FAWSL 2019/20: Manchester United Women vs Liverpool Women – tactical preview

This season of the FAWSL season has had a different feel as we have come off one of the most successful FIFA Women’s World Cup’s in recent memory. A number of players representing English women’s football across different nations were on display in France. The new season started two weeks ago, and we’ve seen some new teams in the league including Manchester United Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women.

Much has been said about Manchester United Women’s expected performance in their first season in the top flight and how they could perform. Casey Stone is looking to make a positive impact and make Manchester United Women an irresistible force akin to their male counterparts of yesteryear. Liverpool Women, however, have tasted success in the FAWSL winning consecutive titles in 2013 and 2014.

While Everton has surprised most fans with their 100% record with no goals conceded and three goals scored, a few teams haven’t made the kind of start they were expecting. Both Liverpool Women and Manchester United Women are languishing at the bottom of the table in 11^th and 12^th place with no goals scored yet.

“I see United potentially being one of the best clubs in the world within the next five to six years.”  Mary Earps.

Manchester United Women haven’t been particularly poor tactically but struggled to impose themselves in an attacking sense. Liverpool Women, on the other hand, struggled to keep possession and threaten Tottenham Hotspur Women defence in last week’s 1-0 defeat. They even endured another loss to Sheffield United Women in the FAWSL Cup. Today’s match represents a chance for both teams to get their first points of the season and kick start their campaign.

This tactical analysis preview will look to illustrate the tactics that both teams will look to use to try to claim three points.

Tactical Analysis  Manchester United Women to keep it organised

Manchester United Women have shown signs of improvement in their game against Arsenal Women last week by coming close to keeping one of the most feared attacking line-ups in the FAWSL out. They ultimately fell to a late winner from Danielle van de Donk. They will look to get better control of the game against Liverpool Women through their disciplined structure and shape.

Their biggest asset against Arsenal Women and Manchester City Women was their defensive shape and organisation. They resorted to a low-block, compact defensive shape off-the-ball that served them well to keep the opposition out. It also showed us glimpses of their counter-attacking potential. They looked dangerous in quick transitions when they managed to dispossess their opponents higher up in midfield while the opposition was unorganised.

Defensively, Manchester United Women set up in a compact, hybrid 4-4-2/4-1-3-2 with the two strikers pressing from the front. While one of Jane Ross or Jessica Sigsworth would look to apply pressure on the ball carrier, the other would attempt to close off different passing options. This would force the opposition to either play long balls or attempt a risky pass that could turn defence into attack.

The above graphic highlights their compactness out of possession, maintaining strict, disciplined lines to ensure there are no easy passing options. Manchester United Women will look to play with a narrow, flat midfield four that will aim to drop deep when Liverpool Women will be in possession when they enter the final third. Having the two wide midfielders come in centrally will create a dense block forcing Liverpool Women to use alternate attacking methods. The Red Devils will need to be wary of counter-attacks if they are caught high up in possession.

The above example shows Arsenal Women transitioning from defence to attack in a swift counter-attack with Manchester United Women caught slightly out of position. However, what the Red Devils did well in the first half was quickly get back into position. This first image shows Arsenal Women using the third man concept with the three players in view. Manchester United Women have two defenders running back to cover the unoccupied areas.

The second image exemplifies Manchester United Women’s willingness and tactical intelligence. They got enough numbers back into a defensive position to stop Arsenal Women from being able to penetrate through the centre forcing them wide. A by-product allowed for more reinforcements to arrive and give them added protection.

We briefly tal