Jamie Carragher’s brilliant analysis of Manchester United vs Liverpool, one man caused a ‘huge problem’ for Arne Slot

Jamie Carragher provided some interesting analysis of Manchester United’s clash against Liverpool on Monday Night Football this week.

Manchester United secured a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Premier League leaders Liverpool in a thrilling contest at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Lisandro Martínez fired United ahead with a stunning strike, but Cody Gakpo quickly brought Liverpool level.

Controversy arose when VAR awarded Liverpool a penalty for a De Ligt handball, which Mo Salah converted to put the hosts in front.

United hit back with an equalizer from Amad Diallo, and Harry Maguire nearly clinched a dramatic late winner but saw his effort go just over the bar.

Carragher’s analysis of Liverpool 2-2 United

Jamie Carragher spent time on Monday Night Football ahead of Wolves vs Nottingham Forest to analyse how Ruben Amorim’s system got the better of Arne Slot’s side.

He detailed the impact of the two no.10s and the striker in pinning back the Liverpool backline, which created spaces for the wingbacks.

In particular, he highlighted the role of Bruno Fernandes, who caused Liverpool’s right side a ‘huge problem’ with his positioning while United had possession.

“The problems they caused Liverpool with the ball, in terms of controlling the game, this front three pinned that Liverpool back four,” Carragher explained on Sky Sports.

“But especially Bruno Fernandes, who was the Man of the Match, he gave Trent Alexander Arnold a real problem because he didn’t want to leave him, but he’d never get to Dalot.

“This is the system working and causing Liverpool a problem. He’s [Dalot] got all of the time of the world. It is the 3-4-3 system getting the better of Liverpool’s 4-2-3-1 system.”

United’s tactics shown during Martínez goal

This was shown perfectly in the build-up to Martínez’s opener on the night, with Dalot receiving the ball in space from Harry Maguire because Fernandes was pinning back Alexander-Arnold.

Dalot would then take the full-back on and deliver a cross, before Martínez’s strong counter press won the ball back high up and led to Fernandes picking the ball up in a dangerous spot.

“This position here, Bruno Fernandes here, in between Gravenberch and Trent Alexander-Arnold again,” continued Carragher. “This is something that Arne Slot mentioned after the game, but this was a huge problem tactically for them.

“It is far too easy to get the ball to Manchester United’s wingback on this side. They get a cross in and then look [at Lisandro Martínez], on the front foot, aggressive, he was like that from minute one.

“You must say, that is brilliant from Fernandes and Martínez, and when you play a back three and one of you defenders steps in, he can stay there because he’s got the luxury of the other two centre-backs.”

United can improve massively under Amorim with proper wingbacks

Carragher’s analysis was certainly interesting and it begs the question how dangerous United could be with proper wingbacks on either flank.

Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are good full-backs but neither are excellent going forward. Having a real threat in the final third is crucial for what Amorim wants from those players.

It would be no surprise to see Amad Diallo back at wingback soon for that exact reason, although the hope is that a signing can be secured in the January transfer window.

However, the most important thing for Amorim is that the entire squad gets more used to playing this way, and then things will become more seamless when you eventually have that profile in the squad.

Read More: What Ruben Amorim said about Mason Mount and Luke Shaw after Manchester United vs Liverpool speaks volumes

But with how heavily reliant the wingbacks are, fans will be hoping that is sooner, rather than later.

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