parallel journey but opposite results
Arne Slot and Ruben Amorim took on the task of leading two big teams just a few months apart. Both are expected to reshape the team, bringing home domestic and continental titles. However, since entering that harsh period, their path has begun to turn to another crossroads.
Slot quickly took Liverpool to the championship, for the second time in 35 seasons of the Premier League era. In fact, the first matches of The Kop this season have had good results but they bring a sense of uncertainty, unable to easily dominate the game. The Dutch strategist's continuous problems and the recent 3 consecutive losses have dealt a heavy blow to the Kop's mentality.
Meanwhile, Amorim had a disastrous start to the season when M.U finished 15th in the Premier League, the lowest since 2014. Statistics show that Slot has averaged 2.2 points per game in the Premier League, double Amorim's 1.09 points per game since the Portuguese strategist led Man United.
Part of the difference comes from the heritage they receive. Slot's Liverpool inherited Jurgen Klopp's stable foundation, winning culture and foundation; while Amorim took over at M.U in mid-season in crisis with the pressure to change quickly.
Defense is a common weakness
Despite their different performances, both teams are struggling with the problem of defense. For Liverpool, the emerging weakness is allowing crosses to the far post. According to statistics, Arne Slot's team has missed 7 dangerous opportunities from attacks from the far post, only 3 teams below the bottom of the table are West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Wolves. Meanwhile, last season, they only conceded 3 goals in this way.
Andy Robertson was once a mainstay on the left wing but has been overwhelmed many times in locking the long post, even when he was given the task of defending first. Meanwhile, Milos Kerkez has not proven his mettle when he also made many mistakes. The Hungarian defender repeatedly let the opponent push the ball into a wide space and was not marked.
When Liverpool are exploited from the left wing, the root problem lies on the right wing. The constant change of personnel has caused The Kop's right wing to lack stability to prevent deep crosses towards the second post.
At Man United, the difficulty lies in Ruben Amorim forcing Bruno Fernandes to play deep into the 3-4-3 formation. At first, it was trying to find a balance between attack and defense but in reality lost the Portuguese midfielder's creativity. This caused the midfield to be stretched and the defense was often placed in an alarming state.
The match at Anfield was a turning point
The match between Liverpool and Man United is not only a competition between the two worlds, it is also a test for Arne Slot and Ruben Amorim. Slot beat Man United at Old Trafford in his first spell in charge of Liverpool, while Amorim has never lost to his opponents.
In January, Man United drew 2-2 at Anfield. If they repeat that this time, it will be a testament to the progress of the team under Amorim. On the contrary, it is a sign of fluctuations in Liverpool's defensive system.
Anfield will be a place for both coaches to look in the mirror themselves. A defeat will sink all their efforts after FIFA Days in October. At that time, Man United could not have a second consecutive victory in the Premier League and doubts about Amorim's ability would grow even greater.
As for Liverpool, things are even more serious when The Kop will lose their 4th consecutive match in all competitions. A big crisis will come to them when the upcoming competition schedule is extremely harsh.
