Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Liverpool has guaranteed Champions League football next season.
The Red Devils have now won each of their last three games, following a spell with one win in four matches.
In the end, the result didn’t come as smoothly as it should have. Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko put United 2-0 up within the first 15 minutes. It looked like they were going to coast through the rest of the afternoon.
However, the Reds quickly got back into the game and were level just 11 minutes into the second half. Then Kobbie Mainoo scored the winner in the 77th minute to guarantee the three points and Champions League football at Old Trafford next season.
How did Michael Carrick get everything right despite Manchester United’s dramatic win vs. Liverpool?
Focus on the right side
There was a clear and heavy emphasis on Man United’s game to abuse Liverpool’s left side of defence early on.
Bryan Mbeumo and Diogo Dalot were hugely important taking advantage of Cody Gakpo and Andy Robertson. The Scottish left-back, in fact, was the first Reds player to leave the pitch. Though his fellow left-sided teammate offered little help holding down United’s plays down that wing.
Though the final number before half-time ended at 47%, it was once as high as 64% by the 30th minute. Carrick’s game plan was clear from the start and it’s precisely what got them the 2-0 lead early on.
Dalot often charged forward like a proper winger and exploited gaps in Liverpool’s hybrid marking. Sometimes he even found himself running in behind the opposition defence.
Tote sign-up offer: Bet £10, get £30 in free bets
Not signed up to Tote yet? Here's how eligible readers* can take advantage of their welcome offer:
- Open an account at Tote using this link.
- Use code B10G40 on registration.
- Deposit and place a £10 bet on sports or racing at 1/1 or greater.
- When it settles, unlock £30 in free bets
#AD 18+ New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Bet min of £/€10 at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £/€10 Win + £/€10 Place) within 7 days of registration. Receive £/€20 Tote Credit and £/€10 Free Sports Bet. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool or sports bet added to the bet slip. 7-day expiry. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org.
Bruno Fernandes also spent most of his time on the right, orchestrating and dictating their attacking actions as per usual.
Versatile approach
Man United went into the match looking to dominate the ball. They had 66% possession before the first goal and 55% before the second. Of course, things changed after they went 2-0 up and let Liverpool have more of the ball.
When it was time to defend, chase the opposition and try to regain possession, the Red Devils did a stellar job.
Arne Slot had his men playing in close proximity in build-ups and even had some advantages on the pitch, as United’s centre-backs mostly stood still rather than chasing Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai, who played operated as false nines.
And yet, the hosts recovered the ball quickly. In fact, per Opta’s advanced metrics, Liverpool’s sequences in the first half lasted 21 seconds on average. That was their third lowest return in this regard this season – and well below their Premier League average of 29 seconds.
United managed to play well, get to the attacking half and create chances in every possible way. In a more patient approach or going fast and direct.
Carrick even adjusted their deep build-ups to a more ‘positional’ look after conceding both goals from unforced errors. Their quick and short combinations were beautiful when they worked out, but also risky.
The team became more stretched out and removed a lot of the risk in dangerous zones. Rather than having Casemiro and Mainoo close to each other, the English youngster was responsible for getting the team out of their own half while the Brazilian joined the attacking-midfielders and forwards.
Costly individual mistakes
There is no-one else to blame for Liverpool’s goals than Amad Diallo and Senne Lammens. Neither of them faced pressure when giving the ball away to the opposition.
But Szoboszlai’s strike seemed to shake many United players psychologically. After Diallo, Ayden Heaven played a poor pass in defence and it led to a free-kick in a dangerous position. Then it was Lammens, making the Red Devils’ errors progressively closer to their own goal until there was no lead.
Carrick then switched things up as we mentioned above, and it stabilised things.
Midnite Offer: Bet £10, get £30 in free bets
How to claim:
- Open an account at Midnite using this link.
- Deposit £10 or more
- Place your first bet of £10 or more (minimum odds of 1/1)
- Receive £30 in free bets, valid for 7 days on selected betse only.
18+ New customers only. Place a £10+ bet at min odds 1/1 (2.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get £30 in Free Bets, valid for 7 days on selected bets only. Free stake not returned with winnings. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
In the second half, the Reds did have some success working between United’s midfield and defensive lines. Instead of just asking Wirtz and Szoboszlai to drop deep but fall into the trap where Casemiro and Mainoo were surrounding them and ready to ‘bite’, Slot adjusted.
He baited Mbeumo and Bruno to press up high, and the whole midfield line went along to keep things compact. Then Wirtz and Szoboszlai dropped deep with Maguire and Heaven holding position. That’s when they found success, but it didn’t lead to much.
But in the end, most of what happened in this game revolved around what Manchester United did. They deserve credit for scoring two quick goals and managed the result well in the rest of the first half.
And it was also their own mistakes that brought Liverpool back into the match, rather than the Reds finding a way themselves. Carrick had an answer for nearly every in-game situation, adjusted accordingly and managed to get back ahead after giving up their two-goal cushion.
Set-pieces were no problem either, which is a good sign considering that’s how Liverpool managed to rescue points late on various times.
The former midfielder had a great performance from the touchline and is making an increasingly stronger case to get the full-time job next season.