I agree that this is not the game for 4-3-3 - our high press worked against Napoli, but United will not give us the opportunity, they are set up for long balls out of defense into Lukaku/Fellaini. When we have the ball, they will sit in a low block and try to limit our space. We will need our best creative players and passers of the ball for this one to break through. The good news is that if we can isolate Mo or Sadio against United’s CB with any kind of regularity, we can destroy them.
I would like to see the most attacking team possible. 4-2-2-2 with a culmination of the recent trend towards “two in behind and two between the lines” strategy, which worked well against Burnley and Bournemouth. Young did well to control Mo in the past, so Mo should obviously play in the middle and run directly at their dodgy CBs and Sadio should do the same. Firmino and Shaqiri to play as two #10’s in attack and covering the wings in defense. In midfield, I think this is the game to unleash Fabinho-Keita double pivot on them. We won the Napoli game with energy and stamina; but this one we should win with quality.
4-2-2-2:
—————Alisson—————
———-Lovren——Van Dijk—
Trent——————-——Robbo
———-Keita——-Fabinho——
—-Shaqiri——-——Firmino—-
————Salah——Mane——-
Subs: Mignolet, Phillips, Milner, Gini, Hendo, Lallana, Sturridge