Liverpool 2 - 0 Manchester United – How the Europa first leg went completely one way

When Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United reached Anfield on Thursday evening, they might have hoped for another ‘smash and grab’ victory against the Reds from Merseyside. In early January, the Red Devils had left Anfield with a 0-1 win and three points, with Wayne Rooney scoring from their first shot on target 12 minutes from time. After 90 minutes of football in the Europa League, Manchester United once again left the Merseyside thanking their luck – lucky to have avoided a defeat any more embarrassing. They were lucky also to have had David De Gea at the goal mouth, saving them again and again this night.

After a last-minute victory against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday, Liverpool proved their ability to come back from tough positions even after going down to ten men. The match against Manchester United was the most anticipated tie of the Europa League this week, and Jurgen Klopp welcomed back Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho into the XI, to make his favourite 4-2-3-1 formation.

Manchester United (4-1-4-1): David De Gea (GK), Guillermo Varela, Danny Blind, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo, Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata, Morgan Schneiderlin, Marcus Rashford, Memphis Depay, Anthony Martial

Marcus Rashford was the new sensation last time, when Man United played in the Europa League. Two goals in his Europa League debut against Midtjylland followed by two in his Premier League debut against Arsenal made him the ‘next big thing’. However, the lad, who looked like a natural goalscorer, was shoved to the right side of a four in the midfield for their trip to Anfield.

1. Coutinho, Firmino and Lallana running the show

Liverpool’s attacks usually start from their attacking midfielders, and that was exactly what happened last night. Coutinho, Firmino and Lallana ran the show from the midfield with only Schneiderlin left to run after the trio. In fact, Rashford and Depay spent most of the time running back to keep a hold on Coutinho and Lallana, rather than bombing forward for their own attack.

So it wasn’t a surprise that Firmino’s pass led to the penalty that paved the way for Sturridge’s penalty. After finding himself in space, the Brazilian passed it to Clyne, who was running into the box, and a pull back from Depay on the right back made the referee point to the spot. Although it first looked as if the contact was just outside the box, replays dismissed doubts with Clyne just managing to enter the box before Depay pulled him down.

The home side ran the show in the first half with only David De Gea standing between them and the goal. A 1-0 lead at half time was not the right reflection of Liverpool’s dominance with the Spaniard denying Coutinho, Lallana and Sturridge several times from close range.

After starting with the 4-1-4-1 formation, Louis van Gaal threw his system in the dustbin at half-time and introduced veteran midfielder Micheal Carrick in place of Rashford to move to a 3-4-1-2 formation. Smalling and Rojo took the right and left centre back positions while Carrick slotted in between them to make it a three-man defence. Blind and Varela were pushed up as wingbacks, with Mata behind Martial and Depay in the attack.

Although it proved to be unsuccessful at the end, with Carrick playing a part in Liverpool’s second goal, the Dutchman’s change of formation helped Man United gain some much-needed possession in the second half.

3. Carrick’s mistake and one-touch goal for Firmino

2-0 Firmino!

— Liverpool Gifs (@LiverpoolGifs)

The match ended 2-0 in favour of the home side, but it could have been much worse for the Red Devils if it wasn’t for their goalkeeper. One shot on target, zero corners and six saves from De Gea – just a few stats from the match, and these numbers would continue to haunt Van Gaal until both teams meet once again in the second leg at Old Trafford next week.  

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