Liverpool – Manchester United: Blunt Tools In Need Of Sharpening (0-0)

At least half of the script was followed. Everyone expected Liverpool to control proceedings, but perhaps the method of their attacks did more harm than the Manchester United block that they encountered.

Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.

Reinventing the wheel has not been a too difficult task for most coaches that enter Anfield’s gates, it’s changing and maintaining the tyres that have caused issues. 

Liverpool has had to rebuild once more under their German coach, a mesh of the standard Kloppisms and something new altogether. Slotting Trent Alexander-Arnold in a more central position from the right is the story: a move that does not feel like a Jürgen Klopp influence, but has brought the right kind of chaos that they thrive under. With just one league defeat going into mid-December, Liverpool had topped the table – before the weekend - in a tight title race that appears to have emerged, but is this a team set on leading deep into the season? They have brought the attack, but it needs to strike a balance.

Meanwhile, only mumblings of in-fights are appearing on the red side of Manchester. An abysmal showing in the Champions League and a forever tussle between media pundits and the Glazers have all led to… a team that was in sixth position in the table. Cut through the noise and what you have is Erik ten Hag’s ideas breaking down on the pitch. Old-age United pragmatism keeps them in games, but hardly the future that was envisioned after his first year in charge.

Klopp made just a single change to the . . .