Crystal Palace vs Man Utd: Oliver Glasner has proved a 3-4-2-1 formation can work within the Premier League – so why does Ruben Amorim battle?

Just when there was a little bit of momentum at Manchester United, and doubts about Ruben Amorim’s much-maligned formation have been vanishing – then got here the loss to Everton.

It was a sport that put the Amorim mission again to sq. one by way of how a lot religion there’s on this particular period. Gary Neville stated the complacency proven by United will erode confidence within the staff – however there was simply as a lot criticism in regards to the 3-4-2-1 system.

Despite taking part in over 75 minutes with an additional participant after Everton’s Idrissa Gueye was despatched off, Amorim selected to stay together with his most well-liked formation – preserving three centre-backs and two wing-backs on the pitch.

“You have five at the back, why?” requested Neville, whereas Jamie Carragher added: “I don’t understand how you can stick with something so steadfastly in a situation like that. You don’t need three [centre-backs] there.”

Next up for United is a visit to Crystal Palace, the place Oliver Glasner has made successful of that 3-4-2-1 formation. The Eagles sit within the prime 5 – the place United need to be – having received a trophy by way of the FA Cup, which has eluded Amorim in his yr in cost so far.

Glasner’s formation has even survived the departures of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, highlighting how the system thrives on quite a lot of top-level gamers – it’s a collective construction that works. How United want that in the intervening time.

“We have found a system where we are very balanced, where we can threaten the opposition goal and also be very consistent in our defence,” stated Glasner final month. “That’s why we stick to it.”

So why does it carry success for Palace, however much less so for Man Utd? Using the Palace boss’ personal phrases, we check out Glasner’s formation from again to entrance.

The again three

The again three of Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix and Marc Guehi have marshalled issues brilliantly in entrance of Dean Henderson – one of many statistically finest goalkeepers within the division.

Palace have the Premier League’s second-best defence by way of objectives conceded – and are one among solely two backlines to let in a single-digit purpose tally after a dozen Premier League video games. The different staff is league leaders Arsenal.

The central areas are a very powerful a part of the pitch for Glasner, as it’s the most weak space for any aspect. “The centre determines the game. It starts with the back three – you’re talking about the core,” he says.

One of the explanations three centre-backs is an effective system within the fashionable Premier League period is the best way huge centre-backs defend the ‘half area’.

It is the realm the place most harmful assaults emerge from by way of defence-breaking passes or runs – these areas are additionally described because the ‘pockets’.

As Glasner says: “The half runs, which is where most of the assists are coming from, in defence you have to protect these areas.” And Palace seem to have the precise profiles in these centre-back positions.

No Premier League defender has extra interceptions this season than each Richards and Lacroix, whereas solely six defenders have received extra possession within the defensive third this season than Palace captain Guehi.

Even Neville spoke in regards to the significance of positioning the three centre-backs on Monday evening towards Everton. “Matthijs de Ligt is much more dominant and certain in that central role,” he stated. “When Harry Maguire plays, De Ligt goes into the right channel where he gets caught out and doesn’t look comfortable.”

Palace have perfected their again three, however on the idea of latest shows, United want a bit extra work.

The midfield 4

The 4 in Palace’s midfield are divided into two areas: the wing-backs and the 2 sitting midfielders.

The flying wing-backs of Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell are essential to this Palace staff due to the depth they carry.

Munoz is probably the most intense participant within the Premier League, clocking practically 14.5km per sport at excessive depth this season – practically 1.5km greater than the next-best participant.

It will not be a singular factor to Munoz, it’s a part of Glasner’s directions. That’s as a result of Mitchell, on the other flank, sits fifth for present Premier League gamers in the identical metric. Palace are the one staff within the Premier League with two gamers within the prime dozen top-flight gamers on this class.

What is extra putting is how Palace’s wing-backs examine to Man Utd’s wing-backs. For instance, Munoz runs additional per sport at excessive depth than Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazrouai mixed.

Meanwhile, Mitchell is streets away from what United’s left-wing-back choices, Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot, produce.

Then comes the significance of the 2 sitting midfielders – rotated between Adam Wharton, Daichi Kamada and Jefferson Lerma – who set the tone for Palace’s play.

“The central midfielders, we call them the quarter-backs,” says Glasner. “They are responsible for the speed of our attacks, if we go forward or keep possession. So they are important.”

Palace and United’s midfield set-up is comparable. In Wharton, the Eagles have their very own model of Bruno Fernandes – a participant who sits and tries to interrupt the opposition’s traces.

“That’s why the manager wants me there,” stated Man Utd captain Fernandes on Monday evening. “To have more of the ball and control the tempo of the team.

“He [Amorim] is aware of I can run quite a bit, press excessive and get my physique again there when we have to get to the field and defend.”

Meanwhile, the other sitting midfielder – Kamada for Palace or Casemiro at Man Utd – sits and shares defensive duties with the other player.

For Palace, the system works defensively as well as offensively. Kamada sits in the top five midfielders this season for tackles won per 90, with a slightly better record than Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo.

But for United, how Casemiro and Fernandes cope in midfield as a two has been much-maligned. They have been reduce huge open at instances towards Everton on Monday, with Gueye displaying indicators of frailty inside the opening minutes.

But even after the Everton midfielder’s crimson card, the Toffees nonetheless had pleasure taking part in round United’s midfield two – with the profitable purpose coming from direct passing by way of the center of the pitch.

The No 10s behind Mateta

But it’s not simply Palace’s sitting midfielders who play Glasner’s aspect progress the ball centrally – the 2 No 10s additionally assist to create overloads in a very powerful space of the pitch.

“We try to play with the two No 10s narrow, with the striker – so we can maybe have eight players in the centre to combine together,” says Glasner. Those eight gamers being three centre-backs, two sitting midfielders, two attacking midfielders and one striker.

“You can’t pass with one touch if players are 30 or 40 yards away from each other in the distances,” Glasner added. “You need connections on the pitch.”

The two No 10s, usually Ismaila Sarr and Yeremy Pino on this Palace staff, are serving to them to interrupt by way of the center of the pitch by making a four-man field with the sitting midfielders. No matter in the event you face a staff with two or three in midfield, you’ll at all times have an overload.

But additionally they help in pinning opposition groups again. “Some teams mark our No 10s with their No 6s [defensive midfielders] – so they’re pretty much playing with a back six,” says Glasner.

If a busy striker like Jean-Philippe Mateta can occupy a number of centre-backs without delay – as he tends to do – then the 2 No 10s have to be marked by midfielders. If they are not, the likes of Sarr and Pino have more room.

All these eight gamers being central can create a really congested space in the course of the park, however Glasner has plans for that. “If the opposition closes the middle, then somebody can drop out and you can overload the wing,” he says.

Palace’s entrance three is an ideal system arrange by the precise profiles. “You need pocket players, you need runners – the mix makes it,” he says. The pocket gamers are Sarr and Pino, the runners are Munoz and Mitchell.

It permits Mateta to do what he does finest – be bodily and maintain the ball up. Mateta ranks prime for the variety of hold-ups within the Premier League this season.

“You need the right players for it,” says Glasner about his assault. “You can’t ask all the players making runs in behind if they are used to playing in the pockets.”

United tried to deal with these ahead areas within the switch window, forking out huge charges for Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

They match the United construction in locations, as has been seen this season in vibrant attacking moments. But any accidents – equivalent to Cunha and Sesko’s this previous week – and there are holes. And they’re holes that Palace don’t appear to have.

Follow dwell protection of Crystal Palace vs Man Utd on Sky Sports’ digital platforms by way of the devoted match weblog from 10.30am on Sunday morning…