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In a game of tight margins, it was Sir Alex Ferguson's willingness to take some risks and Liverpool's over-riding and ill-conceived negativity that saw Manchester United take a deserved three points from Old Trafford on Saturday. For Kenny Dalglish, the Luis Suarez debacle should not be allowed to deflect attention away from a questionable tactical approach that proved Liverpool's undoing.
Dalglish was outwitted by Ferguson in rather troubling fashion. Ostensibly playing a 4-4-2 formation, Ferguson applied that formula with a dextrous flexibility that eventually unlocked Liverpool's defensive 4-1-4-1 set-up. Most notable was the deployment of Ryan Giggs - who rather than hugging the left-hand touchline, played more narrowly than expected, deployed inside left in the space between Liverpool's midfield and back fours. Effectively, with Wayne Rooney also dropping deep, United had two number 10s - overloading and befuddling Liverpool's lone midfield anchor Jay Spearing.
Adding to his discomfort, Carrick and Scholes took turns in getting into the spaces behind Gerrard and Henderson, exploiting expertly the inherent weakness in the 4-1-4-1 formation - namely all of the lateral space that the single defensive midfielder has to cover in front of his back four.
Spearing was unsurprisingly substituted early in the second half as Liverpool belatedly chased the game - but it would be unfair to place all the blame on his shoulders. Dalglish's decision to have his charges drop off United and let them have the ball in midfield - hoping to strike on the break - handed the initiative to the home side and allowed their midfielders to get too easily behind their midfield line. Gerrard and Henderson simply did not work diligently enough to help out Spearing, as Liverpool found it increasingly difficult to cope with United's high pressing game.
The element of risk in United's approach came in the space that Giggs' deployment left down Liverpool's right; Liverpool had made some positive inroads down that flank in the first half, particularly with Glen Johnson looking dangerous, but ultimately they failed to capitalise on the space afforded, often hampered by Dirk Kuyt's lack of pace. Ferguson and United nevertheless persevered with a plan that played a central role United's victory.
Given that United were fielding a 37 and a 38 year old in midfield, it was very surprising that Liverpool chose to defend so deeply and so passively. Despite the quality of veterans Giggs and Scholes, Liverpool should surely have sought to make their age a factor by pressing them relentlessly when they were in possession and working their legs when they were not. Instead, it was United who pressed high and hard and kept possession with the greater authority - and to great effect in the end.
Dalglish's decision to play a rusty Suarez on his own up front also proved problematic. Despite his best efforts to make a nuisance of himself, his isolation meant that Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans had a rather comfortable day until Liverpool brought on Andy Carroll and switched to a 4-4-2. After the game, Ferguson noted that United's relative discomfort from this point on was as a result of Liverpool being able to get the ball forward more quickly and directly to the big man, who finally gave the Uruguayan some much-needed support. Until that point, as Ferguson explained, Liverpool had to build more slowly and work much harder to get into attacking positions, allowing United to recover and maintain their shape.
Given how Liverpool's consolation eventually came about, and how they had secured a late victory over United in their recent FA Cup fourth-round clash, it was a surprise that Dalglish did not start with the improving Carroll. Evans and Ferdinand certainly had a harder time at Anfield in the cup tie when faced with the muscular Geordie, and his presence played a part in Liverpool's consolation on Saturday, which laid bare United's lack of authority in the air, giving Suarez and co some late hope.
But it was all too little too late for Liverpool - and their fans must have been left wondering if things might have been different had they taken a more aggressive and proactive approach to the game.
Paul Little - find him @little_football on that there Twitter
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