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Right, lads, today I’m sharing how I messed about figuring out a decent Liverpool setup to give those Mancs a proper headache, based on what’s caused them recent trouble. Wanted something solid without overcomplicating it. No fancy talk, just the raw process.
Watching the Grind First
Started simple: watched clips of the last few United games where teams actually looked dangerous against them. Noticed a pattern, clear as day.
- High Press Gave ’em the Yips: Saw Brentford and Villa swarm ’em early. Rashford and Fernandes looked proper rattled when they got pressed hard near their own box. Kept coughing up possession in daft areas.
- Pace Down the Wings is Key: Teams with quick wingers running at Wan-Bissaka and Dalot caused chaos. Swinging early crosses in before they got settled seemed to work a treat.
- Midfield Must Run the Show: Where United lost control, the other lot had midfielders running their socks off, both ways. Letting Bruno wander free was suicide for some.
Basic stuff, really. Pressure, pace, and pure work in the middle.
Tinkering on the Tactics Board
Alright, knew the what, now the how for our lads. Sat down scribbling formations like mad.
Tried the 4-3-3 First: Our usual go-to. Dropped Diaz and Salah out wide, Darwin central. Felt too… predictable maybe? Needed more bodies in midfield to smother Bruno without leaving gaps. Nunez tracking back helps, but felt lightweight centrally.
Messed with a 4-2-3-1: Put Mac Allister in that number 10 hole behind Darwin. Idea was he links play and presses Fernandes. Felt risky though – leaves only two deeper midfielders, and if Trent bombs forward from right-back, that flank looks ripe for Rashford counters. Not convinced. Got cold feet.
Finally Settled on the Diamond (4-1-2-1-2): Here’s the thing that clicked. Stick Alisson in goal, back four same as recent weeks (Robbo, Virg, Konate, Trent – needs discipline). Now, the fun bit:
- Anchor Man: Fabinho sitting right in front, breaking up play. Absolute rock. Simple.
- Workhorses Either Side: Henderson and Jones (if fit, Milner if not, you know the drill). Box-to-box, legs for days. Henderson harries, Jones drives forward.
- Creative Spark Up Top: Salah tucked in just behind the strikers. Let him drift, find space, link play. Takes Casemiro out of his comfort zone.
- Two Up Front: Darwin and Gakpo. Darwin’s raw speed running channels, Gakpo’s hold-up and finishing. Direct. Overloads those centre-backs.
Why This Feels Like It Could Work
Pressure Up Top: Three pressing machines up front (Salah, Darwin, Gakpo) buzzing around Maguire/Lindelof/Varane. Make ’em play hopeful balls.
Midfield Overload: We pack it centrally. Fabinho holding, Hendo/Jones grafting. Less room for Eriksen/Bruno to dictate. Force wide, where our fullbacks can handle it if they stay switched on, Trent!
Salah’s Freedom: Takes him away from being doubled up out wide. Uses his movement centrally, finds gaps. Drifts wide sometimes too, catching Dalot out.
Pace & Directness: Darwin sprints in behind, early balls from Trent/Robbo/Jones. Exactly where they hate it.
Look, no guarantees. The diamond leaves us potentially exposed if Trent goes walkabout, and the wide areas need cover from the midfielders pushing across. But seeing how disjointed United looked under consistent pressure… this feels like it could cause ’em nightmares again. Let them have the ball out wide, clog the middle, hit ’em fast. Simples. See what happens on match day!