Man United news: Expert ‘amazed’ by one thing he saw as ‘devastating’ Liverpool footage analysed
Alex McLeish was “amazed” by how open Manchester United left themselves against a “devastating” Liverpool attack in Tuesday’s 4-0 defeat.
The former Scotland boss, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, admitted he thought the Red Devils would try to contain Jurgen Klopp’s men to get a “stranglehold” in the game.
In footage relayed by Sky Sports (19 April), Liverpool cut United open as Luis Diaz opened the scoring after just five minutes.
United’s high line left McLeish astounded in the opening minutes of the game.
He insisted the Red Devils contributed to their own “undoing”.
“You just couldn’t see any other outcome other than a Liverpool victory,” McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge.
“I was amazed at how quickly Liverpool went into the lead. I thought Man United would organise themselves a wee bit better in terms of not losing early goals.
“They had to try get a stranglehold in it, even if it meant defending for a wee while. Maybe there’s a philosophy at Man United that seems to be: ‘We don’t defend, we just attack.’
“There was the undoing. You also have to say there were world-class players making world-class goals. If you look at the first goal, Liverpool’s counter-attack was devastating.
“But at the same time United left themselves really high and dry with a minimum number of players.
“When you’re defending, you would always say let’s always have one more defender than their attackers. It makes things a little bit more compact.
“But Liverpool ripped them apart with their speed and the movement. Alexander-Arnold getting forward as if he’s a right winger. It’s just wonderful football.”
In other news, fresh Liverpool fears raised after Thiago Alcantara confession post-Manchester United.