Liverpool boss Arne Slot gave a transparent breakdown on how his facet pulled aside Manchester United of their 3-0 win on Sunday.
The guests celebrated a convincing victory over their arch rivals at Previous Trafford because of a double from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah’s strike.
Afterwards, Slot defined to Sky Sports activities how they did it. Right here we dissect his evaluation…
Press excessive
It was a trait beneath Jurgen Klopp and it is going to be a trait beneath Slot. Regardless of the opposition, wherever the sport is performed, Liverpool will attempt to press excessive and win the ball as near their opponents’ objective as they’ll.
“We always want to press high. That’s what Jurgen did. That’s what we try to continue,” mentioned Slot. “And we scored a few goals from a high press – [including] one disallowed.”
Certainly, all three Liverpool targets and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s dominated out effort got here from turnovers, with Liverpool successful possession within the closing third seven occasions in comparison with Man Utd’s three.
Throughout the primary three rounds of Premier League motion, Liverpool have made extra pressures within the closing third than every other facet.
It’s front-foot soccer beneath Slot.
Expose Man Utd’s excessive full-backs
Roy Keane was crucial of Man Utd’s full-backs pushing too far forwards at occasions and Slot mentioned he knew Liverpool would have probabilities with the way in which United’s full-backs had been positioned.
“Their full-backs are sometimes really high and then Casemiro comes in between [the centre-backs],” defined Slot. “So if you pick the ball and you keep Luis Diaz and Mo Salah high you’re constantly in a one-v-one situation.”
Man Utd’s common positions present how their full-backs pushed ahead, whereas Liverpool’s Luis Diaz (LW) and Mohamed Salah (RW) stayed excessive
Diaz has been electrical with the ball at his ft to date this season, including 4 extra dribbles tried to his tally after totals of 5 towards Ipswich and three towards Brentford. Nonetheless, Salah took on these one-on-one alternatives with actual verve at Previous Trafford, he doubled his tally of tried dribbles in every of the primary two video games along with his 4 right here.
Liverpool had been capable of run at Man Utd’s centre-backs and Casemiro with the United full-backs excessive up the pitch
Man Utd’s defence was uncovered once more when Casemiro misplaced a move for the second objective
Liverpool had a 4-vs-2 towards Man Utd when Kobbie Mainoo was robbed of possession for the third objective
Run arduous and struggle arduous in midfield
To power these turnovers, Liverpool wanted excessive power and depth in the midst of the park. They bought simply that from Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, who every ran over 11km, with Szoboszlai topping the dash stats.
That trio, led by Szoboszlai, had been to the fore within the possession-won rankings too.
“You need midfielders that can run and we had three of them today that kept on running, and if you arrive in a duel they are aggressive enough to win it,” mentioned Slot. “That was one of the main things why we could win today.”
Forwards chase again to assist
That midfield was supported by backtracking forwards. Requested whether or not it was a big gamble to depart Diaz and Salah excessive, Slot mentioned: “It’s only a gamble if they play through or over… but if [Diaz and Salah] then sprint back it’s not a gamble.
“At the moment we noticed numerous moments the place our entire staff, however particularly our forwards, observe again so aggressively and that’s what we want if you wish to win these video games. When you do not the defenders are available underload, that is not what you need in the event you play towards these gamers as a result of Man Utd have numerous high quality.”
Diaz and Salah each recorded tackles and interceptions, whereas Salah additionally made a clearance. Subs Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez continued the method, with a sort out and clearance every too.
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Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville talk about the way forward for Mohamed Salah and declare he’s up there with Liverpool greatest-ever gamers
Szoboszlai’s tweaked position
A refined change on the ball? “In the last two games Dominik Szoboszlai played from the right, today we played him from the left,” mentioned Slot.
The swap was evident in Szoboszlai’s heatmap – and the midfielder topped the chance-creation stats, carving out three alternatives from open play.
Dominik Szoboszlai performed from the left towards Man Utd, whereas his beginning place had been on the fitting in Liverpool’s earlier sport
Preserve excessive requirements
Whereas United had been sloppy on the ball, Slot demanded extra from his facet at half-time to ensure they didn’t make such pricey errors.
Talking about his half-time team-talk, Slot mentioned: “We confirmed them three moments the place in a single state of affairs that led to an opportunity of Noussair Mazraoui when Lucho [Diaz] was not monitoring again as he ought to and the second the place Trent [Alexander-Arnold] performed a sloppy move in the direction of Alisson.
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Check out Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville’s dwell reactions to all the massive speaking factors in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Manchester United at Previous Trafford
“Those moments can change a game here at Old Trafford so you need to be focused and concentrated every second if you want to win here.”
With the mix of high quality, Slot’s techniques, Man Utd’s errors and people excessive requirements Slot is driving, Liverpool secured that useful win – and their followers will now hope it may be a launchpad for a season of success.
