Erik ten Hag praises Manchester United for 'almost perfect' defensive display in goalless draw at Liverpool
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Published 17/12/2023 at 20:24 GMT
Erik ten Hag thinks his Manchester United side put in the "almost perfect" defensive display as they held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw at Anfield. The hosts had 34 shots on goal, but only eight of them were on target, as they failed to score in a home game for just the second time in 2023. Ten Hag was delighted with the character of his team, as they bounced back from defeats to Bournemouth and Bayern.
Manchester United's Dutch manager Erik ten Hag shouts instructions to the players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 17, 2023.
Image credit: Getty Images
Erik ten Hag was full of praise for his Manchester United defence as they held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield.
The hosts, who won the corresponding fixture last season 7-0, had 34 shots on goal, but found no way past much-criticised goalkeeper Andre Onana, who made eight saves.
It means the Red Devils bounced back from successive defeats to Bournemouth and Bayern Munich, and Ten Hag believes that despite not winning the fixture, his side have a lot to be pleased about.
"It’s a very good performance," the United boss told Sky Sports. "You see the results from Liverpool at home and you then get away with a clean sheet.
"I think we defended as a team so good. We almost didn’t allow them any chances, especially from open play.
"Football’s never perfect, but the way we defended, it was almost perfect. When we make a mistake, there was always a team-mate to sort it out and support each other, to cover each other.
"I think that’s the big win from today. But we have to keep this. We have to bring this in every game."
The result does mean United have now failed to score in their last three matches, and chances were few and far between for the visitors at Anfield.
Even so, they could have won the game in the second half, with Rasmus Hojlund in particular guilty of missing a huge chance when sent through one-on-one.
The summer signing is still awaiting his first Premier League goal after moving to Old Trafford, and his manager admits that he needs to be burying those kinds of openings.
"It’s the best chance of the game," conceded Ten Hag. "What we have to add to our game is more ball regains, get two, three, four passes in, and then you can really hurt them.
"We got them at the end of the second half. There was a very good chance for Garnacho. An even better chance for Rasmus Hojlund, the one-on-one.
"Then you can even take the points from here, but we are very pleased with the performance of the team."
United have now failed to win at Anfield since January 2016, and the draw leaves them in seventh place in the Premier League, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal, who beat Brighton 2-0 earlier on today.
The Red Devils will also be without Diogo Dalot for their final match before Christmas, a trip to the London Stadium to take on West Ham, live on TNT Sports, who sit directly below them in the table.
The defender received his marching orders after receiving two bookings for dissent within a matter of seconds of each other.
"You judge that," Ten Hag concluded, "I’ll leave it with you.”
- - -
TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article