The side made to pay for more Mainoo

Liverpool and Manchester United reconnected three weeks after their brilliant seven-goal FA Cup match, and once again, the match left us in stitches.

Liverpool could have scored much more goals in the first half alone, missing several opportunities, while United failed to attempt anything at Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal. Despite this, the game ended with only four goals scored.

Nevertheless, just as they did in the cup, United punished their opponents for their carelessness when Bruno Fernandes scored with a superb first-time finish from 40 yards out after Jarell Quansah misplaced a pass, leaving Kelleher behind. Then, as he always does, Kobbie Mainoo stood up to put United ahead of his eighteen years of age.

With seven games remaining, Jurgen Klopp’s team trails Premier League leaders Arsenal on goal differential. Despite leading by goal late in the game, Mohamed Salah’s penalty meant that his team only managed a point at the half.

The match is immediately analyzed by our writers Andy Jones, Carl Anka, and Ahmed Walid.

Upon Fernandes’ goal, what happened?

This season, Quansah has been a revelation for Liverpool.

The 21-year-old was on loan at Bristol Rovers, a team in League One, for the second half of the previous campaign. Few anticipated that he would be thrust into the spotlight this season, but he has excelled in every test that he has taken.

Up until he miscalculated Virgil van Dijk’s straightforward square pass. United’s first shot of the match leveled the scores when Fernandes capitalized, sending a first-time effort sailing past Kelleher.

It had been just another performance by a young player who appeared to have played at the highest level for years until that moment. He was a part of the defense that made United’s attackers resemble leftovers.

Although it is unfair to hold a young player who was playing in their 11th Premier League game—away at Old Trafford, no less—for the outcome, his error cost Liverpool a goal.

Their inability to make wise decisions in front of goal prevented those with greater attacking experience from saving him. To his credit, Quansah overcame the error and carried on with his defensive performance, as he had all along.

This is a rookie player’s error that has no right to define the championship race. However, following the season’s final seven games, it might be a pivotal time.

Andy.

How did this compare to the chaos surrounding the FA Cup?

Alejandro Garnacho’s goal within the first 100 seconds destroyed any chance of a calm and collected performance from either side.

The 4-3 on March 17 were going to continue their counterattacking antics, even though the ‘goal’ was disqualified for offside.

Ten Hag’s strategy seemed to be to surprise Liverpool by scoring early on, but Liverpool persevered and eventually took the lead in the 23rd minute. More mayhem was United’s response to falling behind by a goal.

It makes sense to give up organized, settled possession in favor of attacking Liverpool on the break, especially with players like Marcus Rashford and Fernandes on the team. Jurgen Klopp’s enraged expression when United scores a goal out of the blue and Liverpool’s frequent and peculiar counterattack mishandling have been the highlights of these last two matches.

Fernandes should not have been allowed to take advantage of a careless backpass and lob Kelleher from around 40 yards out. One of those amazing displays of control in a chaotic situation came from Mainoo, who had the presence of mind to wave Garnacho away from the ball so he could turn and shoot to score United’s second.

You will be told by the stats people that United scored twice on two low-xG shots, and that kind of play is rarely sustained or repeated. However, occasionally a game’s emotional storyline can triumph over its tactical demands. Two chaotic moments later, Ten Hag’s team appeared to have twice stunned Liverpool, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka then brought down Harvey Elliott in the box.

After Salah converted the ensuing spot kick, Ten Hag substituted Mason Mount for Salah.

One day, perhaps, United versus Liverpool matches will resemble the “tactically intriguing” chess matches that currently transpire between Manchester City and Arsenal. However, let’s hope that they are a little further along the route.

It’s almost too much fun to watch these counterattacking melees. Football for those who ought to know better but are unable to stop themselves.

Go deeper.

Playground football has taken over the Premier League, and it’s fantastic.

Anka Carl.

Are Liverpool losing out on opportunities turning into a problem?

Both Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai threw back their heads in exasperation. Though Conor Bradley had the option to shoot, the two were positioned in the center of the box and ready for a pullback. It was obstructed and extended to a corner.

Liverpool’s first-half performance in front of goal was typified by their excellent football, which created numerous opportunities but lacked a cutting edge in the United penalty area.

Their lone goal in the first half came from a set piece, which summed up their performance. They finished with 15 shots, only four of which were on goal, 88 passes into the final third, and 21 touches in the opposition box. It all conveyed the tale.

However, Liverpool was wasteful from open play, just as they had been the previous month, whether it was Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, or Szoboszlai.

The more opportunities that the visiting team missed, the more memories of the FA Cup match that Liverpool ought to have won 2-1. They had control and opportunities, but they failed to eliminate Erik ten Hag’s team, and it cost them dearly.

Following Fernandes’ goal, Liverpool had a five-on-two attacking advantage for a few minutes. They were also unable to muster a shot on goal with it, much like a break in the FA Cup match.

The second goal from United, scored by Mainoo, sent Liverpool reeling. Even though Salah’s penalty saved the game, the ostensible takeaways from the cup match remain unexplored.

Andy Jones.

When will Manchester United become proficient at guarding transitions?

Ten Hag’s goal for United last summer was to become the world’s best transitional team. In light of United’s attackers’ profile, the idea made sense. Ten Hag stated, “We truly investigated Manchester United’s past as well as the attributes of our players.”. After that, you might ask, “So what do we want to be? The world’s greatest transition team, that’s what we want to be.”. Our intention is to surprise. “.

It takes more than just being enthusiastic and attacking the space to be the best transitional team in the world, especially when up against Liverpool, who are adept at playing this style of game. You also need to know how to defend these situations.

In this game, United’s issues with defensive transitions were very evident: they were rushed when in possession, which leads to a poor rest-defense because of the wide gaps between attackers and defenders when attacking in settled possession; they were also unable to win midfield duels; and their counter-pressing was less effective than it was in the previous season.

You have to know how to attack them as well as defend them if you want to be the world’s greatest transitional team.

Ahmed Walid.

How fared another improvised United defense?

Diogo Dalot, Willy Kambwala, Harry Maguire, and Wan-Bissaka formed a back four, which resulted in United’s 26th defensive lineup of the year.

Ten Hag expressed his indifference to criticism of United’s style of play prior to kickoff, stating, “We want to dominate in and out of possession, and play out from the back.”. “.

The problem with this quote is:.

One could use this description to characterize several Premier League teams.

On either side of the ball, United doesn’t seem to be controlling the match.

3) A few teams seem to be more adept at carrying out these moves, Liverpool among them.

United uses a man-marking system in midfield that is easily exploited, as well as a narrow and ineffective front press. The fact that United’s corner kick strategy is so basic and depends on whether a player makes first contact with the ball makes things worse.

Go deeper.

A golden age of back post goals has been ushered in by Premier League clubs.

Nunez obtained the flick-on assist for Diaz’s finish by intimidating Wan-Bissaka just before the penalty spot. As you can see from the image below, Nunez’s header against United was in a zone that several teams were aiming for.

As Liverpool’s attackers poured forward in the 32nd minute, Alexis Mac Allister moved the ball in the direction of the halfway line. Salah was threaded in by Diaz, who was found by the midfielder.

Opposing teams can move from the defensive third to having a shot at Andre Onana in a matter of seconds and passes. In a Premier League match, United has now faced ten or more shots in the first half on ten occasions, which is a tie for most in 2023–24.

Nobody who followed United at the beginning of the season imagined sharing defensive stats (12 times) with Sheffield United and Luton Town. Ten Hag will bring up the fact that his team’s performance is being hindered by injuries. What makes the United manager so incapable of producing anything better than this will be questioned by critics.

You winced to see Dalot blowing up after yet another sprint to his penalty area of recovery. United’s defense is mostly left to fend for itself, and the team lacks the collective safety net that other top four or five teams have.

Anka Carl.

What remarks did Jurgen Klopp make?

“In the end, we should have won the game,” said Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool, in an interview with Sky Sports. That much is evident. We took command of the match and opened the score.

“We ought to have scored more goals in the first 45 minutes. In the first half, they had zero shots.

Manchester United is down a point. I’m aware of how others will interpret it. Plus other stuff, two points lost. Personally, I think we’ve gained a point since the game started.

“The match is at Manchester United, on the road. We think that away games are more meaningful for all the other teams. They (Manchester United) worked harder than we (Liverpool) did. “.

“It’s our fault again,” says Virgil van Dijk in reference to Liverpool, calling them “wasteful.”.

Erik ten Hag said what?

After the match, Ten Hag was asked if he would alter his team’s style of play. They talked about it together. “No,” he replied. “It’s obvious that playing Chelsea and Liverpool will be transitional matches. These two teams are at the top. Both teams are willing to play and will give others room.

“We did a great job overall, but there were a few instances where we could have reacted more quickly during defensive transitions. We only gave up goals from two set plays. As an example, Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno could have performed even better during our transitions. We ought to have taken the lead after just a few minutes.

He continued, “I’m always searching for better rest defense.”. When it comes to the ball, are we making better decisions? If not, we’re stretching the field. Go for the goal, be direct, or keep the ball. Then there is the matter of our utilization, seeking responses. The way the players behaved. Which positions do we adopt?

After losing to Chelsea on Thursday and Brentford on Saturday, United gave up two goals deep into extra time, and for the third time in as many games, they were on the verge of victory. “It’s very disappointing when you put yourselves in a winning position just before the game ends three times in a week,” Ten Hag stated. Naturally, losing points after that is quite upsetting. Everyone has witnessed, he remarked.

Not all of the bad choices were made by the same player in all three games. We need to take charge. What’s unquestionably not beneficial in 26 distinct back line shapes. Just said, the routines are absent. We still need to get better, and the sooner the better. “.

Investigate further.

Ten Hag is still looking for solutions to United’s offensive-third issues.

For Manchester United, what comes next?

April 13: Bournemouth (A), Premier League, 5 p.m. UK time, 12 p.m. ET on Saturday.

What will happen to Liverpool next?

Atalanta (H), Europa League, Thursday, April 11, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT.

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The top image is from Getty Images.