When Manchester United visited Liverpool, their tactics surprised everyone. Instead of playing out from defense, United started long balls directly from defense. Keeper Senne Lammens and coach Ruben Amorim confirmed the long-ball strategy was planned beforehand.
Instead of adapting mid-match, United persisted with a direct approach from kickoff, hoping to disrupt Liverpool’s high press and dominate.
Why did they do it?
Amorim was aware that Liverpool would push hard and force mistakes. United kept the midfield from getting pinned with long passes. They were aware of the situation, Lammens claimed, the crowd, the pressure, the opponent, and played accordingly.
The strategy was complemented by the team’s physical attributes: powerful forwards, aerial strength, and players willing to press for second-balls.
Did it pay off?
Yes — United won. They didn’t have possession, but they defended well and made the long balls work for them with pivotal moments. They scored early, wore Liverpool down, and took charge when it counted.
Liverpool had a lot of opportunities, but the direct style frustrated them and kept United alive.
Bigger implications for United
This victory demonstrates that Manchester United are prepared to sacrifice their identity for matches. The long-ball strategy may not be aesthetically pleasing, but sometimes it is effective. It also provides a tactical aid for difficult away matches.
But there’s a warning: too much dependence on one style may make United predictable. Against sides more used to playing on the back-foot, they’ll need more options.
Author’s Insight
Football is as much about pragmatism as it is about innovation. United’s long-ball approach at Anfield is not about eschewing finesse—it’s about taking a different route to victory when the traditional paths are closed off. Long balls do not always win games, but they become a weapon when applied with intention and supported by the proper team. For United, this game could be a tipping point: the one in which they demonstrated that they can win big away from home. Now that the challenge is maintaining that edge with also playing with panache.
As featured on ManUNews.com
