Manchester United[1] star Matthijs de Ligt[2] has revealed that his side deliberately targeted Liverpool[3]‘s biggest ‘weakness’ to earn their first win at Anfield in almost a decade.
According to the Dutchman, the Red Devils’ gameplan was to prey on Liverpool’s full-back duo Milos Kerkez and Conor Bradley, who have both endured disappointing starts to the season.
The full-back position has been a problem area for reigning champions Liverpool since the controversial exit of Trent Alexander-Arnold[4] to Real Madrid[5] on a free transfer[6] last summer.
New signings Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have not yet hit the heights they displayed respectively at Bournemouth[7] and Bayern Leverkusen, while Andrew Robertson and Bradley have also displayed a disappointing lack of form so far.
Arne Slot[8] trusted Kerkez and Bradley to start against Manchester United on Sunday, while Frimpong came off the bench in the 89th minute to replace Mohamed Salah[9] at right wing, rather than at right-back.
Speaking after the match, De Ligt told Viaplay[10]: ‘We knew that Liverpool had weaknesses, and that’s their full-backs.
Manchester United star Matthijs de Ligt (left) has revealed that his side deliberately targeted Liverpool ‘s biggest ‘weakness’ to earn their first win at Anfield in almost a decade
United’s shock 2-1 win marked Liverpool’s fourth consecutive defeat across all competitions
Harry Maguire netted the winner with a superb header in the 84th minute to stun Anfield
‘We were all really hyped, and the focus was very high. Today was a game that you really have to be concentrated.’
United, who carved out a much-needed 2-0 win over Sunderland[11] before the international break, made it two wins on the spin for the first time this season with the stunning late victory on Sunday.
Just 62 seconds into the match, United shocked Anfield with a quickfire goal through Bryan Mbeumo and fought hard to hold on to the slender lead until Cody Gakpo[12] levelled terms for Liverpool in the 78th-minute.
Six minutes later, in a huge twist that led to Manchester United winning their first game at Anfield since 2016 under Louis van Gaal[13], Harry Maguire[14] fired the visitors back in front with a superb header against the run of play.
Red Devils fans will hope the win over their bitter rivals marks a turning point for under pressure boss Ruben Amorim[15], who has now earned back-to-back victories in the Premier League[16] for the first time since arriving at Old Trafford last November.
After the match, United legend Gary Neville delivered a scathing verdict on Liverpool’s defensive display, describing the back line as ‘really poor’ and ‘all over the place’.
‘I think the individual performances of Liverpool’s defenders was really poor, and decision making,’ he said on The Gary Neville Podcast.
Milos Kerkez (left) and Conor Bradley (right) were identified as a weakness area for the Reds
The full-back position has been a problem area for reigning champions Liverpool since the controversial exit of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid on a free transfer last summer
Gary Neville, speaking on his podcast, blasted Kerkez for defending like a 10-year-old left back
‘The left back [Milos Kerkez] has not settled in… he plays like a 10-year-old left back, he’s all over the place.
‘At right back Conor Bradley was OK today, I don’t think he did anything particularly wrong, but Van Dijk… I’ve not seen Van Dijk as shaky as that.
‘Now sometimes, when a player comes back from an international break, it’s been him that’s been holding it together, but he had one of his worst games today.’
References
- ^ Manchester United (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Matthijs de Ligt (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Liverpool (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Trent Alexander-Arnold (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Real Madrid (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ free transfer (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Bournemouth (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Arne Slot (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Mohamed Salah (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Viaplay (viaplay.com)
- ^ Sunderland (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Cody Gakpo (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Louis van Gaal (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Harry Maguire (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Ruben Amorim (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Premier League (www.dailymail.co.uk)