Manchester United's Sofyan Amrabat (right) struggles to impose himself. Photo: John Super/AP
Liverpool and Manchester United They are the two most decorated clubs in English football, but the poor quality food they served in Sunday's goalless draw was more in keeping with a tedious mid-table game.
Erik ten Hag's back four earned praise for their solid defensive performance. and he avoided the season-defining rout that many had feared before the game.
Virgil van Dijk claimed Liverpool were the only team looking to win, with 34 shots on target to United's six. they definitely dominated statistically. . However, their decisions lacked clarity and too much of their play in possession was imprecise.
These are the four tactical elements that have made the game at Anfield such a mediocre competition.
Manchester United cannot improve with the ball.
Ten Hag bought a ball-playing goalkeeper last summer with Andre Onana, but they It's still difficult to build effectively and avoid pressure. Lisandro Martinez is United's best distributor from deep and their only left-footed centre-back, and his absence will be keenly felt in that department.
From the start of the match, United tried to use Onana to secure a draw. The poison of Liverpool's fast start, putting his foot on the ball and playing short on goal kicks.
Given Ten Hag has been implored to demonstrate a more defined style of play, this approach has its advantages. United weren't going to get much joy out of a long game with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
However, Onana is short on options and also lacking players who are comfortable receiving the ball under pressure. 18-year-old Kobby Mainu is probably United's most agile and focused midfielder.
United's most frequent passing combination by a significant margin was Raphael Varane's to Onana, proof of how easily United were forced to fall back.
Loss in the final third
Dominik Szoboszlai has been excellent for Liverpool this season, but probably had his worst game in a red shirt with numerous poor passes in the final third.
United also lacked coherence around the penalty area, and the combination play that allowed Rasmus Hoylund to convert a chance in the second half was the game's only highlight of interaction.
Only three teams recorded a lower pass in the Premier League this weekend. completion rate in the attacking third is higher than United's 56.9 percent.
Liverpool's figure was better at 73.5 percent, but this is still clearly average given their territorial control. Both Arsenal and Manchester City averaged over 85 per cent of their passes in the attacking area this weekend as they took a more measured approach. Too often Liverpool tried to force things.
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