100% dribbles, 100% ground duels, 3 shots: Marcus Rashford makes big statement with scintillating display despite pre-season loss vs. Liverpool
Manchester United faced a frustrating 3-0 defeat against Liverpool in their final pre-season match of their US tour. Goals from Fabio Carvalho, Curtis Jones, and Konstantinos Tsimikas were all Liverpool needed to give Erik ten Hag and his players a significant wake-up call ahead of the 2024/25 season.United controlled 47% of the possession, while Liverpool had 53%.
Ten Hag’s side managed eight shots on target out of a total of 18 attempts, whereas Liverpool had nine shots, with five forcing saves from André Onana.
United completed 455 passes with an accuracy of 83%, compared to Liverpool’s 517 passes and an 85% completion rate.
At the Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, Marcus Rashford stood out for United. He played in his preferred left-wing position within an attacking trio that included Amad Diallo and Jadon Sancho.
Rashford appeared sharp and was the primary threat for his team. In the 45 minutes he played, the England international touched the ball 29 times and successfully connected on 18 of 22 passes, achieving an accuracy of 82%.
He attempted three long passes, completing one, and had three shots, with only one on target; the other two did not significantly challenge Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher.
The 26-year-old academy graduate attempted three dribbles, completing all of them, and won all three duels he engaged in.
Despite a disappointing 2023/24 season, Rashford seems eager to make amends in pre-season. His strong performance against Liverpool, despite the defeat, is likely to be a source of encouragement for fans.Manchester United’s 3-0 loss to Liverpool in their final pre-season match of the US tour highlighted areas of concern for Erik ten Hag ahead of the 2024/25 season. Liverpool’s goals from Fabio Carvalho, Curtis Jones, and Konstantinos Tsimikas emphasized their clinical edge. Despite United’s possession and offensive efforts, they failed to capitalize on their 18 attempts, with only eight on target compared to Liverpool’s five shots forcing saves from André Onana.
Marcus Rashford stood out in his preferred left-wing position, showing promise with his sharp performance. In his 45 minutes on the pitch, Rashford was a key threat, touching the ball 29 times and achieving an 82% pass accuracy with 18 successful passes out of 22. He completed all three dribbles and won all three duels he engaged in, demonstrating his eagerness to rebound from a disappointing previous season.
United’s statistics of 455 passes with an 83% accuracy rate compared to Liverpool’s 517 passes and 85% accuracy indicate a competitive but ultimately lacking performance. Rashford’s strong showing, despite the overall team defeat, offers some encouragement for fans as the new season approaches.
