Manchester United first pre-season game at Bangkok was against Liverpool. The Red devils after their victory over Liverpool were presented the 'Century Cup' trophy. The trophy would not take any pride of place in the United's trophy cabinet, even if that section of the club's museum haven't been updated since the last five years.
The outcome of the friendly win over Liverpool in Bangkok was even more pleasing than the trophy 'silverware' it resulted in. The performance against Liverpool was sharp and was well structured in orders even if the United side have had a much longer pre-season training than the Liverpool side.

Although Liverpool supporters were more than United's in the Rajamangala stadium, yet they were kept silent by United's dominance on the pitch – plus Liverpool's errors.

The result may not make up for the 2 league matches between the two clubs last season, but the United's players are looking forward rather than backward to the 2022/2023 season coming up just less than a month.

Erik ten Hag will begin his era at Manchester United against Brighton on Sunday 7th of August, but looking at the recent pre-season friendly against Liverpool. There's already a transformation in the team.

Though we can recall that the team also looked different in Rangnick's first game, but it is clear United can sustain the transformation right in the team. It was expected of Ten Hag to bring some tactical changes to the ways Manchester United had recently been playing.

Watching them train at the national stadium before the pre-season, the result and the fruit of their trainings (labour) were shown against Liverpool. Here are about 5 significant tactical changes in the Manchester United side against Liverpool in the pre-season friendly.


5 Tactics employed by Erik ten Hag to win Liverpool
Compact lines
Underlapping runs
Playing from the back
Intricate triangle
Group pressing

1. Compact lines
When Varane was sighted tackling on a Liverpool left-back about 70 yards up the pitch at the early moment of the game, it shows everyone that United now have much higher line than they had last season.

There have also been a long argument that the United side lacks pace at the centre-back and they do not have a Goalkeeper who plays naturally behind a high line. But Erik ten Hag is kind of determined for the United side to learn.

The tackle Varane made came from a "United throw level" and all the ten outfield players were all inside the final third when Dalot' received the ball.

2. Underlapping runs
During training on Monday, Erik ten Hag always calls for his full-back to make "underlapping runs" and this showed in Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot in the first half, with Diogo Dalot hitting the post after a run that had him receive the ball from Jadon Sancho.

Shaw also, would often make some runs inside Rashford and he took up an 'infield' position as Man United play slow and tried to keep the ball. The full-backs struggled last season, it was nice seeing Shaw fully fit and Dalot also bright in Bangkok.

3. Playing from the back
Lindelof told manchester evening news on Sunday that the team had been working so hard in "playing out from the back". It was noticed against Liverpool 'barely' any of De Gea's goal kick left the penalty box.

The United's central defenders regularly drop alongside De Gea (at set-up), with Varane and Lindelof in the first half and Alex Telles and Eric Bailey in the second half all happy to receive the ball in very tight areas and trying to tempt Liverpool to themselves.

That tactics is part of the tactics most top clubs use and it is likely for Ten Hag to employ it at Manchester United. But the Question is does he have the players (Personnel) to do it?

Eric Bailey was happy to carry the ball during the second half when a pass was not on, he went past the Liverpool midfield to set up Manchester United fourth goal.

4. Intricate angle
Erik Ten Hag in Mondays training session, reminded his side the importance of making triangles. During the Liverpool game, Shaw's central position sometimes added positively to Ten Hag's side passing triangle and this is what he frequently does when the game slowed down and they find it difficult to break on Liverpool.

The Intricate triangle was what they did in the build up to the United's first goal.

5. Group pressing
The first tactic (Compact lines) actually helped Man United to put more effective pressure on Liverpool. The Group pressing tactics is noticeable when they pressurize Liverpool's defence, they did so by commiting 4 to 5 players to the task.

The tactics proved effective when Martial won the ball back and scored the 3rd goal. The way Manchester United pressurize Liverpool forced the Klopp's side into mistakes, though Liverpool at couple of times in the first half found a way to "play through" whenever United pressurize them but they couldn't make use of it.

They suddenly break on couple of times, with Luiz Diaz forcing a save from de Gea. The other chances were wasted, Liverpool hit the post and some chances led to goal kick.



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