'Pretty obvious': Jamie Carragher explains exactly what Arne Slot was trying to do with his line-up vs Man United

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Liverpool fans were slightly bemused after seeing Arne Slot’s team selection against Manchester United on Sunday.The Reds boss has made some strange decisions regarding line-ups over recent weeks, with supporters unclear as to what the overall plan is.That continued on Sunday, with Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike once again dropped from the starting XI.Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis. It did not take long for the decisions to come back to bite Slot, as Liverpool found themselves 1-0 down within just one minute at Anfield.There were some better moments throughout the first-half, but it was still difficult to tell exactly what Slot’s plan really was.Not for Jamie Carragher, however, with the former Liverpool centre-back explaining that the Reds were attempting to get two midfield players more advanced for a five against five with United.Photo by Carl Recine/Getty ImagesLiverpool aiming to get 5v5 against Man UnitedThe one change that fans were perhaps expecting to see against United was Wirtz coming back in, especially after a positive 45-minute display against Chelsea.Instead, Slot went with the out-of-form Alexis Mac Allister, and looked to get both the Argentine and Dominik Szoboszlai to push forward and join the attack.READ MORE: Gary Neville stunned after seeing Virgil van Dijk moment during Liverpool vs Man United“Just looking at the midfield positions.

Liverpool are trying to get five players up against Man United’s back five,” Carragher mused while on commentary for Sky Sports.“Mac Allister is not in front of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, he’s trying to get in behind, the same as Szoboszlai.”The tactic almost worked inside 25 minutes, with Mac Allister and Szoboszlai combining for the No. 10 to get a tame shot away.“That position there, Szoboszlai in behind the two midfield players, Mac Allister’s going for the hit,” said Carragher.

“It’s pretty obvious in this first 25 minutes what Liverpool’s tactic is and how they want to go about hurting Man United.”Carragher surprised by Florian Wirtz snubIf this was Slot’s plan – and Carragher is clear that it was – then it would have made sense for the Liverpool head coach to play Wirtz.The German would naturally have found the gaps in between the United lines, and would have provided a better attacking threat with the ball at his feet.Carragher admitted that he was certainly surprised by Slot’s decision to overlook Wirtz, but suggested the Dutchman may have one eye on Wednesday’s game against Eintracht Frankfurt.“I must say I was a little surprised,” said the Liverpool legend. “After the international break it’s almost starting afresh, but Liverpool have got a midweek Champions League game in Germany, maybe the manager thinks that’s the best place for him to get back on track.