Macca’s Dominance Hindered by LFC’s Inefficient Record: An Analysis
Liverpool’s recent draw against Manchester United showcased the continued excellence of Alexis Mac Allister. Despite the final scoreline, Mac Allister put in a brilliant performance at Old Trafford, demonstrating his composure on and off the ball.
According to FotMob, Mac Allister finished the match with impressive stats. He had the most recoveries (13) of any player on the pitch, the most passes into the final third (10), and won the joint-second most duels (eight). Additionally, he won three out of four tackles and operated at 86 percent accuracy with the ball. Mac Allister’s remarkable display was evident throughout the game, as he seemed to be everywhere at once. Notably, he recorded 11 recoveries in the midfield third alone, which is a joint-record in a single Premier League game this season.
If only the rest of the Liverpool team had matched Mac Allister’s composure and efficiency, the result could have been entirely different. Unfortunately, the Reds’ wastefulness in front of goal let United off the hook. In their three games against United this season, Liverpool unleashed a total of 87 shots but only managed to score five goals and secure two points. This lack of clinical finishing has been a recurring issue for Liverpool, and it cost them dearly against their rivals.
Jurgen Klopp expressed his frustration with his side’s inability to take their time and be more composed in front of goal. The Liverpool manager admitted that he would have preferred his players to take a second touch before shooting instead of rushing their attempts. Ultimately, the missed opportunities fell to Dominik Szoboszlai (two), Mohamed Salah (one), Luis Diaz (one), and Darwin Nunez (one), who collectively squandered five big chances.
While Jarell Quansah’s misplaced pass allowed Manchester United to get back into the game, he should not shoulder all the blame for the result. The game should have already been put to bed by that point, raising questions about Klopp’s decision to play Ibrahima Konate for the full 90 minutes against Sheffield United instead of at Old Trafford. It is important to remember that Quansah is only 21 years old and this is his first full season with the first team. Despite the costly error, he had an admirable performance, with the most touches of any player (97), an 88 percent passing accuracy, and joint-second most passes into the final third (10). He also won both tackles he contested, made nine recoveries (joint-third most), and won all three ground duels. One mistake does not define his potential as a player.
In conclusion, Liverpool’s inefficiency in front of goal hindered their dominance against Manchester United. Despite the draw, Alexis Mac Allister’s brilliant performance stood out, showcasing his composure and excellence. The team must learn from their mistakes and work on being more clinical in future matches.