Arne Slot’s Liverpool delivered an impressive victory on their visit to Old Trafford, with their tactics playing a crucial role in securing the win. Manchester United made several errors that gifted Liverpool three goals, but it was evident that the Red Devils were outplayed in all areas of the pitch.
One of the standout performances from Slot’s side was their ability to neutralize Alejandro Garnacho, one of United’s brightest stars. Garnacho has been a key player for United over the past year and has often produced moments of brilliance even when the team is not performing well. However, against Liverpool, he struggled to make an impact. He was dispossessed multiple times and only completed 16 passes throughout the match.
Liverpool’s tactics were successful in limiting Garnacho’s involvement in the attacking third. He was forced to drop deep to receive possession and rarely received the ball in dangerous areas. This meant that his average position on the field was at right-back instead of on the wing, and he made just three touches in the Liverpool box. Out of his 16 completed passes, only four were forward, with one even coming in his own penalty area.
As a result, Garnacho had minimal influence on United’s attacking play and spent most of the game defending. He was often called upon to support his full-back Noussair Mazraoui due to the freedom given to Liverpool’s dangerous winger, Luis Diaz. Garnacho’s lack of effectiveness led to manager Erik ten Hag substituting him for Amad Diallo, a decision that was met with boos from some fans at Old Trafford. Some fans even criticized Ten Hag, describing the substitution as “nonsense” and suggesting that he was “sacking himself” with such a move.
While United’s performance was disappointing overall, there were a few positive individual displays. Goalkeeper Amadou Onana made several saves to prevent the scoreline from getting worse, and defender Noussair Mazraoui looked solid against Diaz, coming close to scoring in the first half. However, the defensive line, including Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez, struggled to contain Liverpool’s attacks, with both players making crucial mistakes that led to goals.
In midfield, Casemiro had a disastrous first half, giving away the ball in the build-up to both of Liverpool’s goals. He was ultimately substituted at halftime. Bruno Fernandes was the most creative player for United, but his efforts were not enough to inspire the team. Upfront, Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee failed to make an impact, with Rashford in particular having a game to forget.
Despite some positive substitutions, including Tom Collyer making his Premier League debut and Amad providing a spark on the right wing, United were unable to turn the game around. Liverpool’s tactics and superior performance ultimately secured them a convincing 3-0 victory at Old Trafford.
This defeat highlights the weaknesses in United’s squad, particularly in defense and midfield. The team will need to address these issues if they want to compete at the highest level. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s impressive display further solidifies their status as one of the top teams in the league, and Arne Slot’s tactical prowess was evident in their dominant performance at Old Trafford.