Analysis of Ander Herrera's performance as Man United frustrate Liverpool in 0-0 draw

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  • The first Premier League game after the international break didn’t bring with it the excitement the league has grown accustomed to.

    Instead, Liverpool and Manchester United played out a dull 0-0 draw at Anfield.

    The visitors were happy to soak up the pressure and hardly offered a threat on the counter while Jurgen Klopp’s side were unable to break down Jose Mourinho’s stubborn defence.

    Here, we focus on Ander Herrera’s performance as he was handed a rare start.

    Basic stats

    Shots – 0

    Interceptions – 2

    Tackles – 9

    Dribbles – 1

    Passes – 54

    Key passes – 0

    Pass Accuracy – 77.8%

    Touches – 74

    Aerials Won – 1

    Effectiveness

    Mourinho was always going to keep things tight away at Anfield and while Paul Pogba’s absence was a blow, Herrera’s inclusion played perfectly into those plans.

    United looked to contain a vibrant Liverpool side and the Spaniard’s tenacity was crucial, making seven tackles in the opening 18 minutes alone.

    However, he didn’t offer much in possession and couldn’t drive United forward in the way Pogba would seek to do. He spent most of his time trying to contain Philippe Coutinho who gave him the slip on a few occasions.

    Ander Herrera (L)

    Ander Herrera (L)

    Key moments

    9th min: Finds Ashley Young in space down the right flank who crosses into the box but Dejan Lovren heads it away.

    62nd min: Coutinho threatens on the edge of United’s box, twisting and turning. The Brazilian is brought down just inside the area by Herrera but nothing is given.

    Our verdict

    This game was a great opportunity for Herrera to prove his worth and force his way back into the United starting XI but he didn’t impress a great deal. He put a shift in, which was expected and made more tackles than anyone else, but also flew into challenges most frequently while lacking composure on the ball.

    6/10

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