The Manchester United vs Everton Monday night encounter at Old Trafford promises to be an intriguing strategic contrast given the opposing systems of play. The chosen formations of each team suggest tactical conflicts across the entire game that will determine the degree of success.
Manchester United | 3-4-2-1
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is strictly married to his 3-4-2-1 system of play that worked well for him at the Sporting Lisbon project. The level of achievement under this system in Manchester has been limited, frustrating, and bordering on negligent. However, 7th in the Premier League standings would imply an uptick in status.
Amorim's system of play won’t change under the Monday Manchester lights; just the chosen personnel will be debated. The tactical challenge ahead for Everton is clear.
The two #10s playing underneath a Center Forward #9, which they don’t have, makes their forward line very narrow. Benjamin Sesko is injured and out, Rasmus Højlund long gone, maybe Matheus Cunha occupies that space now.
With Mason Mount and Bryan Mbeumo floating between lines, United remain dangerous with good players to call upon, but they also remain narrow. Mbeumo wants to start wide and narrow his movement out-to-in, but he won’t be asked to do so. The whole Manchester United forward line will be very clear to Everton.
The Everton question is whether the two central defenders and the double #6 assigned in the next defensive midfield line can nullify the Manchester United central attack.
The only problem is that Everton don’t have any genuine holding midfield player, no #6, we certainly don’t have two of them. Our guys vacate the midfield and search out the ball at every opportunity. If one or maybe two defensively assigned midfielders can stay on task, there is a chance of winning this tactical battle.
Everton fullbacks versus Manchester United wingbacks should balance out; the threat is not from wide, the danger is United playmaking through the middle. If Everton set up and execute correctly, this threat can be reduced.
The outstanding issue is then the double pivot for Manchester United.
Their central midfield two should be outnumbered by the Everton midfield three. The Everton attacking midfield #10 occupies the technically gifted, game-intelligent, deep-lying midfield, more often now including an oddly out-of-position Bruno Fernandes. But these deeper-lying United midfield playmakers can be negatively influenced physically by midfield pressure.
The engine room of the game and number-matching in midfield is critical for both teams.
Everton FC | 4-2-3-1
Everton are a little more flexible in their system of play, but certainly not proficient at it.
4-2-3-1 on paper, 4-4-2 out of possession, and a build-up with 3 at the back, despite an inverted or advanced left back who is neither inverted nor advanced correctly. The recent change at right fullback to James Garner does allow for better ball progression and attacking threat from this previously redundant department. Jake O’Brien has been decent but equally ineffective offensively.
The team selection at right fullback come Monday night away from home against a higher-ranking team will reveal much about the proposed David Moyes game model. Trying to win or trying not to lose?
Where Everton can win success is in the forward group.
Manchester United’s back three are often defending up against just one #9; it will be the same on Monday night, Thierno Barry, I assume. Everton’s hold-up play and linking with flair players will be important to any triumphant outcome.
Manchester United’s central defenders entering midfield should be part of their solution to creating a numbers-up advantage in midfield. Everton’s #7 & #11 must threaten the Manchester United back three, particularly in behind. Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye don’t have the lightning speed to counter into that space, but they both can carry the ball effectively.
So what will happen?
Stylistically, this game has intrigue and jeopardy all over it. Individual battles will always influence outcomes. Dominant players on the day can shift momentum and change the planned course.
This strategic system of play duel is both contrasting and exciting