Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag defended his team’s performance against Liverpool, emphasizing that open, attacking contests are the norm when facing such high-caliber opponents.
United, similar to their recent matches against Brentford and Chelsea, came under significant pressure. Liverpool dominated the first half with 15 shots on target compared to United’s zero. Despite trailing at halftime due to a Luis Diaz goal, United fought back in the second half. Goals from Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo gave them the lead, but a late Mohamed Salah penalty secured a draw for Liverpool.
When questioned about a potential change in tactics, Ten Hag remained firm: “Absolutely not. Playing against teams like Chelsea and Liverpool, it’s inevitable that the game will have transitions. These are top teams, both looking to dominate and leaving space for counter-attacks.
“There were moments defensively where we could have reacted better during transitions, but overall, we played well. Our only goals conceded were from set plays. We could have done better in our own transitions, particularly players like Garnacho and Bruno. We had a chance to take the lead early on.”
Ten Hag’s comments suggest he is committed to an attacking style, even against strong opponents. While acknowledging areas for improvement, he believes this approach can yield success.
