Liverpool vs Manchester United: Jurgen Klopp in deep trouble at Anfield with Jose Mourinho set to use back six
Red Devils are much better than last season... but I still expect them to sit back and invite misfiring hosts onto them on Saturday
ANFIELD is set for a cracker today but the onus will be on Liverpool to take the game to United — and Jose Mourinho may just love that.
Last season United sat deep with up to seven men behind the ball and let Liverpool come on to them.
They then played long up to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and played Paul Pogba off him, almost as a No 10. They did not create that much and the game turned into a 0-0 a stalemate.
United are in much better form this season but I still do not expect them to be all-out attack.
I think they will sit deep and let Liverpool have more possession.
They will want to keep the gaps between midfield and defence tight and keep the back four narrow.
That is to deny Philippe Coutinho room to work his magic and leave no space in behind for Mo Salah or Roberto Firmino to use their pace.
United will try and hit Liverpool on the counter using the wide areas vacated by the hosts’ full-backs.
I would not be surprised to see Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford used wide by Mourinho.
He will ask them to get behind the ball when out of possession — creating a back six — but to shoot up the wings when United win the ball.
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Romelu Lukaku can run into the channels giving United an alternative out-ball before flooding forward.
Liverpool tend to play one holding midfielder in Jordan Henderson.
This makes them more susceptible to the counter and less able to fill the areas left wide open when their full-backs push on.
If Mourinho does employ these tactics it won’t suit Liverpool.
They are much better playing on the break. But with Anfield roaring them on and needing a win they will be tempted into going on the front foot.
And that could be perfect for United’s counter-attacks.
