EBL

Here we see Salah jump to Martinez. As he jumps he signals for Trent to back up the press by jumping to Dalot. Trent doesn't jump, though, because he is pinned back by Bruno Fernandes on the sides. So, Dalot receives possession with time and space and United easily escape.

This was a consistent theme throughout the game, so much so that Salah got visibly frustrated with Trent. United got out time and time again with simple passes to Dalot, whether they be clipped, via third man combinations (a bounce pass from the #6 to Dalot, or a pass from a CB.

This wasn't the only issue Liverpool had in the press, though. Amorim's team had a consistent 3v2 in the first lines of build-up because Liverpool only pressed with Diaz and Salah. It was quite simple for United to find the spare man via direct passes or third man combinations.

United had such easy control of the game with the ball in these types of moments. They had time and space on the ball in the first lines thanks to the 3v2 overload and Trent was regularly pinned into the last line which meant it was easy to progress play to Dalot..

Gakpo's role was the issue. Slot had him tracking back into the last line because Diallo was pinning Robertson inside the pitch. So we saw this picture at times with Liverpool defending with 5 in the last line. To bring Gakpo back this far is overly cautious.

Liverpool were too respectful of United's qualities and allowed them to excel in the one moment where Amorim's team does excel (in the 3-2-5 high build). The set-up was different to the one's that Liverpool had against prior 3-2-5 high builds, though, so let's explore that..

Slot prefers to keep a +1 in the last line so his idea when pressing is often to force the opposition to one side with the far-side wide player collapsing the player on the far-side #6, thus leaving the fullback on the opposite side of the pitch free. A standard & sensible idea.

But in the mid-block is where Liverpool have had issues in these games, not from opposition goal kicks. Liverpool don't jump their centre backs to press the #8's between the lines so it means they press with 6 versus 7. This is fine, but Klopp pressed in these areas in a 4-3-3.

The front 3 can press the back 3, the #8's can jump to the #6's, and the #6 can stay in between the two #8's, and once the ball goes to one side he can jump to press the ball-side #8. The far-side #8 (or centre back if the winger tucks in) is the spare man, but hard to access...

The 4-4-2, however, is more exploitable. A 4-2-3-1 can work if one of the front 2 drop to mark the #6, the wingers invert to press the centre backs alongside the #9, and one #6 jumps to the opposition #6 with the other managing both #8's. But the 4-4-2 can be overloaded..

So, in Liverpool's next game after the Chelsea one against Leipzig, Slot pressed in more of a Klopp-esque shape. 4-3-3, push to one side and trap them there, but if the opposition recycle and come out on the far-side the winger is inverted & the far-side fullback is on the jump.

Against United, Trent did release once to back up the press after Liverpool forced them to one side (with Konaté jumping to Bruno). This applied maximum pressure to the ball and pinned United in. But it only happened once. I go back to it - Slot's plan was too passive overall.

Liverpool paid too much respect to United. Gakpo should have been higher to help put more pressure on the ball and Trent should have been given more license to jump to put pressure on the ball. Slot's passive pressing cost Liverpool the game more so than any individual players..

I can even go back to the City game at Anfield. Alright, Liverpool smashed them in a totally dominant performance, but in terms of pure tactics, Liverpool's press was relatively passive structurally. City lacked balance at the top end of the pitch so couldn't get out, though.

But that was self-inflicted from Guardiola as opposed to something special from Slot tactically. The press is by no means bad, and it is typically good, but at times this season Slot's passive pressing has cost Liverpool control & consequentially, points. Something to improve..