DEVIL & PHOENIX: Man Utd suffered a bitter defeat against Liverpool despite Rashford, Mount creating many BIG chances, but defense became a big problem for Ten Hag
At the start of the clash, Man United exhibited confidence both on and off the ball, playing a high press to keep Liverpool under constant pressure.
The opening opportunity of the game for United came four minutes in when Aaron Wan-Bissaka passed the ball to Amad on the edge of the area. The winger cut in and missed the crossbar. In the end, he was unable to equal the goal he scored against Real Betis in United’s last game.
In the eighth minute, Collyer made a neat interception in the final third before passing to Mason Mount, whose well-drilled shot was saved by the keeper. United were continuing to knock on the door in search of an opener.
10 minutes in, Liverpool scored against the run of play. While United’s defence appeared to be well positioned to handle any threat, Fabio Carvalho shot from the edge of the box, with the ball nicking Evans before going into the net.
Just three minutes later, United received a great scoring opportunity when Ibrahim Konate’s stray pass fell to the feet of Marcus Rashford, only for Rashford’s shot to veer wide of the top right-hand corner.
21 minutes in, Mount raced along the touchline before drilling a cross into the path of Jadon Sancho right in front of goal. Unfortunately, the ball came too fast for Sancho, who couldn’t direct his header accurately.
Just two minutes later, United were back on the attack. Amad lobbed the ball to Rashford, whose floating shot was tipped by the keeper over the crossbar.
Rashford managed to collect the subsequent cross from the corner, turning past Harvey Elliot neatly before firing a shot across the face of goal that came agonisingly close to finding its target. It felt as if it was only a matter of time before United would find the back of the net.
After the half-hour mark, Liverpool’s Diogo Jota slotted a through ball to Konstantinos Tsimikas, however, Andre Onana was perfectly placed to collect the subsequent shot.
In the 36th minute, Mohamed Salah placed a dangerous cross in the box. Unluckily for United, Wan-Bissaka was already stumbling back, unable to stop Curtis Jones from sliding the ball into the net.
Half-time at the Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina and Erik ten Hag would no doubt feel disappointed with the scoreline, despite some promising moments. United will need to work on their finishing in the second half in order to change the course of this match.
As United took to the field for the second half, Ten Hag made three changes. Scott McTominay came on for Mount, while the centre-back pairing of Evans and Lindelof were replaced by Will Fish and Rhys Bennett.
Four minutes after the break, United sprung into action as Sancho laid a through ball off to Casemiro, whose grounded shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
In the 55th minute, United came agonisingly close to scoring when McTominay’s close-range shot was blocked by the keeper and deflected out for a corner. The ball was just inches away from going in even with the keeper’s intervention.
On the hour mark, things went from bad to worse for United. While Onana managed to save the initial effort following a rapid Liverpool counter-attack, Tsimikas picked up Onana’s parry, putting the ball past Wan-Bissaka and into the net to increase their lead to three.
Two minutes later, Antony came on for Amad while Christian Eriksen replaced Collyer and Ethan Wheatley came on for Rashford.
Following the substitutions, Wheatley came close to scoring, only for the keeper to save his shot and parried it out for a corner.
Connor Bradley launched a quick counter for Liverpool, with Rhys Bennett making an impressive block to send the ball out for a corner. Both teams proved ineffective with their set pieces.
In the 68th minute, Fish was booked for a reckless tackle after Liverpool intercepted a loose United pass near the halfway line. Worryingly, Fish appeared to go down badly following his tackle, with the medical staff carrying him off the field on a stretcher. This will only add to United’s never-ending conveyer belt of injuries.
With Fish unable to continue, he was subbed off for Maxi Oyedele. Sam Murray came on for Harry Amass while Sancho was replaced by Samuel Mather.
Just eight minutes before time, Wan-Bissaka slumped to the ground. Seconds later, he was replaced by James Scanlon.
In the end, the result did not fully reflect the game, since United had a good number of good scoring opportunities. However, if they are to have a chance to win the FA Community Shield when they play Manchester City on Saturday afternoon, they will need to get better, especially at the back.
