Manchester United: Examining the Recent Success of the Red Devils' 4-3-3 Shape

After convincing wins vs. Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, Manchester United finally look like a legitimate top-four team.

For starters, they've looked far more steady at the back. Chris Smalling, in the center of the defense, has looked assured, composed and tough to beat. Against Liverpool, via WhoScored.com, he registered seven clearances and completed over 89 percent of his passes, looking like the possession-savvy defender Louis van Gaal tends to crave in his XI.

Additionally, the use of Daley Blind as a left-back over the last couple of games has paid dividends. The Dutchman can play a variety of positions, but he is resolute and tidy with the ball at full-back, and he quieted Raheem Sterling at Anfield. It's going to be tough for Luke Shaw to see the field if he keeps this up.

However, while United have certainly had their share of defensive issues during this season, these issues can only bother United fans so much; the personnel simply is not there for them to be an elite defensive side at the moment.

Contrarily, United's offensive issues have been far more frustrating and confusing. Even with a seemingly top-notch group of midfielders and forwards, Van Gaal had struggled to piece together the right group of attackers, and in roles that would best help the team win.

That problem has seemingly disintegrated as of late.

The first problem Van Gaal needed to fix was actually regarding personnel and not shape: the removal of Angel Di Maria from the lineup.

It is never easy to take a big-name star player out of a lineup, no less so when the club paid £55 million for his services (Transfermarkt). But the decision by Van Gaal to leave Di Maria on the bench for the past two games hasn't been protested too heavily by fans, and admittedly, has resulted in commanding offensive performances.

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Next, after swapping in the somewhat forgotten Juan Mata into the XI for Di Maria, Van Gaal had to figure out his team's shape. In United's last EPL loss, at Swansea City, a 4-4-2 diamond was employed, and the Red Devils suffered with the struggling Robin van Persie up front and Di Maria in the midfield, prone to defensive lapses.

Since then, both of those players have been dropped, while Michael Carrick has returned from injury and performed impressively.

The Englishman formed the spine of United's midfield against Liverpool, lying deep, dictating play and reading the game, as he made three interceptions (WhoScored.com).

In front of him, Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini performed admirably in box-to-box roles, with the Spaniard providing the assist for Juan Mata's goal, and the Belgian winning duels on both sides of the pitch and bossing the center of the park with his physicality.

photo via Lineup Builder

The Afro-sporting behemoth is usually tasked with either being an offensive target man or a midfield anchor; he was asked to do both against Liverpool and succeeded, resulting in a mouthwatering display that showed his sheer importance to the team at the moment.

In Carrick, Herrera and Fellaini as the midfield three, United, probably for the first time this season, had a group of players in the center of the pitch who were all dedicated to the defensive part of the game, and all comfortable playing a possession style of football. Herrera played with grit and took part in seven tackles, while Carrick and Fellaini had four clearances apiece, and Herrera and Carrick completed over 86 percent of their passes.

Contrarily, Angel Di Maria and Adnan Januzaj often hold on for the ball too long and, despite being played as center midfielders or wingers, are always more attack-oriented. They are capable of playing in the midfield, but the presence of one of these players in the center instantly messes with the balance of the team.

This same logic is why the move to place Mata in a false right-wing role was ingenious from Van Gaal. For all of Mata's strengths, defending is not one of them, yet he was often played by his manager, alongside Wayne Rooney, in a role that at least nominally resembled that of a box-to-box midfielder.

Against Liverpool and Tottenham, Mata has been given the closest thing to a get-out-of-defense card, similar to the free, roaming role that Brendan Rodgers has given Philippe Coutinho at Liverpool.

With acres of space and time, the Spaniard enjoyed playing a narrow wing role, scoring two marvelous goals, and looks to be a regular fixture in the side for the remainder of the season.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

So what to make of the rest of the attack?

Ashley Young, in a similar role to Mata on the left side, was ineffective and disappointing. Whether it was due the pressure of the game or the fact he's completed four straight full 90s in the EPL, the winger, via WhoScored.com, completed no key passes, and a paltry 68.8 percent of them overall (only better than David de Gea).

Now, Young has had a fairly good season, but with more inefficient performances, he could well find himself on the bench. Somewhat ironically, Young, diligent enough in his defensive duties, was played on Sunday in a role that all but exempts him from them.

Adnan Januzaj and Angel Di Maria would relish a chance to start on the wing if Young continues to slip up, and would likely thrive in a free offensive role that would accentuate their open-field abilities.

Lastly, we come to our lone striker, Wayne Rooney.

Like his compatriot Young, Rooney wasn't very good at Anfield—such is often the case, unfortunately—with the only "highlight" of his performance coming in second-half stoppage time when he missed a penalty.

Even so, Rooney's form had been picking up lately, with three goals in his previous three EPL games, and fans would likely see him deployed over Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao.

The last eight matches of the current season could be very telling in terms of what Rooney has left in the tank.

With the United captain presumably continuing to occupy his favored striker role, he will be expected to contribute goals to the team, especially if the players around him stay in such rich form.

While Rooney must do his part, however, Mata's two goals reminded fans of another elite attacker in United's ranks, while Fellaini and Herrera can chip in with goals, too, when in advanced areas.

Following United's 2-1 win over Liverpool, they are only a shocking two points behind second-place Manchester City.

How long till Manchester is truly red once again?

Stats and info via WhoScored.com and ESPNFC