The risk of failure, even a heavy loss, is looming for Man Utd ahead of their trip to Liverpool. The last time they played at Anfield, Man Utd suffered a 0-7 defeat. This time, the "Red Devils" are even weaker as their list of absent players - including many key players - is enough to form an additional squad.
There are many reasons why Man Utd fans are worried about this match. According to Sky Sports' analysis, the visitors' biggest weakness will likely be a "delicious bait" for Liverpool to exploit.
Specifically, coach Erik ten Hag's team is one of the worst teams in the Premier League at counter-attacking so far. Opta data shows that Man Utd is the team that allows opponents to create the most chances and shoot the most from situations of transition between attack and defense.
Man Utd in crisis. (Photo: Getty Images)
This is the result of the adjustments that coach Erik ten Hag applied to Man Utd. The Old Trafford team played with a higher formation, put more pressure, made the opponent lose the ball more and created more opportunities from such plays.
However, the problem lies in the fact that the "Red Devils" do not have an effective response plan when the opponent can neutralize their attacks. Man Utd always exposes large gaps, especially on the 2 wings when their midfielders are not capable of controlling and the team's formation is not good enough to cover each other.
The 0-3 defeat to Bournemouth was the clearest warning for Man Utd. The "Red Devils" opponents in the previous round were the team that scored the most goals from transitional plays. The second team on this list was Liverpool, followed by West Ham and Aston Villa - also the next opponents that will face the "Red Devils".
Man Utd's defense always faces the threat of counter-attacks from opponents. (Source: Sky Sports)
It is clear that Man Utd are in a very vulnerable state. Both in terms of strength and playing style, coach Erik ten Hag and his team are facing difficult problems. Meanwhile, their opponents are one of the best teams in the Premier League at the moment and are at the top of the table.
Liverpool have scored 36 Premier League goals this season after 16 games, more than double Manchester United's 18. They also lead the way in shots and expected goals - a measure of the quality of chances created.
Meanwhile, Man Utd are sixth from bottom in terms of goals. They have failed to score in five games, only bettered by Burnley, Everton and Sheffield United. Their expected goals are 11th in the league and no team has a lower chance conversion rate than Man Utd.
Man Utd likely to lose heavily to Liverpool. (Photo: Getty Images)
The poor form of the attack is primarily due to personnel factors. The coordination between Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes is no longer as effective as before. Meanwhile, the important contract named Rasmus Hojlund has not made much of an impression on the domestic arena so far. Despite scoring 5 goals in 6 matches in the Champions League group stage, the Danish striker has yet to score a goal in the Premier League.
However, the 20-year-old’s fault is not entirely on the books. In fact, Hojlund averages just 26.8 touches per game – only William Osula and Erling Haaland receive fewer. The Dane often has to drop back into midfield to receive the ball, despite being a Haaland-style centre-forward.
The statistics are not in Man Utd's favour ahead of the match against Liverpool. Therefore, this could very well be a heavy defeat for the "Red Devils", unless they produce a surprising performance that is completely different from what the team has shown since the beginning of the season.
Phuong Mai
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