Liverpool – Manchester United: Controlled Chaos at Old Trafford in the FA Cup!

This theme continued throughout the entire match, yielding favorable results for Erik ten Hag. His team’s first goal, scored in the 10th minute, perfectly illustrates how Manchester United exploited the rotation between Gomez and Quansah. The hosts get a free kick near the center of the field, quickly taken towards Rashford, catching Gomez off-guard in the central area. This forces Quansah to cover the flank, trying to mark Rashford. As the team regroups, the confusion generated by this rotation causes Quansah to lose Garnacho, who manages to infiltrate the center and take a shot. Although the ball is initially saved by Kelleher, McTominay is in the right place to send the ball into the net.

Garnacho manages to slip behind Quansah and exploit the created vulnerability.

Another theme observable throughout the match, and one that Manchester United fans have already grown accustomed to, is Erik ten Hag’s preference for a high press executed by five players, while the defensive line stays more withdrawn. This approach leaves the midfield exposed, meaning that once the opponent breaks through the press, they find themselves with the freedom to advance through the center of the field. This strategy has been adopted by Manchester United throughout the season with varying success, being one of the three teams in the top half of the Premier League table with a goal difference of zero or less, alongside West Ham and Wolves.

However, how do the “Red Devils” manage this situation? Typically, when opposing players penetrate the midfield and notice the available space, they direct their run straight towards the goal. At this moment, the defensive line consolidates, crowding the center of the field to limit the options for advancing in that critical area and forcing a lateral pass. The players on the flanks often look for crossing options, but, given the tight marking on players in the box, are forced to pass back or wait, thus providing time for Manchester United players to reorganize defensively.

Núñez is left unmarked on the right side of the box and has enough time to set up the ball for a shot.

The second half continues the trend but added time changes everything

The second half continues in the same vein as the first, with Liverpool speeding up the pace and maintaining slightly better possession than in the first half, but Manchester United manages to equalize in the 87th minute. Bruno Fernandes starts with the ball towards the center of the field, taking advantage of the space left by the visitors’ defense as it retreated, tries a long pass to MacAllister, who was in an offside position, but it is deflected and reaches McTominay. He somehow manages to keep control of the ball and attempts a pass, but it is blocked, and, fortunately for him, it ends up with Antony, who combines with Garnacho on the left flank. He breaks into the box, slips, and sends the ball towards Antony, who demonstrates extraordinary control and mastery, managing to turn and shoot while surrounded by 4 opponents. Thus, Manchester United manages to take the match into extra time.

What seems very important to mention is the fact that, although Liverpool’s strategy appeared chaotic, it was controlled and used as a weapon against their opponents. Observing the average position diagram of the players, it becomes evident that the field was dominated by organized chaos, in which traditional positions were hard to distinguish. The crowding on the diagram from the center of the field is due to the fact that United’s players did not necessarily have a single main area of action but were in many areas of the field, and the average of those areas, being very dispersed, appears to be at the center.

The average position of Erik ten Hag’s players. We cannot recognize any known formation or any order in these positions.

In the extra time, Manchester United capitalized on the fatigue accumulated by Liverpool players, who were coming off a busy period of matches. Manchester United made tactical changes to rest their key exhausted players, an example being the move of Bruno Fernandes to a more defensive position, closer to that of a central defender than a midfielder. Thus, Ten Hag could keep Fernandes on the field for his creativity, but still not require him to run as much, being closer to the defensive line.

Manchester United’s adaptive strategy bore fruit at a critical moment when the 3-3 goal was scored following an error caused by Núñez’s fatigue. His mistake in a pass allowed Manchester United to launch a quick counterattack, which culminated in the goal and demonstrated the importance of physical condition and concentration in the key moments of the game. United players positioned themselves very well in the center of the field and managed to cut off all of Núñez’s passing options. Being tired both physically and mentally, he chose to attempt a pass to a crowded midfield instead of passing back. Thus, the “Red Devils” initiated a lightning counterattack from which Rashford scored.

Manchester United’s victory was sealed by another mistake in the final moments of the match. A corner was cleared from Liverpool’s box, but Harvey Elliot and Wataru Endo failed to communicate well on who should clear the ball, and Garnacho managed to take possession and start a counterattack with Diallo against Bradley. Here, the extreme fatigue of the hosts is also evident; Garnacho would like to run faster, but simply does not have the physical ability to do so anymore.

Conclusions

This confrontation was memorable, not only for its drama but also for the tactical lessons it offered. Liverpool demonstrated the value of adaptability and tactical intelligence, while Manchester United, despite an apparently chaotic approach, showed that chaos can be controlled and turned into a strength. In a match where every detail counted, it was clear that the management of player energy and smart tactical decisions made the difference, and both Klopp and Erik ten Hag are master tacticians with an extremely fine understanding of the game.