Arne Slot expertly broke down Manchester United’s tactics live on Sky Sports after Liverpool’s comfortable win.
On Sunday afternoon, Slot faced his first tough test of his Liverpool career as he took his team to Old Trafford to take on fierce rivals United.
The Dutchman passed with flying colours as his team produced a dominant display to win 3-0 thanks to goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah.
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Liverpool are the only team yet to concede a goal in the Premier League as they sit joint top in the table alongside champions Manchester City.
After the match, during his interview with Sky Sports, Slot spoke about United’s tactics.
He began: “Last season, there were man marking on the midfield, and they had a press with the seven and 11 (the wingers). So with the striker, and one of the wingers jumped with him.
“This season, they are more with a 9 and 10 press, so they're more in a 442. So that's different, of course. I see them, in my opinion, working harder if the ball is being played through them, so they run more. That's at least what I saw in their first games.”
Slot continued: “Their style is also - this is maybe last season, I don’t remember that well - but their full-backs, nine out of ten times, are really high, and then Casemiro comes in between. So, if you pick up the ball and you can keep Diaz and Mo Salah high, then you're constantly in a one-on-one situation.
“Then you need midfielders that can run, and we had three of them today that kept running, and if they arrive in a duel, they are aggressive enough to win it. So that was, I think, one of the main reasons why we could win today.”
Meanwhile, United boss Erik ten Hag picked out ‘two big mistakes’ which cost his side the match.
He said: “It's quite simple. We were in the game. It was equal after half an hour then we made two big mistakes and Liverpool took them really well.
“It was good finishes, and they were very clinical. When you are 2-0 down against Liverpool, they are very dynamic. We brought someone on with legs.
“We tried to get it to 2-1. We had the shot with Joshua Zirkzee that could have done that, then we made another mistake. It was a really clinical finish from Mohamed Salah. I have to credit this and compliment Liverpool on how they finish. They were great goals.”
United are 14th in the Premier League table and will take on Southampton after the international break.
Topics: Arne Slot, Manchester United, Liverpool, Erik Ten Hag, Football
Marcus Chan