Manchester United claimed a 2-2 draw against Liverpool on Sunday but fans may be a little divided on what we actually saw unfold at Old Trafford.
United were reeling after Thursday’s frankly ridiculous defeat at Chelsea and fans wanted a response.
Well, we didn’t really see that in the first half of Sunday’s clash as Liverpool cut through United at will.
United didn’t manage a single shot in the first half whereas Liverpool racked up double figures whilst taking a 1-0 lead into half time.
United hit back after the break though, scoring two unbelievable goals through Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo.
Liverpool still found a leveller through Mohamed Salah’s penalty and fans will be split on how to view the 2-2 draw.
On the one hand, United’s all-round performance was again well short of the mark, especially out of possession.
On the other, United showed some grit and fight to get back into the game and it took a penalty for Liverpool to get something out of the game.
Rio Ferdinand on Manchester United tactics
Boss Erik ten Hag seemed fairly encouraged after the final whistle but there may well be a disconnect with how many supporters feel.
This level of performance from United surely won’t inspire anybody into thinking that a Premier League title push is on the cards.
There are some great young talents in this United squad but the team performance just isn’t there on a consistent basis.
Ten Hag has come in for criticism over his midfield approach with Gary Neville suggesting that Kobbie Mainoo was being asked to play too high up the pitch.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand has now delivered his verdict on Ten Hag’s tactics – and feels that both Mainoo and Casemiro are being left exposed.
Speaking on FIVE, Ferdinand feels that both Mainoo and Casemiro have the same ‘worst trait’ – a lack of mobility in midfield.
Ferdinand believes that you have to set up to mask those deficiencies but Ten Hag is playing so wide open that Mainoo and Casemiro are often nowhere near each other.
The ex-England ace added that you never saw Casemiro that far away from teammates at Real Madrid and this current setup makes both players ‘look worse at times’.
“That type of football leads to seeing players at the worst at times,” said Ferdinand. “Casemiro, for all that he’s won and the great player that he’s been, he will look a worse player when the tactics are the way they are, when it’s open, transition football, when there’s big spaces around him. In that midfield, at times, another midfielder is 20 yards away, 30 yards away. That never happened at Real Madrid, so you don’t see his worst traits, which is his mobility.”
“Same with Kobbie Mainoo, their worst traits are probably their mobility. So you do things with a structure of a team, so you don’t see that. We’re doing things that mean you’re going to see exactly their worst trait. It makes them look worse at times,” he added.
Ten Hag must tweak midfield approach
Ten Hag is effectively in a period of trying to prove to Ineos that he is the man to take charge of United for the long term.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford won’t just be looking at results, they will be looking at performance levels too.
United’s just aren’t good enough in that regard right now and nothing quite sums it up like the amount of shots being given up.
United are conceding an average of 17.9 shots per game; only bottom club Sheffield United have given up more this season.
Ten Hag’s side are sandwiched between Sheffield United and Luton Town, which just isn’t where United are supposed to be.
If Ten Hag doesn’t tweak his midfield a little and make United a little harder to play against, it could be curtains for him this summer.
Ineos won’t tolerate being down with Sheffield United and Luton Town in key metrics and the ease at which Liverpool attacked on Sunday must be a concern.
Casemiro needs help alongside him and whilst Ten Hag wants to go man-to-man in midfield, the current situation may call for a change of approach.