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If the FA Cup is to be Erik ten Hag’s salvation at Manchester United, they will should win it the exhausting approach.
Because the winds of change off the pitch blow by way of Outdated Trafford, it feels as if the Dutch coach is in a single huge job interview between now and Could.
With the FA Cup remaining United’s one remaining hope of silverware, drawing Liverpool within the quarter-finals this weekend is way from excellent.
In distinction to their arch-rivals, Liverpool have one trophy within the bag and have a practical probability of including three extra in Jurgen Klopp’s final swansong.
The standard of Liverpool’s efficiency in final weekend’s title summit draw with Manchester Metropolis solely served to focus on the present gulf in high quality between them and United. So Ten Hag’s group – regardless of beating Liverpool at Outdated Trafford in final season’s Premier League and snatching a draw at Anfield in December – have loads of issues to fret about forward of Sunday afternoon.
Erik ten Hag is searching for salvation within the FA Cup as he fights for his Manchester United future
Casemiro (proper) scored United’s late winner as they beat Nottingham Forest in spherical 5
It was honours even when United and Liverpool final met within the Premier League in December
STEMMING THE SHOTS
United have allowed their opponents 467 pictures on their objective this season in league motion. Solely Sheffield United, who’re backside of the desk, have allowed extra with 501.
Final weekend, struggling Everton out-shot United 23-15, the earlier weekend Man Metropolis had 27 and it averages out over the season at 16.68 per recreation.
It is occurred so typically that it is clearly a part of Ten Hag’s design slightly than by chance.
After the 2-0 win over Everton, the boss spoke in regards to the low high quality of their probabilities, suggesting most had been blocked off at supply or simple to take care of.
However in opposition to Liverpool, such an method has the potential to be catastrophic. At Anfield late final yr, United one way or the other escaped with a 0-0 draw regardless of Liverpool having fun with 34 pictures at their objective.
That may be put down as a uncommon off-day by their normally potent assault and there is completely no probability Liverpool could be so profligate if that they had so many alternatives on Sunday.
All of it ties into the confusion over what Ten Hag is making an attempt to attain at United and what their philosophy is.
Does he need United to have management of video games, dictating the circulate and tempo by way of possession? Or does he need issues extra open and stretched to transition rapidly and damage groups on the break?
Andre Onana was actually saved busy in final weekend’s win over Everton – Manchester United have allowed 467 pictures on their objective in league motion this season, over 16 per recreation
United should discover a approach of proscribing the variety of pictures their opponents are getting in
On the minute, they only appear to have zero management and be broad open anyway, driving their luck far an excessive amount of.
Liverpool are actually effectively positioned to capitalise on that this time and dangerous reminiscences of their 5-0 win at Outdated Trafford within the dying days of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign will ship a shudder by way of United followers.
WORRIES OVER CASEMIRO
Normally, a five-time Champions League winner like Casemiro could be the simply what you want in such a crunch recreation.
Casemiro was sloppy in possession throughout final weekend’s win over Everton
However the 32-year-old Brazilian has been removed from his finest all season. When not sidelined with damage, he is seemed sluggish in his motion and is giving the ball away worryingly typically for somebody of his class and expertise.
In opposition to Everton, he misplaced possession six occasions within the opening 20 minutes alone and at one level 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo really came to visit to supply reassurance.
If United man-mark in midfield, you’ll be able to see an Alexis Mac Allister or Dominik Szoboszlai simply breezing previous Casemiro and Mainoo left with acres of turf to cowl.
The Casemiro-Mainoo mixture has been favoured of late. A lot of it’s by default, with Sofyan Amrabat and Christian Eriksen seeming to lack the physicality to manage.
With Scott McTominay’s extra offensive qualities unlocked this season, there are no extra choices in defensive midfield.
Ten Hag could err on the aspect of warning on Sunday by enjoying Casemiro and Mainoo, plus the legs of McTominay, who can cowl when required from a barely extra superior place.
However the sight of Casemiro on the teamsheet at 2.30pm on Sunday will fill many with trepidation, which is a tragic state of affairs for such an achieved participant.
The emergence of younger midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has been a serious plus level for United
LACK OF FIREPOWER
How Ten Hag will hope and pray Rasmus Hojlund is again to health and out there for Sunday.
The muscle damage that noticed the Dane miss the final 4 video games got here at an particularly merciless time given he’d scored eight in eight video games since breaking his league duck in opposition to Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
We had been starting to see exactly why United paid £72million to signal him they usually look way more toothless with out him.
Two of the video games he missed – in opposition to Fulham and Manchester Metropolis – ended up in defeats, whereas two penalties had been wanted to beat Everton. Casemiro headed their FA Cup winner at Nottingham Forest.
United have solely scored 39 league objectives this season, decrease than everybody right down to Crystal Palace in 14th and Hojlund is the one participant in double figures as Marcus Rashford, Antony et al wrestle.
Rasmus Hojlund had actually hit his stride in United colors earlier than struggling his damage blow
Marcus Rashford was on the right track from the penalty spot as United overcame Everton final week
On condition that making an attempt to play out from the again in opposition to Liverpool’s press is a recipe for catastrophe, United could try to utilise lengthy diagonals on the lookout for Rashford, Haaland and Alejandro Garnacho to get in behind Liverpool.
Hojlund not solely has a bodily edge and velocity to make this efficient, he has an finish product as effectively.
His return could be most welcome however these round him must capitalise on any moments that come their approach too if United are to beat Liverpool.
STIFLING SALAH
Mohamed Salah will probably be licking his lips on the prospect of going through United, particularly now he is again to match health.
The Egyptian has 12 objectives and 4 assists in 13 earlier encounters with United. There is not an opponent he is scored extra typically in opposition to.
Salah specials in opposition to United embody a hat-trick in that aforementioned 5-0 win in 2021, plus a double within the 4-0 Anfield win later that season and two extra within the 7-0 humiliation final yr.
Mohamed Salah completely loves enjoying in opposition to United, scoring 12 objectives in 13 earlier video games
He even scored twice in a shedding trigger for Liverpool the final time this fixture was performed within the FA Cup – a 3-2 United win within the 2020-21 fourth spherical performed behind closed doorways.
So it is hardly the perfect time to come back up in opposition to Salah, on 19 for the season, with no recognised left-back.
With Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia out injured and Sergio Reguilon’s mortgage spell reduce brief in January, United have largely been fielding Victor Lindelof on the left of defence.
The Swede is succesful sufficient however he is a centre-half and Liverpool will look ahead to unleashing Salah at him.
It have to be a substantial fear for Ten Hag forward of the tie.
The Egyptian star will relish enjoying in opposition to Victor Lindelof, slotting in as an auxiliary left-back
NOBODY TO TURN TO
United’s damage considerations actually do not finish at left-back.
Lisandro Martinez’s rehabilitation from a knee ligament difficulty will proceed on worldwide responsibility with Argentina, whereas Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire have additionally been sidelined.
Mason Mount is again in coaching however will not return fairly but and we would not see Anthony Martial in purple once more.
Accidents have been a working theme all season with Ten Hag usually saying his group could be performing a lot better if everybody had stayed match.
That will or will not be true however what is for certain is that when Ten Hag glances behind him on the subs bench, there aren’t too many choices.
Sofyan Amrabat has struggled to rise up to the tempo and depth of the Premier League
The Dutchman does not have too many choices off the bench amid a pile-up of damage points
On Saturday in opposition to Everton, he had Amrabat, Eriksen, Antony, Amad Diallo and goalkeepers Altay Bayindir and Dermot Mee, plus children Willy Kambwala, Toby Collyer and Habeeb Ogunneye.
Whereas United followers like to see children being given an opportunity, it does spotlight the startling lack of depth amid the damage scenario.
Whereas some could return to health for Sunday’s recreation, if United discover themselves within the contest however 1-0 down at, say, the hour mark, does Ten Hag have any gamechangers to show to? Most likely not.
Given Liverpool have 10 gamers out injured too proper now, it is an excuse that will not wash if issues go south this weekend.
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