Dharnish

United specifically targeted Alexander-Arnold's side of the pitch, through overloads but especially to drag the full-back way out to press Dalot high up the pitch. Once TAA was pulled out to Dalot he would look to play the pass inside to Fernandes and United were out the press

It was interesting to me that just like the game at Old Trafford it was Martinez who was the trigger for Liverpool to press, but this time Dalot was used as the out ball wide whilst Liverpool's attack pressed and then the pass was fired into the half-space to progress the ball

The amount of times United fired the ball in behind to Hojlund makes me think it was a tactic on purpose, regardless of him often being bullied by Van Dijk-Konate. When the out ball was played to Dalot however this was where the success was as a runner could get in behind

Above was for Fernandes's cross to Hojlund, whilst this is the Diallo chance. The reason this was effective is because Hojlund and Diallo are pinning Konate and Robertson, so Konate can't come over to help Trent and a midfielder is pulled wide by a forward (Fernandes) for a 3v3

Slot has pushed Alexander-Arnold up in the press with success this season, but by using a spare man wide, this build-up structure from Utd was successful as it bypassed Liverpool's attacking press and forced a midfielder or defender to go mark Fernandes in the half-space

The aerial route in behind was used again when Fernandes had come wide to link up with Dalot. Trent Alexander Arnold is now faced with a 2v1 with Hojlund timing his run and Konate trying to play him offside. It's not as if TAA can mark 2 players at once

Reminiscent of Inzaghi's Inter Milan, for the goal, Martinez joined in to overload the right wing creating a 4v3, if you overload one zone of the pitch and fill it with players, short passing combinations can result in space being found

This kept happening mainly because Fernandes would come wide or just inside for the pass whilst Dalot would pull wide and drag men out, Slot should've held Trent's position back in the press, it was already an issue once he was pressing Dalot so high up the pitch

End of thread! Would love to know your thoughts, I also had a thread planned for the out of possession work, but couldn't fit it in, if you would like to see it let me know. Newsletter in bio.