Liverpool dominates Manchester United at Old Trafford: A tactical breakdown

The start of the Premier League season has been challenging for Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag's tactical approach facing criticism following two defeats in the opening three matches. Observations from the Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, highlighted how United's midfield man-marking and pressing strategies have been less effective, allowing opponents to exploit their defensive shape. Liverpool's high press was particularly effective, forcing United into frequent turnovers and capitalizing on their lack of defensive readiness after losing the ball. Slot noted that Liverpool's aggressive tactics were successful in overwhelming United, especially when they pressed high up the field. This strategy took advantage of United's 3-1-6 shape during build-up play, leaving them vulnerable to counter-attacks. The Liverpool manager emphasized that while keeping wingers high can be risky, effective recovery runs can mitigate that risk, a tactic that worked well against United. Ten Hag acknowledged the ongoing issues with United's rest defence, which has been a recurring problem since his arrival. He pointed out that the responsibility often falls on key players like Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez to win crucial duels, but he believes that with time and improved match fitness, these defensive lapses can be addressed. Despite the early setbacks, Ten Hag remains hopeful that as players return to full fitness and become more familiar with his tactical requirements, the team's performance will improve. He cautioned against jumping to conclusions about the season's trajectory after just a few games.