The starting lineup for this match was exactly the same as the last one against Chelsea, which was inconsistent with my expectation that "Szoboszlai could replace the long-distance traveling Mac Allister at left defensive midfielder, with Frimpong at right back." Mac Allister's condition is usually not great after long-distance travel during international match days, and in this match, he only had 22 touches, leading to a fatigued defense on the left side. This might be related to the injury at the beginning of the match, and it could also be connected to the coach asking him to push up to play the number 10 role. Both he and Szoboszlai were positioned up front in the number 10 role, causing a disconnect in midfield, with only one defensive midfielder, Gravenberch, left behind, which meant that the opponent could directly face the defense on the counterattack. Conceding only two goals could be considered fortunate.
Although Bradley was very spirited, the attack lacked some creativity, resulting in an inability to organize attacks on the right side, and Salah had little impact. Frimpong came on late in the match and delivered one very threatening cross, but unfortunately, Gakpo headed it wide. If he had come on earlier, there might have been more opportunities.
The coach may have arranged for an attacking left tilt, with Gakpo being the main threat in this match, while Isak in the center and Salah on the right had few chances to get the ball. Gakpo scored one goal and hit the woodwork three times, which was a good performance. The problem was that Gakpo's crosses were mainly aimed at Salah, who is not good at heading. Whether this Gakpo-centered style of play is suitable is still questionable, as it seems to waste the talents of other teammates.
It wasn't until the 62nd minute that Slot made adjustments, bringing on Ekitiké, Wirtz, and Jones to replace Mac Allister, Gravenberch, and Bradley, changing the formation to 4-2-4, with Jones and Wirtz in midfield and four forwards up front from left to right: Gakpo, Ekitiké, Isak, and Salah. This tactic of stacking forwards is quite risky, possibly due to a lack of regular practice and insufficient chemistry among teammates, relying solely on individual star performances. Due to Manchester United's decline in fitness, Liverpool controlled the game during this period and created some opportunities, but the players lacked chemistry, even interfering with each other at times. In the 72nd minute, Chiesa replaced Isak, and during a scramble in the penalty area, Wirtz calmly passed the ball from the middle to the left, where Chiesa made a short pass in front of goal, and Gakpo scored with a quick shot. By this time, it was already the 78th minute, and I actually hoped Frimpong would come on to replace the exhausted Salah, but it wasn't until Manchester United scored again that Slot remembered to make substitutions, which was a bit late.
The four consecutive losses do not reflect the team's strength but are more about tactical arrangements and mental state issues. Ekitiké's red card had a much larger impact than expected, disrupting the entire rotation plan of the team. For the next Champions League match against Frankfurt, rotations must be made to give new players more time to integrate.
My suggested starting lineup:
Goalkeeper: Mamardashvili
Center-backs: van Dijk, Gomez
Left-back: Roberson
Right-back: Frimpong
Defensive Midfielders: Jones, Szoboszlai
Attacking Midfielder: Wirtz
Left Winger: Chiesa
Right Winger: Salah
Striker: Ekitiké
However, under great pressure, Slot may become more conservative, and Konate and Gakpo are likely to continue playing. If rotations are insufficient, it may have more adverse effects on the upcoming matches.