Ten Hag’s Tactical Masterclass: How Man United Stifled Liverpool at Old Trafford
Manchester United held Liverpool to a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Old Trafford, showcasing some clever tactical adjustments by manager Erik ten Hag. Here are three key tactical decisions that played a significant role in the Red Devils’ success:
1. Neutralizing the Salah Threat:
One of Liverpool’s biggest weapons is Mohamed Salah, but ten Hag devised a strategy to limit his impact.
He opted for a system of playing Aaron Wan Bissaka at Left back to make this strategy work. Salah has been a menace for Manchester United in the last four years scoring in almost every game he has played against them.
Aaron Wan Bissaka renowned for his 1v1 success rate kept the Egyptian at Bay. Also with the impressive performance of youngster Willy Kambwala, who stuck to Darwin Nunez like glue, effectively neutralized the Uruguayan attacker’s attacking threat.
2. Unleashing the Young Sensation:
The second tactical move involved unleashing the impressive Kobbie Mainoo as his most advanced Midfielder in the second half.
Erik Ten Hag switched the roles of Bruno Fernandes and the young English star and it paid off when the Mainoo delivered a beautiful curling effort to the top corner to earn Manchester United the lead.
3. Impeccable Game Management:
Finally, Ten Hag displayed impeccable game management throughout the match. Unlike recent losses against Sheffield and Chelsea where United conceded late goals as reported by Sports Buddy, Ten Hag made crucial decisions at key moments to maintain the scoreline. This could have involved tactical tweaks in the final minutes.
Sofyan Amrabat and Mason Mount came on the add steel to the Midfield as well as shield the tiring defence of Harry Maguire and Willy Kambwala who have worked all game to keep the scoreline.
These were substitutions to shore up the defense, and also a clear instruction to his players to manage the tempo and avoid unnecessary risks.
This improved game management compared to previous matches showcased Ten Hag’s growing influence on the team’s performance.
Conclusion:
Erik ten Hag’s tactical decisions proved crucial in Manchester United’s draw against Liverpool.
By neutralizing Mohamed Salah, Unleashing talented Kobbie Mainoo to be more advanced, and demonstrating masterful game management, Ten Hag managed to stifle one of the Premier League’s most potent attacking forces.
