Match date: 1 September 2013

Liverpool have started well with two wins and two shutouts in their first two matches of the opening season, with Manchester United, in their first season under David Moyes, coming to Anfield with four points from their first two.

There was a lot written about Moyes’ inability to win away against the traditional big four competition in the English Premier League during his time at Everton and it was certainly fitting that his first test in an away game against Liverpool.

Liverpool’s 1st Half

Liverpool’s passing and possession in the first half of the match just about edged Manchester United’s and it was a Liverpool side that again had a fluid front four. Coutinho started on the left, Aspas played behind Sturridge, and Jordan Henderson played on the right. Henderson’s movement was the most interesting of the four and he has been playing in a ‘false winger’ role for the first three games of the season. Much of his time is spent on the right side, but he consistently came infield to make up a deep lying midfield three made up of himself, Lucas, and Gerrard when Liverpool were not in possession of the ball.

Liverpool’s desire to use the wide areas was evident in the first half as Liverpool looked to play away from Ferdinand and Vidic. Sturridge drifted a lot throughout the match and in the first half he received the ball just three times in central areas outside of Manchester United’s penalty area. Similarly, Aspas received the ball just twice in that same central area.

It was a tactic that worked well for Rodgers’ side though as Phil Jones and Ryan Giggs really failed to hinder the influence of Coutinho on the left side, while Jose Enrique found a lot of space on the left due to Giggs’ signs of slowing down. Coutinho attempted 4 take-ons, succeeding in 3, throughout the match, all of which came in the first half and more specifically, against Phil Jones, while Jose Enrique got on the ball 20 times in the first half.

With about ten minutes left in the first half, Liverpool’s control of the game began to wane as the players began to drop about 15 yards deeper and allow Manchester United to get on the ball more rather than look to really press the likes of Carrick, who misplaced more passes in the opening half hour of the match than the remaining hour. Below you’ll see his first half passing compared to his second half completion.

Liverpool’s 2nd Half

Something that critics are always too quick to mention in Liverpool’s inability to really grind out a result, but, as we’ve now seen in their opening three league games, Liverpool are more than capable of doing so. Liverpool are all alone at the top of the table after three weeks, with 9 points, all coming from 1-0 victories.

In today’s match, Liverpool got their goal, saw out the first half and were then willing to absorb the pressure from Manchester United by keeping a discipline shape at the back. As we’ve seen in the season so far, Liverpool’s defensive shape has consisted of Jordan Henderson coming in off the right side of Liverpool’s front players and joining Lucas and Gerrard in the middle of the pitch. This seemed necessary, especially as Manchester United were finding more and more freedom down their right side, with Antonio Valencia a much more attack-minded player than Phil Jones. As Valencia came forward, Lucas would slide over to help Coutinho against the Manchester United right back and the defensive midfielder did very well covering his compatriot.

Lucas’ movement meant that Henderson had to come inside to help Gerrard, who sat much deeper throughout the entirety of the match compared to Liverpool’s first two matches, to mark Cleverly, Carrick, and Welbeck.

The entire Liverpool team were well disciplined in their shape and made it incredibly hard for United to penetrate and get in behind the back four, who were very deep as it was anyway. While Carrick was given time to distribute the ball in deep-lying areas, as soon as the ball came within 30 yards of the Liverpool goal, Liverpool were consistent in winning their tackles and cut out numerous passes that were intended for Robin van Persie.

Manchester United’s Faults

Manchester United seemed to lack composure in the match and lacked any sort of penetration against Liverpool in the first half and even less so in the second half against Liverpool’s deep defensive line.

Robin van Persie was starved for chances, only getting one clear cut chance, as United lacked a player that could sit in behind van Persie and link Carrick and Cleverly to the striker. Neither Kagawa or Rooney, both players that could certainly fulfill that role, were on the bench, leaving Moyes with little options and van Persie with few chances. At times, when van Persie was looking to get on the ball, he had to drift to the right side of Manchester United’s attack and look to create an 3v2 situation against Jose Enrique and either Lucas or Coutinho as Antonio Valencia made Manchester United’s attack down the right side much more of a threat and focal point of the attack than Phil Jones was able to do during his time on the pitch.

Conclusion

Again, a good day for Liverpool as they were able to grind out another 1-0 win, leaving them alone at the top of the table with just 3 goals scored in their first 3 matches. It was certainly a nervy time to be a Liverpool supporter for the second half of the match at Anfield, but Liverpool supporters should be pleased to know that their team can defend against a good amount of pressure from the Premier League champions as they good forward.

For United, there is certainly a question about who is to play behind van Persie. Welbeck has scored more goals in this season so far than all of last year’s campaign, but his main contribution to the team seems to be his work rate rather than his creativity and finishing and should not be considered an option to play behind van Persie. Kagawa hasn’t been given a great deal of chances to prove his worth at United since his move last summer, but he is certainly a player that can support van Persie and give United more chances in the attacking third.