PBP: EPL - liverpool FC vs Manchester United FC - Jan 19, 2020 [R]

With Shaw looking to be back and Ole's comments below in the embargoed part of his presser, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Shaw getting the start today.

Solskjær: "Potentially we have the best left-back in England. Luke [Shaw] has the potential to be the best one, and that is the great challenge for him now, Brandon [Williams] has come in and done so well." #mulive [men]

— utdreport (@utdreport) January 18, 2020

Should be Williams. All day...

 

Going 3 at the back by the looks of it (which is fine I suppose under the circumstances). Shaw as the 3rd CB is, well interesting. Let's see what comes of this.

Pool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Salah, Firmino

 

Same shit as last time. Does Ole think other coaches dont adjust? We watched Pep make adjustments then kill us

 

Rash is a huge loss given his form and goal record against Liverpool. Them having attacking fullbacks suited his game in particular.

Either a back 3 with Shaw presumably LCB or maybe a 442 with AP & BW as narrow / deep wingers to double up on Mane and Salah?

Either way, probably split strikers as per usual in James and Martial to avoid / move Liverpool CBs and try to find the space behind their attacking fullbacks.

Dont think we have enough with our key players out, but worth a try certainly as we have very few options left with what we have available.

 

Captain Slabhead will rally the troops with his leadership and guidance.

 

United sure could use some Al Blades type motivation and leadership today...

 

Luke Shaw at LW. We're definitely winning this match. #OleIn

 

Can’t see us getting any result here. Martial will be starved of service and without Rash we don’t have much of a counter. Our midfield, despite Ole trying to protect them, will get destroyed. And Shaw at LCB will be a disaster.

I don’t expect much so anything close will be a bonus.

 

The boss has explained @MarcusRashford's absence from the United squad 👇#MUFC #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/cZ6Qqz2FBP

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 19, 2020

 

Agree - with no Pogba, McT or Rashford this feels we will be spending the whole game in deep retreat and we know how that normally goes.

Interesting to see if Brandon Williams manages to keep his head - I like him but a red card is inevitable at some point with that kid and this game has the capacity to light his fuse.

 

The hope would be that the team goes in with the mentality that they've got absolutely nothing to lose, given the current circumstances. And that they just go out there and give it their absolute all: may not be enough when it's all said and done but at least they can hold their heads high, in the knowledge that they went down fighting.
Nothing is expected from them: go out and play with that in mind and let the chips fall where they may.
Bottom line though: "******** these m'fers!"

 

That's cold...

Luke Shaw Starting because Salah & Mane can't go anywhere near Pork#OleTacticalGenius

— adoRED Range MUFC 🇾🇪 (@NicwMUFC) January 19, 2020

 

Agree - if the choices are Tuanzebe, Bailly or Shaw none of whom have played much, then would rather have risked one of the others at RCB than Shaw at LCB.

If not a back 3 (Sky now showing us training as a back 4 in warm-up with Shaw at LB) then Dalot maybe. This is where Ole would probably have played Young if he thinks a bit too soon for BW to go up against Salah.

 

Actually forgot about him - he is dead to me

 

AP with a terrible cross from the free-kick.

 

Positive start at least, in the sense that we're not letting Pool seize control of the game and overrun us early.
Let's see how long that can last though.

Not that long unfortunately as van Dijk, on a corner of course, gives Pool the lead.

 

James a couple of chances to play in Martial but has fluffed them both.

We concede again at a corner. 1-0.

Same garbage zonal marking where BW meant to be stopping VvD getting the run and Harry doesn't get the header.

 

Why the hell was Williams marking VVD? Or was he just covering for Maguire?

 

Stupid system anyway (disruptors / zonal marking), but why have the least experienced player on the pitch in Brandon Williams be the disruptor on VvD?