greenwood. Liverpool adopt a very highline as they usually have the possession, so this can be exploited heavily. LIV: 442 OOP. #MUFC
Notice where Firmino is. Liverpool used the same idea of overloading the midfield to create 4v3. United adapted at Anfield and had one of the wingers tuck when the ball is on the far-side. Look at Rashford. #MUFC
Why Donny and not Bruno? Donny can do a man marking job more effectively than Bruno. Thiago enjoyed a lot of space at Anfield until #mufc started denying him space with Fred. This time Donny marked their their pivot effectively. It forced LIV to play through flanks or 8s to drop.
United's FBs usually get doubled up on because their wingers don't drop as often as they should. However last night, till about the 60th minute, they did that effectively. Look at Rashford's position and Greenwood's run back to cover AWB's back post from Robertson's run. #MUFC
1st Goal. A moment of extreme sloppiness from United in their shape. Goals are almost always never a 1 man mistake. It's a chain and the chain started with Cavani and Donny. They got dragged too far out and left a lot of space between them and the 2nd line. Wijnaldum capitalized.
Again the distance between the 2nd line and the 3rd line was bigger than it should be. Look at the space Milner and Firmino had (2nd image prev tweet). Because United lost compactness, it became much harder for Scott and Pogba to cover properly. TAA gave Rashford the slip. #MUFC
Now Shaw has 2 choices to make, notice he sees TAA, he was waiting to see if Firmino will play Salah or TAA in. Instantly, this gives both players a better reaction time than Shaw. Lindelof read this play wrong thus adjusted his body position in the wrong way to deal with this.
Again #mufc were switched to MR10, & when a run was not on. MR10 waited for Shaw's underlap to create 2v1 v TAA. Same as LIV do on the opposite end. #MUFC switched to AWB as well but it was too much to ask of the FB - run the length of the pitch to get on the end of a switch.
At Anfield, MR10 was caught offside 6x. He was rushing things too much & inevitably cost #mufc chances but yesterday, he was more calm & made his runs with cleverness. Here instead of running straight, he ran inwards first then curved which kept him onside with Fabinho.
Liverpool were getting nowhere with Thiago man-marked & their FBs covered by Rashford & Greenwood (for the most part). Robertson moved inward as an inverted FB, while Milner started making diagonal runs that won't be tracked by AWB or Greenwood. Milner chance. #MUFC
1/2 8s dropped to piv. with Thiago to give VdB trouble while 1/2 8 pushed up with ST to pin the FB.
This did 2 things:
1. created a 3v1 v Shaw.
2. Gave Thiago more space to operate.
#mufc dealt well with PP & MR shifting to cover quick.+ Thiago's long passes were unsuccessful.
LIV 2nd (1st was a goal) biggest chance came from #mufc losing possession in mid AGAIN. Fred here got brushed over & it created a CA with 4v3 or 5v4 (however you look at it). Salah could have scored a hattrick but bad finishing & good positioning from Henderson saved #mufc.
Greenwood & Donny were taken out for Fred & Bruno.
1. More mobility in mid.
2. VdB was losing his marker & not effective in final 3rd.
3. Roberstson & TAA were getting a lot space as MG & MR stopped tracking back as much.
4. PP6 & Fernandes were shift wide mid OOP.
MR 👇 #MUFC
Overall United matched Liverpool both tactically & intensity wise - par a couple of mistakes & a scare after Liverpool equalized. Fine margins at the highest level. A moment of lack of concentration cost United the 1st goal. It takes a moment.
End. #MUFC
