Ruben Amorim deserves credit for Manchester United's detail on 2nd balls. Not playing Šeško was smart. United launched it into Liverpool's half, didn't compete for the 1st duel, and had an extra man for 2nd balls with Salah often high. Outside of that, United were VERY basic.

When United defended low, their 5-4-1 block was compact. However, when they tried to apply pressure to Liverpool, they were ALL over the place. Here, for example, Mbeumo and Cunha try to press, but NOBODY backs it up. Liverpool should have made so much more of these moments.

This is another beyond average organisational mishap from United. From the goal kick, it was Amorim's idea to lock on and press man-to-man. But where is Dalot? He's sleeping and Conor Bradley easily drives into the space. We can blame Dalot but the lack of clarity is damning.

Slot also consistently overloaded United in the middle but Liverpool failed to exploit it. Isak & Mac Allister pinned the outside centre halves. Szoboszlai played loose in the #10. Liverpool's fullbacks inverted, caused confusion, Maguire couldn't follow Szoboszlai - overload!

Here, United try to lock on, but Szoboszlai is very clearly free in the middle. Mamardashvili plays direct & Szoboszlai lands on the second ball. Liverpool create a chance in transition. This was similar to what Marco Silva did to Ruben Amorim, but Liverpool played too rushed.

Liverpool's actual structure and idea was excellent. But the the player profile balance with the tactic was not. We see Liverpool attack in a shape that virtually every elite teams attacks in. A 2-3-5 with wide triangles. This provides top balance with AND without the ball!

HOWEVER, football it not played on paper. With Kerkez consistently low and Mac Allister consistently high, Liverpool lacked a player to get on the ball, make passes, and dictate the flow of the game. Like Thiago used to. The calm in the chaos. With Kerkez low, it was frantic.

The same can be said on the other side. Bradley is an all-action fullback. Ask him and Kerkez to play at the base of a wide triangle and you are going to get excessive verticality with AND without the ball. Slot's biggest mistake was not the tactic, but the use of his players.

A subtle detail that was lost in the game also centred around Liverpool's press. Last time Manchester United came to Anfield, Ruben Amorim's 3-2-5 caused Liverpool's high press issues because of Slot's insistence on keeping a +1 in the defensive line. But he adapted his idea.

After United, Chelsea, and Palace have consistently exploited Liverpool's open play pressing structure, Arne Slot has changed Liverpool's press. No longer do they maintain the zonal plan. The front 3 narrow up, the #8's and fullbacks jump, the #6 balances off. Man-to-man idea.

It was a much, much more aggressive approach from Arne Slot in the mid-block, and it made total sense. On the couple of occasions United tried to play some football in open play in their own half, Liverpool applied fantastic pressure, jumped Lammens, and forced United long.

Ultimately, United escaped with a victory. Liverpool had 3.2 xG to Manchester United's 1.34. Amorim and United deserve credit for a sensible game-plan with the ball, excellent detail to help United win duels, and defending well in a compact 5-4-1 block. But the model is basic.

€300m later and Amorim doesn’t trust his team to take a short goal kick. Plus, Manchester United are also incapable of pressing in open play. The main reason United had success is because Liverpool played into their hands on 2nd balls & in open play with excessive verticality.

Yet, despite Liverpool being out-of-sorts, they were still largely dominant. A great result, sure, but Manchester United will always get great results here and there because they have so many special footballers. Just look at Cunha, Mbeumo, and Bruno yesterday... I mean.. WOW!

But that is not a sustainable approach to winning in the long-run. As for Liverpool, the tactics are more than okay - in fact, Slot actually improved Liverpool tactically with his new mid-block idea. He just needs to improve the balance in his team at the base of the triangles.

The notion that Slot is too gung-ho is not fair. On most days, Liverpool win that game, but football is wild - Liverpool had more xG against United yesterday than in the game they beat them 7-0 in!!! Liverpool even maintained balance with Ekitike, Wirtz, and Isak on together.

Arne Slot remains special. And Liverpool remain special. Sure, they have lost 4 in a row, but all by fine margins. Balance is the biggest issue at the moment which hampers their control - issues seem to vary from game to game (fullback profiles, the use of Wirtz, player form).

But Arne Slot and Liverpool's principles remain very strong. Combine that with their player quality and it's clear that they are not very far away from being a top team once again. Isak, Salah, & Wirtz will improve. No doubts. Now up to Slot to find balance his his new group..

@EBL2017 At least you aren't talking about the inverted cb anymore

@utddaveee I said it was a good idea for United to play this way pre-game when everyone was complaining that Šeško was benched.https://x.com/EBL2017/status/1...

@EBL2017 why dont u video such analysis, they would bang and ud get paid by insta or youtube

@EBL2017 Great analysis. I loved the fact you mentioned Dalot & that the team was not bad but rather Basic. With the players available to Amorim he won’t be able play the way “you prefer” United have Bruno & Casemiro in Midfield aswell as Dalot at wingback. You’d better go basic cause

@EBL2017 You a stupid hater yeah talk aload of bullshit and call it tactics be open minded ok yeah they are diff tactics for different situations and senerio

@EBL2017 Wonder why you’re now an ex head of analysis hmm maybe coz you don’t have a jar of glue

@EBL2017 The only tactics relevant in football in the score line. Everything else is semantics

@EBL2017 Where was all this when we were the better team and higher xG than Arsenal 😂

@EBL2017 This is the nonsense you waited a whole day to post?

@EBL2017 Please..before pep came with playing out from the back , teams were playing direct goal kick and playing well …nothing allardyce about that

@EBL2017 this thread is like gone off cottage cheese

@EBL2017 You say all this but this is not how we played against Arsenal, Chelsea and City. Clearly this isn't a long term plan.

@EBL2017 This was supposed to ruin our mood yesterday? LMFAOOOO

@EBL2017 Terrible analysis, very 1 sided by all accounts slot went 4-2-4 and just chucked as many good players on the pitch with no game plan where is that as a "very basic plan" as you say?

@EBL2017 Stop reading when you said Allardyce-esque style of play 😂🤣😂🤣😂

@EBL2017 You should sign up for Arne slot job I think you’re do better 😂🫵

@EBL2017 Your tears just make it feel so much better.

@EBL2017 Lets agree ruben needs some run of results before he can think of this nonsense..