Feature

Gravenberch at the heart of Slot's revolution

By Alex Keble 2 Sep 2024

Alex Keble says midfielder's display against Man Utd epitomises Liverpool's unbeaten start to 2024/25

Alex Keble analyses how Arne Slot maintained his unbeaten start with Liverpool following their 3-0 win at Manchester United.

Not even Arne Slot will have imagined finding Premier League life this easy.

A perfect August – three wins and three clean sheets – suggests that a change of manager at Liverpool has not weakened their title credentials.

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Old Trafford matches are rarely straightforward for Liverpool, but once they grabbed control after a ragged opening 20 minutes it was a stroll for Slot’s side, who were everything Manchester United were not.

The contrast between the two teams was stark. Liverpool’s central midfield was calm and commanding; United’s made individual errors that cost them three goals.

Liverpool’s head coach brought order and control with his tactical shape; United’s contributed to those disastrous moments for Casemiro.

Seven goals scored. Three clean sheets. Three wins.

The new era under Arne Slot at @LFC has started superbly 👏 pic.twitter.com/IgFrwCqmV5
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 1, 2024

It was a performance that would have left even the most optimistic Man Utd supporter questioning what had changed over the summer.

Liverpool, on the other hand, have definitely moved on. Slot’s fingerprints were all over their resounding 3-0 victory at Old Trafford.

Gravenberch leads Slot revolution as Liverpool slow down

A frantic first 20 minutes had promised a Jurgen Klopp-esque game, but eventually things settled and from that point on Liverpool always looked in control.

Their 4-2-3-1 formation brings solidity with those two No 6s at the base of midfield, and so far the main beneficiary of Slot’s formation has been Ryan Gravenberch, who was superb again on Sunday.

Gravenberch made four interceptions, more than anyone else on the pitch, and carried the ball purposefully throughout, looking completely at home in the system.

The way he recycles possession, uses his strength to hold off opponents, and shrug off the press is foundational to Slot’s football.

It was notable how often Gravenberch and his team-mates passed the ball backwards, happy to keep the ball rather than force the issue, often coming to a standstill in order to seize control and kill the match.

Gravenberch pass map — Ryan Gravenberch completed 34 out of 41 passes against Man Utd

That is the fundamental reason why Liverpool are yet to concede a goal this season. The high-octane forward lurches, which always left Klopp’s side open to being hit back on the break, are out - and the result is a more compact shape that allows someone like Gravenberch to flourish.

Casemiro errors reflected Ten Hag’s tactical issues

All of the above is in direct contrast to Erik ten Hag and Man Utd.

Man Utd supporters might see Casemiro’s mistakes as the sort of individual moments a manager cannot legislate for, but the two incidents actually revealed a lot about Ten Hag’s ongoing tactical concerns.

First and foremost, we return again to analysis of the pros and cons of Ten Hag’s desire to play fast, direct attacking football with Man Utd rather than the possession-based system of Ajax.

It was this need for urgency – the instruction to release the United wingers as fast as possible – that made Casemiro play a wayward first-time pass (ahead of the first goal) rather than slow things down. There is no way Gravenberch, playing for Slot, would have made the same rushed decision.

Note how United’s players are so desperate to sprint forward they don’t give Casemiro the right option, with Kobbie Mainoo even looking in the wrong direction.

When Liverpool win the ball back, United have run so far ahead of the play both of their full-backs (circled below) are out of the game.

For the second goal, again you would not expect Gravenberch to attempt to dribble into a throng of bodies as Casemiro did. Slot’s Liverpool would turn, pass, and regroup.

Another important difference between Liverpool and Man Utd is the formation: Slot got control by using two No 6s side by side in a 4-2-3-1, whereas Ten Hag started Casemiro alone, with two midfielders further ahead in a 4-2-3-1.

Without Diogo Dalot coming inside to help, it significantly reduced Casemiro’s passing options - hence the two errors.

Ten Hag’s overall shape, coupled with the instruction to get forward quickly, played a big part in the two mistakes that defined this encounter.

Meanwhile Slot, passing his first major test as Liverpool head coach, put a tactical plan in place that ensured his team never lost control in the way their hosts did.

Three matches in and Slot’s project has already taken shape. Ten Hag is now in year three, and we still cannot say that of his.