Liverpool vs Manchester United is particularly interesting because of the different 'feel' around each club.
However, despite that, elite is elite. Both Klopp, ten Hag, and many of the players are elite.
The tactical battle is intriguing.. Below, I break it down.
MEGA-THREAD.
However, despite that, elite is elite. Both Klopp, ten Hag, and many of the players are elite.
The tactical battle is intriguing.. Below, I break it down.
MEGA-THREAD.
Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool are renowned for their pressing and physicality and that is exactly what made them so good in the past and so poor right now - Liverpool may still be ultra-physical with their best XI, but they've rarely been able to field that this season.
That is down to a combination of poor squad management in midfield (where the physical issues lie) and injuries. Liverpool went from primarily having 2 out of the 3 of Henderson, Thiago, and Fabinho fit and playing together to being lucky to have one of them fit this season.
That in tandem with the fact they've had injuries to key men such as van Dijk, Konatรฉ, Luis Dรญaz, Diogo Jota, and Firmino has seen their typically stable back four and front three lack reliable selections.
It's all been a little unstable selection wise for Klopp all season.
It's all been a little unstable selection wise for Klopp all season.
This has seen him become slightly more passive in his approach as Liverpool don't play the offside trap as often as they used to. They still press high and hold a high line, but they do so more conservatively. If the press is bypassed, they drop back into a mid block.
Previously, that wasn't the case and the back four continuously held the high line.
Although this caught Liverpool out on occasion, it was largely why they were so good - when Liverpool got the ball, they kept it. This meant they pressed effectively..
Let me explain.
Although this caught Liverpool out on occasion, it was largely why they were so good - when Liverpool got the ball, they kept it. This meant they pressed effectively..
Let me explain.
Teams who press well are good technically. It's impossible to press well if play continues to break down in the build-up or in midfield areas as when a turnover occurs the block has to retreat. However, when play breaks down in the opposition final 3rd, the block can counterpress
Liverpool excelled at that, but they also previously excelled within their pressing structure.
They exerted pressure all over the park through the inversions of their wingers to press opposition centre backs, high flying fullbacks to back up the press, & physicality everywhere.
They exerted pressure all over the park through the inversions of their wingers to press opposition centre backs, high flying fullbacks to back up the press, & physicality everywhere.
Liverpool still try to press in the same manner, but the biggest problem is the physicality within that. All of a sudden their midfield consists of guys like Bajcetic and Harvey Elliott. Their technical quality & work rate can't be faulted, but they're no Wijnaldum or Henderson..
This means that teams often don't even try to play out from the back against Liverpool.
They often kick the ball long into midfield where the physical mammoths of the Premier League win most of the duels and Liverpool are left vulnerable in transition or are defending deep.
They often kick the ball long into midfield where the physical mammoths of the Premier League win most of the duels and Liverpool are left vulnerable in transition or are defending deep.
This means the opposition often get easy access to possession in settled play and Liverpool defend within a largely passive 4-5-1 block & get pulled apart with relative ease because they want to press but the block isn't compact.
So, the theme Liverpool want often doesn't occur.
So, the theme Liverpool want often doesn't occur.
The tactic of playing long against Liverpool has been a common one since Klopp came to the club, but it largely didn't matter because they were elite in the press AND at winning duels in midfield.
Now they don't win half as many duels + rarely create aggressive pressing themes.
Now they don't win half as many duels + rarely create aggressive pressing themes.
Even when they do press it's not as ferocious as it once was because of the difference in physicality across the XI.. this is likely why ten Hag will instruct United to mix between playing out from the back and playing long into midfield in an attempt to exploit LFC in two ways.
United do have the quality to play out from the back, but they don't have elite quality in a number of areas. De Gea & Fred in particular struggle under a high press, so the burden to effectively play through Liverpool's press will lie on Lisandro, Varane, Shaw, Casemiro & Dalot.
But, as I say, although Liverpool's pressing structure is good, it lacks the physicality it once had.
This is why ten Hag and United should feel more confident about playing out from the back, but the safest option is to go long and battle for duels in midfield.
This is why ten Hag and United should feel more confident about playing out from the back, but the safest option is to go long and battle for duels in midfield.
United have guys like Weghorst to hit as a first point of contact before terriers like Casemiro and Fred chase down second balls.
However, although Liverpool have struggled physically as a whole this season, Klopp will likely start both Henderson & Fabinho which is a big bonus.
However, although Liverpool have struggled physically as a whole this season, Klopp will likely start both Henderson & Fabinho which is a big bonus.
Liverpool went 2-0 up against Madrid in the Champions League for a reason, and that was because their XI resembles their 'old self'. They were compact, aggressive, technically secure, and easily could have went 3-0 up.
However, individual quality + a set piece made the game 3-2.
However, individual quality + a set piece made the game 3-2.
Then, an out of form Liverpool lacked reinforcements off the bench to introduce energy into the game that the current group required and the game ran away from them.
That 'fighting spirit' & 'never say die attitude' Liverpool have is hard to show when the intensity isn't there.
That 'fighting spirit' & 'never say die attitude' Liverpool have is hard to show when the intensity isn't there.
What ten Hag and Manchester United can take from that is that Liverpool have the capability of exerting control early on in a game, but as the game wears on their physical edge will likely wain.
Guys like Milner, Harvey Elliott, & Bajcetic as midfield reinforcements ain't ideal.
Guys like Milner, Harvey Elliott, & Bajcetic as midfield reinforcements ain't ideal.
However, the game isn't *just* about Liverpool's press and duel-winning ability compared to how United bypass that technically & by winning duels.
Liverpool are similar to United in the sense that they mix between building out from the back & going long into midfield themselves.
Liverpool are similar to United in the sense that they mix between building out from the back & going long into midfield themselves.
Liverpool's midfield 3 are all 1st and 2nd phase profiles so they primarily operate in those phases as opposed to sticking high and between the lines (see below).
United will match up accordingly and press Liverpool in their narrow 4-4-1-1 block.
United will match up accordingly and press Liverpool in their narrow 4-4-1-1 block.
United's front 2 will alternate between marking the #6 & the ball-side centre back, the wide players will invert where possible to press the centre backs, the midfield will match up with Casemiro marshalling the space between the lines & stepping high to press where he sees fit.
Where Liverpool can 'get out' against that shape is through the fullbacks, but ten Hag will be fully aware of the quality Alexander-Arnold and Robertson possess so he will ensure United's wide forwards time their pressing correctly.
That aspect of the game is imperative.
That aspect of the game is imperative.
Ten Hag often tasks United's wide forwards with managing both the wide forward and the fullback in the press. Liverpool do the same, but do so more aggressively with the fullbacks bombing on relentlessly when their wide forwards invert.
United's fullbacks are more passive.
United's fullbacks are more passive.
This often means that typically one of the centre backs/fullbacks is free. Now, this isn't to say United's fullbacks are always passive, because they're not, but they primarily are, so that spare man could prove to be crucial.
However, as a whole, I expect the game to be 'mixed'
However, as a whole, I expect the game to be 'mixed'
United may take the chance in their high press of tasking the wide players with marking both the centre backs and fullbacks, but the sheer fact that they invert creates pressure on the ball. Bruno, Antony, and Weghorst are all excellent pressers who can shadow mark when pressing.
For example, when Antony presses from the wing, he curves his run when pressing the ball-side centre back to cover the passing lane to the ball-side fullback.
This makes it difficult to access the fullback as the passing lane to him isn't free and each other player is marked.
This makes it difficult to access the fullback as the passing lane to him isn't free and each other player is marked.
But, as I say, Liverpool won't exclusively play out from the back, and when they do play long they will battle hard for duels.
As much as Liverpool may not be the physical beast they once were, they still have some phenomenal athletes and outlets. They can never be written off.
As much as Liverpool may not be the physical beast they once were, they still have some phenomenal athletes and outlets. They can never be written off.
Nunez, Jota, Salah, and Henderson (to name a few) are some of the best intense and tenacious battlers in the sport, and they have a good blend of height and mobility.
So, within the build-up, each team will mix it up, and success with their approaches will vary.
So, within the build-up, each team will mix it up, and success with their approaches will vary.
Sometimes Liverpool's press will work, other times it won't. Sometimes United's press will work, other times it won't. Sometimes Liverpool's long balls into midfield will result in a transition or a settled attack off the back of it, and the same for United.
It's all 'mixed'.
It's all 'mixed'.
Within those situations, it's clear to consider that each team is similar threat-wise in the transition.
We all know the physical qualities of Nunez, Salah, and Rashford, for example, at running in behind the last line, and elite passers like Trent/Bruno will pick them out...
We all know the physical qualities of Nunez, Salah, and Rashford, for example, at running in behind the last line, and elite passers like Trent/Bruno will pick them out...
However, in such situations where the team in possession effectively push the opposition back into a mid or a low-block, one team has better positional play to break the opposition down than the other, and that's United, and someone like Antony can help enable sustained pressure.
Antony may not be the quickest in the world, but his technical security is phenomenal. Very rarely does he get dispossessed, and his quality in tandem with the technical quality of an elite technician like Lisandro Martinez is imperative to United's ability to sustain pressure.
If they can get these two on the ball with regularity in settled play, it's a fantastic sign as they're unlikely to reliably lose it. From there, United can push Liverpool back into a 4-5-1 mid-block and create with a clear 5 or 6v4 overload in the last line.
The structure is ๐
The structure is ๐
As I said earlier, this block may be compact on occasion, as we saw when Liverpool beat City 1-0 at Anfield this season, but Liverpool don't like to 'sit in'.
They want to get out and press high, so they can often be disjointed and access to their box can be relatively easy.
They want to get out and press high, so they can often be disjointed and access to their box can be relatively easy.
However, again, even though United may have an advantage within such situations (even in relation to the counterpress), football is a funny ol' game.
City had the same advantage and lost, and that's because Liverpool have elite outlets up the other end of the pitch.
City had the same advantage and lost, and that's because Liverpool have elite outlets up the other end of the pitch.
Similar can be said for United, though, when Liverpool sustain pressure of their own.
Liverpool may not have the positional play structure of United, but they do attack and combine well with their triangle-based rotations on the sides and compactness in midfield behind that.
Liverpool may not have the positional play structure of United, but they do attack and combine well with their triangle-based rotations on the sides and compactness in midfield behind that.
But they can be more frantic and less controlled in their approach when compared to United as none of their profiles in their team can exert control in that sense apart from Thiago. Bajcetic can, but not reliably so and he's raw, young, and inexperienced.
However, even if Liverpool may be more chaotic within their settled attacking approach, this doesn't mean they're less likely to dominate the ball.
United's press will give Liverpool a spare man in the build-up on occasion + we have seen them defend deep for large periods lately
United's press will give Liverpool a spare man in the build-up on occasion + we have seen them defend deep for large periods lately
There's nothing stopping United, or Liverpool for that matter, going 1-0 up and relying on resilient defending + disrupting the sustained pressure of the opposition via the usage of outlets, technical quality to get out, winning duels, etc, etc.
All in all, it's so, so tight.
All in all, it's so, so tight.
Only a brave man would pick a favourite in this game. United may be the 'on-form' team, but Liverpool have the qualities to beat any team on their day.
What will give United encouragement, though, is the fact that Liverpool's quality and intensity wanes as the game goes on.
What will give United encouragement, though, is the fact that Liverpool's quality and intensity wanes as the game goes on.
United's doesn't, and that's because they have intensity and quality they can bring off the bench to maintain their levels of performance, particularly in relation to physicality in midfield.
Klopp would love a profile like Sabitzer to freshen things up off the bench.
Klopp would love a profile like Sabitzer to freshen things up off the bench.
So, although the game is heavily gamestate dependant, that's a clear edge for United. Liverpool's forward threats always remain throughout the game, but their general control exerted will likely fall off, and this could give United easier access to possession.
This will be less problematic for Liverpool if they're winning as they can sit back, defend deep, & 'hang on' to their lead, but if they're drawing or losing, it opens up the opportunity for United to retain possession, pull Liverpool out of their shape, & play through the lines.
But, again, who knows what the state of the game will be, as United could be hanging onto the lead themselves come the 60th minute, but even if they are doing that, they're more likely to get out with more regularity as Liverpool's intensity wanes.
But, as I say, rule Liverpool out at your peril as the game is as even as it can possibly be when considering the majority of factors in the match.
This one largely relies on player quality to make the initial decisive difference before collective reactions determine the rest.
This one largely relies on player quality to make the initial decisive difference before collective reactions determine the rest.
All in all, in a game with a lot of uncertainties and potential possibilities, you can expect a battle with varied success for each team, with it likely being primarily transition based due to the fact that each team looks to build play in a variety of formats.
Roll on Sunday ๐งต
Roll on Sunday ๐งต
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