12 Thursday, August 2nd, 2018 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com SPORTS The name of the game for both teams was pressure. While there are little stakes in a preseason game — even in a rivalry matchup — the pressure exerted, not by the situation, but by the players on one another made the difference. Squashing any remote chances created by Manchester United, Liverpool FC swarmed the midfield and controlled the pace of play for the majority of the first half. Any signs of a play created, despite the heroics of Manchester United’s Alexis Sanchez, were crushed by a Liverpool defensive line that would oftentimes double up on the man-to- man coverage, making it hard for the forward as well as the midfielders to push. The heavy press offered success on the offensive end by allowing Liverpool more possession time in the offensive zone. By forcing the turnovers on Manchester United’s side of the field, less was asked of the offensive end of the midfield and allowed the forwards all the room in the world to move — a strategy that allowed Liverpool to dominate the game against Manchester United in a 4-1 win. The offensive pressure forced the Manchester United defense to respond. But while it did, it came only in high-danger situations. The defensive pressure was finally forced off Manchester United. However, it came off like a procrastinator would, carelessly, lazily and, often times, too late. The last-minute effort by the defensive line worked during a few of the early scoring chances, diverting the passing lanes so that the passes were too far forward for Dominic Salanke or Mohammed Salah to garner within the box. Even when garnered, the stuffed box would be too crowded for a clear shot from the Liverpool forwards. But as Liverpool caught on to the opportunities it was given, it made the most of the space allowed by the Manchester United defense to start a play. The time given was enough for the dynamic duo of Salah and forward Sadio Mane to force chances. Around the five-minute mark, midfielder Rafa Camacho started the ball out with time to view for the open man. Spotting Mane, the pressure was then transferred toward the young forward, who’s offensive talents can’t be ignored, as the ball was passed to him. Opening the opportunity for Salah, the Egyption forward found himself by the near-post with no one in front of him. Ball at his feet and inches away from the goalline, Salah’s slight back- heel tap went astray, and the ball was cleared and out of play. The pressure from the attack didn’t stop from there. Salah continued his offensive onslaught with a header coming around nine minutes. The attack came amidst a crowd of three Manchester United defenders and seemingly caught the defense off guard, as his header went uncontested and sailed straight toward the top of the goal. If it weren’t for the heroics of a last second touch by the Manchester United goalkeeper, who extended himself fully for the save, the score would have better reflected the dominant play by Liverpool to that point. The breakthrough finally came at the 28th minute, as Liverpool finally found the payoff from its repeated offensive pressure, when Salah and Mane found one another to create a threat Manchester United just couldn’t settle. Forced into a bad position by his late contest, defender Demitri Mitchell gave in and fouled Salah at the baseline within the box — allowing Salah to draw the penalty. Mane put an end to the open frames of the scoreboard and tacked on a point for Liverpool with a line drive to the left of the goal during the penalty kick. Despite the wavering methodology that the defense had played with, the offense of Manchester United stayed true to what had created the little chances the team did generate — which were chances through counters. Earlier in the game, Manchester United had seen its only other scoring opportunity from a counter that had opened the fast break. Even while Sanchez was falling down as he controlled the ball, he managed to lob it to an open man who found the back of the net but was ruled offsides. Immediately after the score from Liverpool, Manchester United countered with a quick draw from the circle and a pass to midfielder Juan Mata, who redeemed his team’s performance by drawing a free kick just slightly outside of the box and within scoring distance. With a creative shot toward the top left of the goal, in a curve ball, the score was evened by midfielder Andreas Pereira, and the momentum seemingly turned in favor of Manchester United for the first time. However, whatever momentum the team had garnered was quickly diminished through, again, the efforts of the Liverpool defense and midfield. Where Manchester United’s midfield was unorganized and frustrated, Liverpool’s thrived through concise passing that didn’t settle with just winning a possession but turning it into a scoring opportunity. While the halftime score was even, very few who watched the game could call Manchester United’s efforts on par with Liverpool’s. It was simply a one-sided affair. And the score showed that after the second half. Soccer team embraces spectacle of Liv - Man U MEN’S SOCCER Liverpool vs Man Utd TIEN LE Summer Managing Sports Editor Read more at MichiganDaily.com ALEC COHEN / DAILY Liverpool and Manchester United faced off at the Big House in front of 100,000+ JACOB KOPNICK Summer Managing Sports Editor Mohammed Zakyi and Umar Farouk Osman stood at the first row of Michigan Stadium excitedly gazing out at the spectacle before their eyes. It was the day before legendary English football clubs Liverpool and Manchester United were set to face off at the Big House, and Zayki and Osman came to watch the Meyersides practice. For the rising sophomores, it represented the ultimate goal: becoming a professional soccer player and achieving international fame. After all, a sizeable crowd had gathered just to watch the global powerhouses practice before a preseason friendly. For Zayki, Osman and the rest of the Michigan men’s soccer team, this day had long been a big red X on their calendars. Not only will the experience of watching the best in the world matchup on their home turf instill a deep desire to reach the next level, but it will also serve as a unique learning and bonding opportunity for the team. “When we heard about this two years ago, because we came here two years ago for our visit and we heard they were coming to play here, I was like, “Bro, that’s gonna be lit,” Zayki said. “So, we couldn’t wait to see them and hopefully tomorrow we get to see Manchester as well. Everyone’s excited to be here, all the soccer guys, so it’s gonna be great.” More than just for the boys on the soccer team, Zayki hopes that having the two powerhouses face off in the United States will expand the influence of the world’s most popular sport to the states. “For me, personally, I want Americans to see how big soccer is because soccer’s not really broadcasted really well here,” Zayki said, “so people coming out to see this game will motivate them to come more to see extra games and stuff, so it will just (make) Americans more aware of soccer in general.” Added Michigan coach Chaka Daley: “This is the third time we’ve hosted it at the University of Michigan, so our school certainly understands the importance of the game to the community, to Ann Arbor, to the state of Michigan, so that’s great, from that standpoint, and then our players and our staff understand the significance and the fortunate nature we have in hosting such world powers at our place, and the humility we gotta have by having the best of the best at our facilities, so we’re certainly excited about it and happy they’re here again.” While Saturday’s spectacle will mostly be fun and games, Daley understands the necessary commitment one needs to make to the sport to find success. Therefore, while he and his staff will be sure to soak up the atmosphere at the clash of the titans, Daley sees this display as a learning opportunity as well. “We come for the enjoyment, but you certainly take some things in — how the teams play, how they react, how they respond — there will be some high-level stuff in the sense of when coaches make certain changes, timing—they’re still in preseason, so you think about those things as well,” Daley said. “You can learn one thing and that one thing can be the difference or be unique or interesting for your group that you can put your spin on because your coaching’s not necessarily… you don’t replicate others, it’s those adjustments that you make.” In terms of playstyle and what exactly can be gleaned from these two clubs, Daley sees his program as a hybrid between the two, mixing Liverpool’s hard-hitting, fast- paced offense with Manchester United’s stalwart defense. But in terms of who he wants to win on Saturday, Daley made his motivations clear, responding, “Whoever I meet first.”