Manchester United’s Premier League season opener against Fulham offered a glimpse into Erik ten Hag’s tactical adjustments for the new campaign. While the Red Devils secured a narrow 1-0 victory, the performance highlighted some intriguing shifts, particularly the introduction of a strikerless 4-2-2-2 formation. However, as United prepares to face Brighton & Hove Albion this Saturday, Ten Hag is expected to revert to a more familiar 4-2-3-1 setup, making two important changes to the starting lineup.
Strikerless 4-2-2-2: An Experimental Setup
In the match against Fulham, Ten Hag surprised many by deploying a strikerless 4-2-2-2 formation. Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount occupied advanced midfield roles, alternating in dropping deep to link up with the midfield. This approach aimed to provide greater fluidity in attack, allowing United to control central areas and dictate the game’s tempo. The system was effective in terms of possession and control, but it also had its limitations. Without a traditional striker, United struggled at times to create clear-cut chances, as the absence of a central focal point reduced the number of bodies in the box during attacking phases.
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