Liverpool, who are inconsistent and imprecise, have flaws that prevent them from being strong contenders for the title. This was pointed out by Jonathan Wilson.

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We desire for our top contenders to have flaws. We do not want the competition to be predictable; we want every point to be earned with difficulty. We want a sense of uncertainty in the battle for the Premier League title. However, we do not want our contenders to be too flawed or for the points to be too challenging to earn. As it turns out, too much uncertainty can be quite uninteresting.

Three points can be made from the goalless 0-0 draw between Liverpool and Manchester United on Sunday. Firstly, it is clear that United is currently struggling, but they have at least acknowledged this. Paradoxically, there is something commendable about their pragmatic approach to the game, almost resembling that of a team facing relegation. This is in contrast to when José Mourinho led United to Anfield in 2017-18, where they showed little ambition, ended with a 0-0 draw, and seemed perplexed by the criticism they received. In that game, Liverpool was vulnerable, having only won one of their previous eight matches. However, this time around, Erik ten Hag’s side was up against a United team that had won all seven of their previous home league games this season.

The second point is that Raphaël Varane continues to be a composed and authoritative defender, making his absence in recent weeks puzzling. Ten Hag has clarified that he wants a right-footed player on the right side of the two central defenders and a left-footed player on the left. With Harry Maguire performing well on the right, there was no space for Varane. However, this does not explain why the right-footed Viktor Lindelöf was selected against Everton and Chelsea. In the game against Liverpool, Varane played on the left with Jonny Evans on the right, and he performed exceptionally. However, this may not work as effectively in a match where United have more possession and need their central defenders to distribute the ball more.

The third point is that although Liverpool was at the top of the table going into the weekend, they are not comparable to the team that won the title in 2019-20 or the team that narrowly missed out on the title in 2018-19 and 2021-22. There is still more than half of the season remaining, so they could potentially improve. However, their performance in this match raised many doubts, despite other flawed teams in contention for the title.

The main issue for Liverpool this season has been their tendency to fall behind in games. While they have only conceded 15 goals, which is tied for the best defensive record in the league with Arsenal, a significant number of those goals have been the first ones scored by their opponents. Out of the 17 games they have played so far, they have gone behind in nine of them. However, they have only lost one of these matches and have managed to earn an impressive 18 points from losing positions. This was the first game of the season in which they failed to score, but considering they had 34 shots during the match, it can possibly be attributed to a rare occurrence.

However, their performance raised concerns due to a lack of precision. Out of the 34 shots, half were taken from a distance and were easily blocked by United players, despite easier passing options being available. Both Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai continuously failed to make accurate passes. Even Joe Gomez, who has yet to score a goal in his 10-year career, attempted two shots, indicating a subpar performance.

Darwin Núñez is a player of many qualities, but precision in front of goal is not one of them. After scoring in three games in a row he has now failed to score in any of his last 10 for Liverpool. Being an agent of chaos is perhaps a more useful asset in games you’re not dominating. And, given the two yellow cards Michael Oliver showed Diogo Dalot for dissent in injury time, he was very fortunate not to be sent off for his reaction to being booked for barging Evans after 21 minutes.

However, this could be seen as an integral part of the Jürgen Klopp approach. While Pep Guardiola prioritizes control, Klopp has always been content with embracing an element of chaos. Guardiola’s teams methodically navigate games with composure and organization: pass, pass, pass, pass…pass, pass, cutback, easy goal. In contrast, Klopp’s teams overpower opponents with intense pressing, seeking to catch them off guard – as he stated upon his arrival in England eight years ago, Gegenpressing is the ultimate game-changer; it allows for more room for spontaneity and individual brilliance.

Soccer is a dynamic sport that is constantly evolving as people adapt and improve. Guardiola has also evolved his tactics, no longer relying on the style he used at Barcelona. Instead, he has incorporated a traditional center-forward like Erling Haaland and a winger like Jérémy Doku. Similarly, Klopp has also adapted his approach, recognizing that top teams cannot always rely on quick counterattacks. However, in this particular match, it seemed like a clash between a team that prefers to exploit open spaces and a strong, defensive opponent. As a result, new ideas were quickly exhausted.

Liverpool will still overwhelm most opponents. Few sides so lacking in ambition have a Varane. Thirty-four shots will usually produce a goal, even if many are speculative. But this was another reminder that all the title challengers this season are flawed. And while the spectacle on Sunday may have been disappointing, that generally is to be welcomed.

Source: theguardian.com