MARTIN KEOWN: Here’s how Jurgen Klopp’s high-pressing Liverpool can make things even WORSE for Manchester United and Erik ten Hag
- Manchester United were vulnerable when Bournemouth started pressing them
- Nerves crept in on the ball and Liverpool will be itching to add to their woes
- CHRIS SUTTON: I feel sorry for Rasmus Hojlund, Man U wingers are out for themselves – It’s All Kicking Off
Dominated in the Premier League by Bournemouth and dumped out of the Champions League against Bayern Munich, Manchester United are facing a critical moment and potentially a third defeat in a week.
If they want to avoid a repeat of last season’s 7-0 humiliation at Liverpool, they cannot afford to make the same mistakes as last weekend.
Jurgen Klopp’s high pressers will be itching to get at their visitors, having seen how they tried and failed to play out from the back against Bournemouth.
From right to left, United used a back four of Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Sergio Reguilon. Straight from kick-off, Bournemouth deliberately put the ball out of play for a United goal-kick to test their ability to play out. When Andre Onana was in possession, a predictable pattern emerged.
Maguire moved to the right-hand side of the box and Shaw to the left. Dalot drifted inside from the right flank and Reguilon made sure he was high and wide down the left. Sofyan Amrabat dropped deep by stationing himself in front of the box, with Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay further forward.
Manchester United are facing a critical moment and potentially a third loss in the last week
Jurgen Klopp’s high pressers beat them 7-0 at Anfield in March and will be hungry for more
Yet over and over, they fell into Bournemouth’s trap as the visitors blocked off the wide areas, forcing United to look through the middle. Amrabat was never on the half-turn when receiving possession, and there was very little movement from Fernandes and McTominay to make themselves available.
Martin Keown explains how Man United were vulnerable being pressed by Bournemouth
Inevitably, the ball ended up going backwards from Amrabat to Onana, who was forced to launch it long.
The nerves crept in and they conceded the opening goal after losing the ball by their own box.
Maguire was the only one who seemed sure of what to do on the ball, but he will miss Sunday’s match due to injury.
Further up the field against Bournemouth, United’s wingers only ever sought to charge at their opponents. When you watch Arsenal and Manchester City, you can see triangles being created so that the player in possession is never short of passing options.
But somewhat selfishly, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho only seemed to want to pass the ball as a last resort. It felt individualistic in the extreme.
Nerves crept in when they were under pressure and United lose the ball in perilous moments
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Erik ten Hag will be looking for a return to the performance levels that beat Chelsea 2-1. United were much more direct in that victory.
With Dalot at right back, and Shaw in his rightful position at left back, they got high and wide. Antony — a left-footer on the right and Garnacho — a right-footer on the left — moved inside as inverted wingers.
That is when United have been at their best, posing problems for opposition full backs.
Such is the lack of confidence in playing out from the back, Ten Hag may be best served with a more direct game by hitting to Rasmus Hojlund.
United have lost seven league games already this season. If they lose an eighth as embarrassingly as that 7-0 last term, Ten Hag will be left in a perilous position.
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