Liverpool fans were expecting their Premier League-leading team to hammer a Manchester United side who had lost six of their last seven league games ahead of Sunday and were sitting 14th in the league table. However, Ruben Amorim’s side looked a different beast at Anfield and took the game to the home side. If Harry Maguire had not spurned a golden opportunity in the last few seconds of stoppage time, Manchester United would have left Anfield with all three points. The 2-2 draw revived their season but it also exposed a massive weakness in the Liverpool team, which could get exploited for the rest of the campaign.
With Chelsea and Arsenal dropping points this weekend, the draw didn’t have wider ramifications and the Reds still have a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table having played a game more than others.
However, the performance must concern the Liverpool fans as a struggling Manchester United side did expose a few issues in the team with their energetic and on-the-front-foot performance.
Manchester United were brave on the ball and were aggressive when they didn’t have it while ensuring Liverpool were limited to only a few chances in the 90 minutes.
But more worryingly Manchester United exposed a clear flaw in the Liverpool team with their tactics on Merseyside and it could emerge as an Achilles heel for the rest of the season.
Liverpool have a healthy lead at the top of the table but they have to ensure that the Manchester United result does not end up creating bigger problems in the second half of the campaign.
Liverpool have an issue with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Manchester United exposed it
The week leading to the Manchester United game was dominated by headlines of Real Madrid making a bid to sign Alexander-Arnold in the winter transfer window.
Liverpool were annoyed by the bid from the Spanish giants as they are in no mood to sell him in the middle of the season despite his current contract expiring in the summer.
Alexander-Arnold has yet to sign a new deal and as things stand, he can leave Anfield on a free transfer at the end of the season.
The rumours around Real Madrid and the defender have been doing the rounds all year but the bid just ahead of a big game seems to have taken it’s toll.
Alexander-Arnold looked like a defensive liability and Virgil van Dijk was often seen trying to encourage him to do better against Liverpool’s biggest opponents.
However, Diogo Dalot had his best game as a left wing-back against Alexander-Arnold and the right-back’s effort leading up to the first Manchester United goal was panned by one and all.
Manchester United identified the weakness on the right side of Liverpool’s defence and exposed Alexander-Arnold repeatedly throughout the 90 minutes.
It was no surprise that the England star was substituted for the last few minutes of the game as Slot pushed to shore up the backline towards the end.
Manchester United prepared a template for other teams
Manchester United became only the third team to take points from Liverpool at Anfield but they might have exposed a weakness that other teams could exploit.
Liverpool, at times this season, have looked flawless and some consider them the best team in Europe, which is evident from his performances in the Championship.
However, Manchester United exposed a fatal flaw in the right side of their defence and it could now become a template for other teams for the rest of the campaign.
Liverpool are unlikely to sell Alexander-Arnold in January and he is expected to remain a key part of the team for the rest of the season.
Conor Bradley is one more option at right-back but is unlikely to usurp Alexander-Arnold as long the latter is at Anfield.
It will be no surprise to see more teams try to attack the right-hand side of Liverpool’s defence in the upcoming games and try to exploit Alexander-Arnold’s defensive frailties.
Slot will have to find a way to provide more protection to Alexander-Arnold or hope other teams are not as ruthless as Manchester United were in exploiting that weakness on Sunday.
