Manchester United have used high-pressure methods under Erik ten Hag, but under Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool have a weapon to overcome what they face.
Erik ten Hag has done a lot of work at Old Trafford over the past eight months. The Manchester United manager inherited a summer chaos after the Red Devils finished sixth in the Premier League last season, but he made the difference.
Dutch engaged some key personnel while also installing game cartridges behind the scenes. Arch-rivals Liverpool now seem more comfortable building consistent attacking moves and are more proactive on the defensive side of the game. Indeed, Ten Hag has instructed their players to put pressure on the bottom third this season, and that is not how they have done in recent years with the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Jose Mourinho. Liverpool will address these methods this weekend but may have an answer within their own ranks.
Anfield is the venue for Sunday’s encounter between the two English heavyweights, with Manchester United currently 10 points clear of their arch-rivals in the Premier League.
Ten Hag’s side have shown impressive form since the end of the FIFA World Cup, losing just one game in 20 in all competitions, but Jürgen Klopp has a specific ability to use to his advantage this weekend.
Indeed, Mikel Arteta is the only man to beat Manchester United since the restart, and the Arsenal manager has effectively warned Ten Hag about Liverpool’s subtle strength. Following his side’s 3-1 defeat at Anfield in September 2020, Arteta said: “They have different weapons. If you go the other way and execute the high pressure perfectly, they have Virgil van Dijk and he plays a 60-point pass.” yards.” into Mohamed Salah’s chest and they’re out. This is quality.’
The Dutch centre-back is a real fixture for Klopp’s men when the opposition have the audacity to go big with the press against Liverpool, as his ability to deliver accurate long passes to Salah, Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez keeps the center of the park able to bypass and act as a means of entering the last third.
The Reds can go from A to B in the blink of an eye thanks to their number four, and when we look at the pace of Klopp’s tricky forwards attacking the space in the back, that tool could prove extremely useful.
Manchester United have been aggressive with the ball this season – similar to Arsenal – with Ten Hag embracing the risk and encouraging their players to lock up the pitch. defenders Sunday afternoon. If the Reds can punch through the press, that should open up space for direct Liverpool forwards to punish Raphaël Varane and Lisandro Martínez, the latter seemingly lacking the height and speed to deflect those dangerous balls behind their backs.
All could decide Sunday’s Hollywood duel, but if Manchester United decide to seize the moment by pressing high against Klopp’s side, Liverpool have the skills to escape and take advantage.