Manchester United – Liverpool: Spirited United Overcome Liverpool (4-3 A.E.T)
Manchester United started with intensity here, but eventually struggled with a lack of midfield compactness and lost control of the game. They always had dangerous moments in their attack though, and showed good spirit to find the goals they needed in the crucial moments.
Tactical analysis and match report by Josh Manley.
Manchester United’s early season form has left them outside the top four and out of the Champions League. This gave an FA Cup Quarter-Final clash at Old Trafford against Liverpool an even greater importance than usual, as United seek redemption in the form of another domestic trophy.
Erik ten Hag’s side lined up in a 4-3-3 system here, with a back four of Diogo Dalot, Raphaël Varane, Victor Lindelöf, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Scott McTominay, Kobbie Mainoo, and Bruno Fernandes were in midfield, while Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford were the wingers either side of Rasmus Højlund.
Jürgen Klopp meanwhile used a 4-3-3 formation, with Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah, Virgil van Dijk, and Andrew Robertson at the back. Wataru Endō, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai were the midfield three, while Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez, and Luis Díaz made up the front three.
United’s bright start
The home side found themselves ahead within ten minutes as McTominay pounced on a rebound at close range. This goal was a reflection of the opening phase of the game, in which United were sharp and energetic, and Liverpool struggled to impose themselves.
United attempted to press high in a man-oriented system. In midfield, this meant that Mainoo was usually marking Szoboszlai, often the most advanced of Liverpool’s midfield three, while McTominay . . .
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