Four Things Solskjaer Must Do To Ensure United Get A Result Against Liverpool This Weekend

David Tully

4 years ago

Categories: Galleries, Manchester United News

Tags: Liverpool, Manchester United, Mason Greenwood

Manchester United go to Anfield this weekend under no illusions about the task that faces them. Liverpool have not lost in the league at home since April 2017.

However, the only points they have dropped in their quest for the Premier League title so far this season came against the Red Devils at Old Trafford in October.

So, what does manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer need to do to replicate that result or even pull off a stunning win at the home of their bitter rivals this weekend?

Press the “next page” as we take a look at four ways United could look to trouble Liverpool on Sunday:

1) Play three at the back

It worked well in the 1-1 draw in October, as going man to man with Liverpool’s front three prevented them picking up their favoured spaces between fullbacks and centre-halves.

The big question mark will be who would play as the third centre-back with Marcos Rojo unlikely to play and Phil Jones an unreliable understudy.

2) Win the ball back quickly and commit to tackles

Giving Liverpool too much time on the ball at Anfield would pretty much guarantee a defeat for the away side.

The midfield has to be up with the pace of a derby game, and the onus will be on Fred and Nemanja Matic to commit to tackles and ensure they are not overrun in the middle of the park.

3) Start Greenwood and use pace on the counter-attack

Back fours are not used to having to play against two strikers these days, and we saw in the first fixture at Old Trafford how even Virgil van Dijk can be pulled out of position with smart movement from forwards.

With Marcus Rashford struggling to recover in time, it could well be the perfect opportunity to see how well Mason Greenwood could fare alongside Anthony Martial.

4) Push the Liverpool fullbacks back

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson have 16 assists between them this season, and if United can stop the fullbacks bombing down the flanks, they can restrict Jurgen Klopp side’s creativity.

Like they did at Old Trafford, United’s wingbacks must play high up in order to press the opposing fullbacks into their own half. Klopp did counteract that in the second half by placing his midfielders wider and Solskjaer and his backroom staff will need to do some more creative thinking to restrict Liverpool’s main playmakers.