How Jurgen Klopp enabled Cody Gakpo to shine in Liverpool’s rout of Manchester United - The Athletic

He wasn’t among the quartet of attackers who scored, but the presence of Harvey Elliott in Liverpool’s starting XI proved crucial in their historic 7-0 thrashing of Manchester United yesterday.

Elliott was a surprise starter in a game when many would have expected Jurgen Klopp to use his sturdiest, most disciplined midfield trio. But the decision to start Elliott hinted that Klopp was trying something different in terms of formation. Manchester United never really got to grips with Liverpool’s approach and Elliott helped occupy Casemiro and allowed Cody Gakpo to shine.

While 4-3-3 on paper and in the defensive phase, when Liverpool had possession it was more like a 4-2-2-2. Jordan Henderson played alongside Fabinho to the left, while Elliott acted as more of a secondary No 10 than a right-sided central midfielder. Here, within the opening minute, you can see Liverpool’s shape.

Also within the opening minute, a long ball fell to Casemiro, under pressure from Elliott. The Brazilian took a heavy touch and Gakpo nipped in to intercept. He spun Casemiro and was brought down for a free kick. That would be the story of the first half — those two players on either side of Casemiro causing problems United never solved.

Here, as Liverpool hit a long ball downfield, there’s an interesting example of United’s problem. The defenders have got themselves into a curious shape — the full-backs behind the centre-backs, in part to track Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez’s runs from out to in. Higher up, Casemiro is close to Elliott and Fred is running back with Jordan Henderson. But Gakpo remains free.

The question was about who would shut him down. Here, with Fabinho on the ball and being closed down by Fred, Casemiro is again to the left, keeping an eye on Elliott. Raphael Varane is tempted to step forward and close down Gakpo, who is positioned next to the referee, but that’s dangerous because it would create space for Nunez to run into.

He’s already dragging Diogo Dalot very narrow and this was part of United’s problem throughout the first half — the threat of Nunez made it tough for Varane to step forward.

A minute later, Varane is the man tasked with closing down Gakpo. And below — with Liverpool’s midfield a diamond rather than a box — it’s Lisandro Martinez who has to move a long way out of the defence to mark him.

And here, with Gakpo again in a central position between the lines, it’s right-back Dalot who moves a long way up the pitch, level with Casemiro, to mark Gakpo.

Three Manchester United defenders are being dragged up the pitch by Gakpo because Casemiro is almost solely watching Elliott. There’s nothing wrong with United taking it in turns to mark Gakpo as he moves into different zones, of course, but the problem was that he often went unmarked. Here, he’s calling for a square ball from Elliott.

Here, he’s finding space for a switch of play — again, Manchester United’s midfield trio are concerned with Liverpool’s other three midfielders.

And, gradually, Liverpool started to find Gakpo in dangerous positions. Here, Salah receives a forward ball and sweeps it out to Gakpo, who feeds Nunez.

Here’s another situation when United’s midfield trio are watching Fabinho, Henderson and Elliott. Antony is in the vicinity but is really only watching Andy Robertson. Henderson can poke the ball through to Gakpo and Liverpool have great options in attack.

This was nearly the moment when Gakpo’s freedom proved crucial. Henderson nods the ball onto Gakpo, who only needs to play a relatively simple pass into Salah and Liverpool are in. But he plays it too close to Martinez, who intercepts.

But eventually, the opener came. Again, it starts with Gakpo positioning himself in that inside-left, between-the-lines position.

But first, Liverpool switch the ball out to Robertson on the near side. With Antony out of the picture, Dalot moves up to close him down. For the first time, Gakpo is now watched by Fred, retreating from his midfield role.

Robertson cleverly dribbles inside and waits for the right angle for a pass. Dalot follows him. Fred has now become the right-back but gets this situation badly wrong by anticipating the pass out wide to Gakpo when he should be remaining in line with the ball. He attempts to recover his position, stumbles, and the pass is played in behind him.

And from here, it’s a classic finish — Gakpo checks inside past Varane and bends the ball home to hand Liverpool a crucial 1-0 half-time advantage.

After the break, Liverpool were rampant. Elliott crossed for Nunez to round off a scrappy second goal, then Salah and Gakpo combined brilliantly on the break to make it 3-0.

From there, Manchester United collapsed and, unlike in last season’s fixture at Old Trafford when Liverpool switched off when 5-0 ahead, they kept on playing. Gakpo, Nunez and Salah all ended with two goals, while substitute Roberto Firmino made it seven.

That second half will live long in the memory for Liverpool supporters. But the first half might satisfy Klopp more. In a difficult campaign, when his approach has often been questioned, his tactical plan worked perfectly.

(Top photo: Wyscout)

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