Talking tactics: Liverpool highlight importance of closing down Manchester United’s midfield

by Sam Thompson

Manchester United defeated Liverpool last weekend in a game where matters off the field were talked more about than those on it. Wayne Rooney continued his good run of form, after his performance against Chelsea the previous weekend, but he was not the biggest contributor towards his side’s 2-1 victory. That honour goes to the midfield pairing of Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick.

Ferguson opted for two passers

With Ferguson opting for a 4-4-2 formation, most expected the familiar partnership of Carrick and Ryan Giggs. The Englishman typically sits deep and spreads the play, whilst his partner is used as more of a runner, often arriving late in the box. Instead, Carrick was partnered by Scholes with Giggs moving to the left wing, meaning United’s central midfield partnership contained two ‘passers’ and the two players with the best passing accuracy and highest average number of passes per game at the club.

Ferguson typically prefers a ‘passer’ and ‘runner’ pairing. One of Carrick and Scholes (both ‘passers’) are usually partnered with Fletcher (a ‘destroyer’), Cleverley (more of a playmaker) or one of Anderson, Phil Jones, Ryan Giggs and Park Ji Sung (all of whom are ‘runners’). The thinking behind this is that one player will be used to recycle possession from deep whilst the ‘runner’ can push forward, get into the box and generally cause problems further forward.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s usage of Scholes and Carrick proved to be a stroke of genius however. The pairing contributed nearly a third of United’s 620 passes, averaging 91% and 94% passing accuracy respectively. Despite both being passers, their roles were slightly different. Scholes typically sat deeper, especially in the first half, and made shorter passes with the aim of keeping the ball moving to try and find a gap in Liverpool’s compact defensive shape. Carrick was given more licence to play penetrative passes and was expected to keep switching play to the left or to the right.

Scholes and Carrick show Spearing a thing or two

As a result of playing two passers it was vital to close down United in the centre of the pitch. Demba Ba highlighted this superbly when Newcastle beat Manchester United 3-0 at the start of the New Year. The Senegalese striker immediately closed down Carrick every time he got on the ball, showing that manager Alan Pardew understands that it is essential to stop Carrick from playing, if you are to stop Manchester United from playing. This was again highlighted on Saturday, by showing what happens when United’s ‘passer(s)’ in midfield are not closed down.

Liverpool lined up with a three man central midfield of Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson playing either side of a slightly deeper Jay Spearing. Liverpool had a 3 v 2 advantage in midfield yet were still dominated – United’s two man midfield played a total of 193 passes and had 212 touches, Liverpool’s three man midfield played 25 less passes despite the extra man and had only 203 touches between them.

This was all because United’s central pairing were not closed down well enough, meaning Scholes and Carrick could have more touches, make more passes and control the game from the very start. Both players were experienced enough to know that they would have to be patient if they were break down Liverpool’s tight 4-5-1 shape and both were creative and clever enough to keep recycling possession and dictate the game before playing a killer penetrative pass.

Evra and Suarez took the headlines and Rooney got the goals, but it was Scholes and Carrick who got United ticking to keep them right behind Manchester City.

Sam Thompson is a new contributor to Just Football. Find him at his blog here or follow on Twitter @TTTFootball

English Premier League, Football Tactics, Liverpool, Manchester United, Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes