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With this weekend seeing the return of one of England’s fiercest rivalries, I’ve done a thread going over the tactical aspects of the game, and what United need to do to pick up all three points.
Specifically, this thread will look over:
• Leeds’ style
• Stopping Kalvin Phillips
• Pressing Leeds high
• 4231 vs 442 Diamond
• Playing through their mid-block
• Attacking Leeds
• Summary
• Leeds’ style
• Stopping Kalvin Phillips
• Pressing Leeds high
• 4231 vs 442 Diamond
• Playing through their mid-block
• Attacking Leeds
• Summary
1. Leeds’ style
Leeds lineup in a 4141, when attacking, this shifts to a 235. When building, they play a variety of formations, with all having a focus on width and when defending they look to revert to their original shape (mostly) and man-mark their opposition.
Leeds lineup in a 4141, when attacking, this shifts to a 235. When building, they play a variety of formations, with all having a focus on width and when defending they look to revert to their original shape (mostly) and man-mark their opposition.
Off the ball, Leeds are extremely hard workers, registering the most pressures in the league this season.
With the ball, they stretch the pitch, overloading wide areas, with frequent switches between flanks before either using their numerical advantage for an overlap or a cross.
With the ball, they stretch the pitch, overloading wide areas, with frequent switches between flanks before either using their numerical advantage for an overlap or a cross.
2. Stopping Kalvin Phillips
The first thing United need to address to beat Leeds is Kalvin Phillips.
Phillips is a fantastic holding playmaker, and arguably Leeds’ best player. However, one part of his game United will need to adapt to are his switches of play.
The first thing United need to address to beat Leeds is Kalvin Phillips.
Phillips is a fantastic holding playmaker, and arguably Leeds’ best player. However, one part of his game United will need to adapt to are his switches of play.
Against Leipzig, we saw United get torn apart by Sabitzer who, when receiving the ball, was instantly looking for a switch the same way Phillips does.
If United want to come away with the three points on Sunday, they will need to address the switches of Kalvin Phillips.
If United want to come away with the three points on Sunday, they will need to address the switches of Kalvin Phillips.
United need to mark Phillips out the game and we will use the UCL game between RB Salzburg and Liverpool to show how.
After 35 minutes, Salzburg were 3-0 down and were getting dominated by the constant switches of Fabinho, but by the 60 minutes, Salzburg had drawn level at 3-3.
After 35 minutes, Salzburg were 3-0 down and were getting dominated by the constant switches of Fabinho, but by the 60 minutes, Salzburg had drawn level at 3-3.
Jesse Marsch (Salzburg coach) on the game:
“We were really struggling to get around Fabinho…we needed to shift things to make it more difficult for him…so we switched from two 6’s to a diamond…This change made it much more difficult for Liverpool to make those big switches”
“We were really struggling to get around Fabinho…we needed to shift things to make it more difficult for him…so we switched from two 6’s to a diamond…This change made it much more difficult for Liverpool to make those big switches”
If United were to play with a diamond vs Leeds it would definitely have the same effect in halting their style.
However, playing Bruno here would be a waste, but I do think playing Donny there would work, especially given his skillset for linking play and pressing.
However, playing Bruno here would be a waste, but I do think playing Donny there would work, especially given his skillset for linking play and pressing.
3. Pressing Leeds high
United should be looking to stamp their authority on the game and press Leeds high.
When Leeds play out, Meslier (and the CB’s) have a number of options, but their preferred choices are the balls into Kalvin Phillips or the fullbacks (highlighted in red).
United should be looking to stamp their authority on the game and press Leeds high.
When Leeds play out, Meslier (and the CB’s) have a number of options, but their preferred choices are the balls into Kalvin Phillips or the fullbacks (highlighted in red).
So, what United need to do is cut these options out.
We’ve already established that there will to be some form of Diamond playing on the field to deal with Phillips, so below is shown how both the 4231 and the 442 Diamond would have to press the fullbacks and DM.
We’ve already established that there will to be some form of Diamond playing on the field to deal with Phillips, so below is shown how both the 4231 and the 442 Diamond would have to press the fullbacks and DM.
4. 4231 vs 442 Diamond
Starting off looking at the 4231, there are some pro’s and con’s here.
Firstly, the system provides natural width and this will be effective in not only countering the wide attacks of Leeds but also allows United to press the fullbacks of Leeds.
Starting off looking at the 4231, there are some pro’s and con’s here.
Firstly, the system provides natural width and this will be effective in not only countering the wide attacks of Leeds but also allows United to press the fullbacks of Leeds.
However, it’s worth noting that we have seen Leeds excel against both the 4231’s of Villa and Arsenal.
In these games, we saw Leeds push their CM’s up, causing the opposition No.10 to be outnumbered in midfield. From here, Leeds easily retained the ball and dominated the game.
In these games, we saw Leeds push their CM’s up, causing the opposition No.10 to be outnumbered in midfield. From here, Leeds easily retained the ball and dominated the game.
The 442 Diamond gives you that spare man in midfield when pressing so solves this problem, and likewise will help United vs Leeds’ press.
It also enables United to play split strikers, which would target the leads flanks well. However, this system does lack width when defending.
It also enables United to play split strikers, which would target the leads flanks well. However, this system does lack width when defending.
IMO, I think United should lineup in a 4231, but Solskjaer needs to be ready to make that switch to the 442 Diamond should United find themselves in a similar position to Arsenal/Villa.
5. Playing through their mid-block
As discussed earlier, when defending Leeds like to go man-to-man and although this is a fairly old defensive technique, it still does stifle a lot of sides, but there are some easy ways to get around them.
As discussed earlier, when defending Leeds like to go man-to-man and although this is a fairly old defensive technique, it still does stifle a lot of sides, but there are some easy ways to get around them.
The first way comes with a progressive ball-playing centreback.
In United’s case, this would be Maguire, but for the example that we’ll look at, it was Zouma. Whenever Chelsea were looking to progress the ball against Leeds, it usually started with Zouma driving forward.
In United’s case, this would be Maguire, but for the example that we’ll look at, it was Zouma. Whenever Chelsea were looking to progress the ball against Leeds, it usually started with Zouma driving forward.
As Zouma drove forwards Leeds are forced to make a decision:
Either ignore him and let Zouma continue, or you have to abandon your man and press Zouma. The latter usually happened, and this gave Chelsea space in midfield, and form here they could bypass Leeds’ mid-block.
Either ignore him and let Zouma continue, or you have to abandon your man and press Zouma. The latter usually happened, and this gave Chelsea space in midfield, and form here they could bypass Leeds’ mid-block.
The other thing Lampard’s side did very well was they consistently moved and positionally rotated off the ball.
Sometimes we’d see Werner and Giroud drop off, sometimes we’d see Havertz move up, but the key point was that it left the Leeds defence extremely disorganised.
Sometimes we’d see Werner and Giroud drop off, sometimes we’d see Havertz move up, but the key point was that it left the Leeds defence extremely disorganised.
Specifically, the movement deeper from the forwards was key, as the Leeds’ CB’s couldn’t follow, otherwise they’d leave space for Chelsea to exploit.
So, whenever Werner dropped off, he was used to bypass the Leeds midfield, something we could see Martial do for United.
So, whenever Werner dropped off, he was used to bypass the Leeds midfield, something we could see Martial do for United.
6. Attacking Leeds
For chance creation against Leeds, United’s best work will be in transition.
As Leeds push their fullbacks high, they leave lots of space for United to counter in down the channels and I expect United’s wingers to take full advantage of this.
For chance creation against Leeds, United’s best work will be in transition.
As Leeds push their fullbacks high, they leave lots of space for United to counter in down the channels and I expect United’s wingers to take full advantage of this.
As when we talked about Maguire being able to drive forwards, Leeds give a lot of time for the opposition CB’s.
Combine this with their relatively high line and we could see United score under similar circumstances to the Lindelöf -> Rashford goal on Thursday.
Combine this with their relatively high line and we could see United score under similar circumstances to the Lindelöf -> Rashford goal on Thursday.
It’s also worth noting that Leeds are atrocious on corners.
They play a hybrid of zonal and man-marking and there’s so many things wrong with how they setup. As a quick summary, you can very easily manipulate their man-markers, and their use of zones leaves too much space.
They play a hybrid of zonal and man-marking and there’s so many things wrong with how they setup. As a quick summary, you can very easily manipulate their man-markers, and their use of zones leaves too much space.
7. Summary
From an attacking perspective, United are well suited to this match. They’re good in offensive transition and possess a lot of players that can hurt Leeds. However, the game will be won and lost on the control of both Kalvin Phillips and the rest of Leeds’ midfield.
From an attacking perspective, United are well suited to this match. They’re good in offensive transition and possess a lot of players that can hurt Leeds. However, the game will be won and lost on the control of both Kalvin Phillips and the rest of Leeds’ midfield.
