Dueling Tactical Previews: The Liverpool View of the Manchester United Clash
Liverpool host bitter rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Monday night in another test of Jurgen Klopp's in-form side's credentials—and following favourable results at the top end of the table, the importance of this clash is magnified.
Both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur were held to 1-1 draws on Saturday, handing the Reds the opportunity to move level on points with first-placed City and second-placed Arsenal with a victory.
Taking on United's manager, Jose Mourinho, for the sixth time in his career, however, Klopp has been handed a considerable tactical challenge.
The German has guided his sides to three wins, a draw and a loss in his five previous outings against Mourinho-led teams, but this new-look United side presents a departure on the touchline.
To gain an insight into Mourinho's tactics and possible avenues for Klopp to exploit, Bleacher Report's United correspondent, Paul Ansorge, provided an overview of the Portuguese's start to life at Old Trafford.
"United haven't yet got an obvious, identifiable pattern of play under Mourinho," Ansorge explained. "Where it is entirely obvious what Pep Guardiola is trying to do at Manchester City and what Klopp is trying to do with your lot, Mourinho has tried a few different variations on a theme.
"This began to bear fruit in the wake of Wayne Rooney's long-overdue benching. Against Leicester City and Stoke City, Mourinho set up in the 4-2-3-1 that has become his default—though he had previously experimented with 4-3-3 in places."
This provides an immediate contrast between the formations of Klopp and Mourinho, with the former employing a 4-3-3 system in each of Liverpool's nine games in all competitions so far this season and the latter setting his side up in a 4-2-3-1 from the start of all United's outings to date.
The Reds have faced off against a 4-2-3-1 system on two occasions so far this season: away to Arsenal on the opening day of the campaign and away to Tottenham Hotspur on August 27. They took four points from those games, defeating the Gunners 4-3 and playing out a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane.
As seen during United's 1-1 draw with Stoke last time out, former Reds midfielder Joe Allen highlighted the flaws in Mourinho's approach against the 4-3-3—with the numerical advantage in midfield giving the Potters momentum.
Therefore, the personnel Mourinho employs in his midfield will be of paramount importance, and as Ansorge continued, this is an area where United are finding a semblance of rhythm at this stage of the season.
"The midfield two of Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera, with perennial Liverpool-botherer Juan Mata ahead of them, looks the best-balanced combination he has tried so far," he said. "The plan will presumably be to use Pogba's ability to keep the ball and Herrera and Mata's ability to remain composed to beat the press.
"Against the division's lesser lights, the plan is presumably to create a lot of chances from fast, forward-thinking passing, using Pogba's technical brilliance and strength to open up options that would not otherwise exist.
"Against better teams, though, it is not yet clear whether Mourinho will revert to the counter-attacking approach that has, for the most part, made him a thorn in the side of the game's glitzier teams."
Though Ansorge is unsure whether Mourinho will maintain this approach at Anfield, the trio of Pogba, Herrera and Mata has started United's last two Premier League games, and this blend of athleticism and technical quality could be a threat to Liverpool.
This places heavy emphasis on the role of Jordan Henderson at the base of Klopp's midfield, while the captain's flanking midfielders—Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana, if fit—will need to continue their fine form interchanging in box-to-box duties in order to transition effectively.
Henderson has averaged more tackles per game (4.3) than all but three midfielders to have played over 500 minutes in the English top flight so far this season, and his energy and industry can be called upon to shackle Pogba.
Liverpool's midfield unit has proved hugely successful so far this season, but with Herrera looking to shift the ball forward quickly to craft openings, Henderson will need to be on his toes throughout, with the combination of Pogba, Mata and United's centre-forward potentially devastating.
"Zlatan Ibrahimovic will lead the line, but there are big decisions to be made on the flanks," Ansorge added. "Against Leicester and Stoke, Mourinho opted for Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard, but there is an argument that Anthony Martial's improved form should warrant a spot for him in the team at the expense of Lingard.
"That sacrifices a little in terms of defensive work rate, but Martial is just a much better player. And although it hasn't clicked all that often just yet, there is a huge amount of firepower at United's disposal."
Regardless of whether Mourinho starts Rashford, Lingard or Martial on the flanks at Anfield, Liverpool's full-backs will steel themselves for a test of endurance, with the pace and direct movement of United's nimble trio boasting the potential to damage the Reds at the back.
Fortunately, Klopp will be able to call upon two diligent, defensively sound options in Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner, while Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho are comfortable dropping back to provide further cover.
In the middle, Ibrahimovic will provide a challenge for centre-backs Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren—but as the former proved in successfully stymieing the threat of Diego Costa in September's 2-1 win over Chelsea, Klopp has a defender capable of taking on physical target men.
Man for man, Liverpool should have enough in their arsenal to cancel out United's threat, while Klopp's 4-3-3 system should give his side the advantage in the half-spaces—but who is the prime target for the Reds' press?
"At the back, the key decision is around the positioning of Daley Blind," he detailed. "Does his ability to use the ball well against the press make up for his shortcomings and inexperience at centre back?"
Blind has undergone a swift progression in the role of centre-back at United, having previously turned out in midfield, and he has made six of his eight appearances this season in the role. However, Mourinho has deployed him at left-back in the Red Devils' last two league games.
Chris Smalling was deployed in Blind's place alongside Eric Bailly at centre-back against both Leicester and Stoke, and if Mourinho persists with this pairing, Klopp may be given his opening.
Roberto Firmino returned to Merseyside on Thursday following international duty with Brazil and has resumed full training, having avoided injury while with Tite's squad, which is a major positive for Klopp.
"Roberto is always involved in [an] offensive action or defensive action," Klopp explained while appearing as part of Sky Sports' Monday Night Football coverage in September (h/t FourFourTwo). "He has a natural skill that he knows, and he doesn't think too much about winning the ball back. It is a natural instinct, if you want."
Firmino is a relentless pressing machine, and if Mourinho overlooks Blind's quality in possession at centre-back, the 25-year-old could exploit Smalling's deficiencies—and in this, Liverpool have their best chance of sealing victory against United.
Ansorge is right to highlight United's defence as pivotal to the fixture, and while it is set to be a finely balanced contest under the Anfield lights, Firmino, interchanging with Mane and Coutinho in Klopp's 4-3-3, can be the decider.
Jack Lusby will be covering Liverpool throughout 2016/17 as one of Bleacher Report's lead correspondents. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted; statistics via Transfermarkt and WhoScored.com.
Follow Jack on Twitter @jacklusby_ and Facebook here.
.jpg?w=600 "Ravens star calls out former coach")
