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ERIK TEN HAG answered some of his doubters after Manchester United came from behind to beat Brenford 2-1 last weekend.Goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund, assisted by Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes respectively, secured victory for the Red Devils.Alejandro Garnacho’s volley from Marcus Rashford’s cross set Man Utd on their way to victory over BrentfordCredit: GettyAnd it may also set United down a new path for the season with particular benefits to Rashford and GarnachoCredit: GettyGarnacho and Rashford’s Premier League stats comparedAnd the Red Devils then followed that up with a 1-1 draw away at Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.United were generally dominant against Thomas Frank’s tricky Bees, particularly in the second half.Ten Hag opted to switch up his team selection for the game, which could be the trigger for a rebirth after a tricky start to the season.This was seen with Garnacho deployed on the left wing and Rashford on the right, despite Rashford previously saying he preferred to be on the left rather than in the middle or on the right.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd in the Fenerbahce came, Ten Hag continued with the two players in their new roles, though started Joshua Zirkzee up front instead of Rasmus Hojlund.It is easy to make the argument that Garnacho and Rashford should be interchangeable in terms of their position on the wings due to being right-footers who prefer to drive inside towards goal.But that is not strictly the case, and it seems Ten Hag has made a clear statement about how they can both add value to the attack in those specific roles.In this article, we will take a closer look at the role of the two United attacking players in the match against Brentford and discuss how this could see United set up for the rest of the season.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSGarnacho as the threat on the counterWhen we think of the truly great United teams of the last 20-30 years, we do not think of teams that look to dominate possession of the ball. Instead, we think of teams that were truly great and extremely difficult to play against in counter-attacking situations, or, in the more modern term, in transition. Man Utd’s Brentford Comeback: Player Ratings They traditionally excelled when it came to winning the ball back in their half of the pitch and then hitting the opposition quickly on the counter. This is why they tended to have wide attackers who were quick and direct in the mould of Ryan Giggs or even the early version of Cristiano Ronaldo.This is where Garnacho thrives. He is something of a throwback as a wide-attacking player because he thrives in moments when there is space to attack in front of him and where he can use his pace and direct running to hurt the opposition. There is an argument to be made this is what we thought Rashford would become when he first came through at United, but he has developed into a more controlled player who likes to receive the ball in front of the opposition as opposed to constantly making runs to attack space behind the defensive line.Here, we see Rashford out wide on the right able to pick a pass to Garnacho with space on the left sideGiven that Garnacho models his game on Ronaldo it should come as no surprise that the young Argentinian is extremely dangerous when receiving the ball with these kinds of spaces to attack.He is far less likely to want to drop off to receive the ball from his defenders and midfielders, and he wants to play on the shoulder of the last defender, therefore giving United a constant outball and threat in behind.Before the Brentford match, he was averaging four shots per 90 minutes but took eight alone against the Bees. He was also managing just 7.4 touches in the opposition penalty area, before having ten against Brentford.This time Rasmus Hojlund drops deep before looking to pick out Garnacho in spaceStraight away we see the increased outputs that come from playing Garnacho in a position that suits him better.Garnacho is an extremely exciting player who needs space to attack when he receives the ball to be at his best. Playing from the left-side seems to give Garnacho just that.Rashford as a more creative playerMarcus Rashford’s Premier League statsWhen Rashford made his breakthrough many thought the club had unearthed their next big striker and that he looked ready, technically and physically, to play as the main star for the next decade.Instead, we have seen Rashford become a high-level wide attacker, though last season there was a notable dip in form with a heavily reduced output from the 30 goals he got the season before.Despite being clear that he preferred to play from the left side of the attack, the switch to the right side may actually be really beneficial to the 60-cap England star.In the match against Brentford, we saw Rashford moving inside from the right wing to take up more central positions in the channels as Diogo Dalot moved high and provided width from right-back. Rashford received the ball inside in the channel and in a deeper area than typical of him before crossing for Garnacho to scoreThis movement and more central occupation of space actually saw Rashford get on the ball far more in the final third than we may have been used to seeing.In these more central positions, Rashford is still a threat to take the ball on the turn and to attack forward and into space. He is also, however, a creative threat with the ability to take the ball in tight areas and when under pressure and to link the play or find angles to play passes to break the last line.This showed in the data where, previous to the Brentford game, Rashford had been averaging 4.4 passes into the opposition area per 90, while he played eight of these passes in this game.Here, again, we see Rashford come inside to play more centrally and allow United to progress the ball forward as Dalot moves high and gives them widthHe had also been averaging 1.6 chances created per game but in this match he created four, showcasing his increased involvement in the build-up than what had been seen on the left previously.Using Rashford in a more creative and involved role from the right side of the attack gives United a more unpredictable yet balanced look across their attack.Both Garnacho and Rashford can attack space behind the defenceWhile it would be fair to say Garnacho had a strong game against Brentford, it was also one of the more complete and impressive performances seen from Rasmus Hojlund since his arrival.The Dane has an excellent physical profile and that was put to perfect use in this match as we saw him continually look to drop deep into the midfield to receive the ball. These movements from Hojlund dragged one of the Brentford defenders out of position over and over again, and these spaces were then free to be exploited by United. This is where having two wide attackers who have explosive pace, like Rashford and Garnacho, comes into play as they are able to make runs from out to in to attack this space.Hojlund dropping in to receive the pass from the midfield opens up space for Garnacho behind the defenceHojlund is capable of dropping into deeper areas and receiving to turn and play the ball forward.But he can also receive the ball and then quickly link with creative central midfielders who can then play forward and into advanced positions. And he is then equally capable when asked to play on the shoulder himself, as seen with his lovely chipped finish for the winner. With the capability of Garnacho and Rashford to time their runs to attack the space this can create dangerous situations for United.Hojlund drops in to receive the ball with his back to goal before both Rashford and Garnacho split and run in behindIn having both Rashford and Garnacho playing in this manner and threatening to attack space behind and between the opposition defenders, we will see United setting up in a similar way to Jurgen Klopp’s best team at Liverpool.His title-winning side saw Roberto Firmino dropping deep to receive and Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane making diagonal runs to attack space, which proved very effective for all parties involved.READ MORE SUN STORIESConclusionWhile Rashford may not prefer to play from the right, his positional intelligence, creative passing and link play on the ball showed a new layer of his game.When you combine this with the pace and directness of Garnacho on the left side, it is fair to say that Ten Hag may have unearthed a combination that can drive United up the Premier League table. 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LIVERPOOL played out a tactical “game of chicken” against Chelsea on Sunday.And Arne Slot’s side came home to roost with a 2-1 win courtesy of goals from Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones.Arne Slot came up with a genius ‘traffic jam’ plan to beat ChelseaCredit: ReutersIt placed huge demand on Curtis Jones to neutralise Cole Palmer’s ability to get on the ballCredit: RexDouble bubble Jones was also the difference maker in the attack to help Liverpool edge the matchCredit: AlamyThe Dutch tactician came up trumps thanks to a genius way of neutralising Blues star man Cole Palmer in a “traffic jam”, while simultaneously allowing Jones to dominate both ends of the pitch.The England Under-21 international proved the difference maker with his defensive contribution and vital impact in the final third.Jones, 23, dedicated his match-winning goal to newborn daughter Giselle Deliah and girlfriend Saffie Khan. SunSport tactics guru Dean Scoggins explains how Slot was able to squeeze a win out of Enzo Maresca’s side.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSlot’s traffic jamSlot and Maresca showed each other a lot of respect in their respective set-ups, but it was the move to shut down Cole Palmer which was a key difference maker.Chelsea have often looked to find their top scorer in the corridors between the centre-backs and full-backs.Liverpool set up in 4-2-3-1 shape in possessionCredit: Sun ExclusiveOut of possession the objective was to restrict the passing lanesCredit: Sun ExclusiveIn possession Liverpool lined up in 4-2-3-1 formation with Ryan Gravenberch and Jones in a pair.But when defending this morphed into a 4-3-3 as Jones drifted into the channel where Palmer likes to drift to pick up the ball to stop him receiving it in those lanes.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThis was not a man-marking job, but rather a job of cutting out the passing lanes while he also got help from Cody Gakpo to crowd that area to prevent the likes of Levi Colwill from executing his trademark long passes through the lines.Jones’ role almost saw him hiding at times as he waited to pounce to press against the ball.Curtis Jones gives heartwarming interview about becoming new dad after stealing show for Liverpool vs ChelseaCody Gakpo and Jones had a particular job of shutting down the passing lanes to PalmerCredit: Sun ExclusiveLevi Colwill often had to deal with heavy congestion in trying to pass through the linesCredit: Sun ExclusiveMuch of Colwill’s passing was limited due to the compact defensive block, therefore limiting the ability to build.Although Jones’ task of marking the area of Palmer meant he had a greater responsibility.Double bubble JonesJones had a dual-role in midfield at Anfield. The first saw him picking up the passing lane in front of Palmer, but this in turn left him unmarked by the Blues’ box midfield shape when the ball was turned over.Jones was key in halting PalmerHe occupied the same space as Palmer to limit his time on the ballThis meant Jones was then able to be the spare man in midfield for Liverpool, which resulted in decisive consequences for the overall game.Jones used this free space to make late runs into the penalty area, resulting in him causing many headaches for the Chelsea defence.On the other hand he was also the free man away from Chelsea’s box midfieldAnd this allowed him to make dangerous runs into the penalty area with one ending up in the winning goalHis movement resulted in two penalty appeals – one that was given and one that was not given – and in him finding the open space to score the eventual winner early in the second half.Chelsea’s own gameplan saw Malo Gusto tucking inside from left back and pushing up alongside Palmer while Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo completed their box midfield set-up.This freed up space for Reece James on the right side with Gakpo and Jones doing a specific job to cut out space more centrally.However, James was far from his best and struggled to utilise this space, with Liverpool able to be patient and wait for the overload before counter-attacking.String theoryAs mentioned earlier, Gakpo and Jones worked in tandem to shut down the threat of Palmer.Gakpo – an interesting selection choice ahead of Luis Diaz – was often seen sitting in front of Jones to help block the passing lane.Jones heavily operated in the left spaceThis was to Palmer on the right sideHe remained disciplined and kept a steady distance from Jones as a screen in front, with Jones then able to instruct him in how they could best combat the threat.This extended to when the ball was switched to the other flank, with Gakpo able to pick up Palmer after Jones tucked in to continually make a 2v1 scenario.Game of chickenThe patience shown by both teams meant a lot of the emphasis on build-up play was left to the goalkeeper, and Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez did not have a great game in this regard.Rather than jumping out to press, Liverpool simply set up and told Chelsea to try and break them down – a similar move to their set-up at Old Trafford against Manchester United.The first pass was the trigger, but only if they had the numbers.This “mid press” meant Sanchez was often forced to go long, and will likely be another indicator that Chelsea will move for an expensive ball-playing goalkeeper next summer.Liverpool had a low block set up but excelled on the left sideSlot told Dominik Szoboszlai to hold position after Jones indicated how they were being overrunCredit: Sun ExclusiveDominik Szoboszlai was given specific instructions to press Colwill when he was on the ball to stop him playing by blocking the passing lanes, but to leave Sanchez alone.This defensive ploy meant Colwill was unable to play line-breaking passes into Palmer or Caicedo, forcing Chelsea out of their comfort zone and doing something Maresca does not want them to do.At one stage, Jones turned to Slot when they were being overloaded in midfield, with the manager then telling Szoboszlai to stop jumping out and set up in a five-player block.A far cry from Jurgen Klopp’s famous gegenpress tactics.Tension ballFor all of Liverpool’s impressive tactics, Maresca came very close to winning the game of chess with his “tension ball” tactic.Playing at left-back, Gusto tucked inside with Lavia playing in midfield ahead of Enzo Maresca.Malo Gusto pushed high from left-back to create a box midfieldCredit: Sun ExclusiveJones’ defensive work in tracking Palmer helped to neutralise many attacking options for the BluesBut rather than inverting into the deeper midfield role seen previously, he was actually seen playing like a left 10 alongside Palmer and Jadon Sancho.He did not see enough of the ball and was not good enough in that position, but showed superb work rate which meant they could retain their four-man shape in midfield.Many times when Palmer would have been isolated he was thwarted by JonesJones made one error all game in marking Palmer, but the England star skied his effortAnd when Nicolas Jackson scored an equaliser just after half-time, it was through the tension created by Gusto occupying space that then freed up his attacking team-mate.This idea did not quite pay off every time in the first half, but when it worked it likely would have resulted in more dangerous opportunities if not for Jones having a brilliant game in tracking the runs of Palmer.READ MORE SUN STORIESIn the first half he blocked one superb chance from Palmer, though there was one genius moment from the 22-year-old – an echo of greats such as Eric Cantona and Teddy Sheringham – where he bought himself a few yards of space just by stopping.That turned out to be the only mistake Jones made in an otherwise faultless display.Liverpool ratings vs ChelseaBy Ken LawrenceLIVERPOOL picked up a big 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Anfield to remain top of the Premier League.The Reds registered their first victory against a team currently occupying the top half of the Prem table.That was a major statement for the Merseysiders’ manager Arne Slot, whose team now stands a point ahead of Manchester City and four away from third-placed Arsenal at the top.Mohamed Salah opened the scoring a minute before the half-hourmark from the penalty spot.But Chelsea hit back just three minutes into the second half with Nicolas Jackson.However, Liverpool picked up the three points thanks to Curtis Jones’ winner just three minutes later.But how did each Liverpool star far? Check out Ken Lawrence’s player ratings below for more:CAOIMHIN KELLEHER – 5For the Kop – and no doubt secretly for boss Arne Slot – still surely lacking a top keeper’s presence.TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD – 5Didn’t look entirely comfortable throughout especially in the face of Malo Gusto’s first-half raids.IBRAHIMA KONATE – 5Caught napping by Nicolas Jackson’s run three minutes into the second half for Chelsea’s equaliser.VIRGIL VAN DIJK – 7He has his assassins back home in the Netherlands but again showed imperious defensive abilities.ANDY ROBERTSON – 6The Scotland captain is often praised more for his attacking qualities than his defensive ones, but goodness me – what a brilliant last-second block.RYAN GRAVENBERCH – 7Only played 12 games in Jurgen Klopp’s final season but showed again why he’s now an automatic choice for Slot.CURTIS JONES – 9Outstanding all over the pitch, won one pen when it should have been two, plus grabbed a poacher’s winner.DOMINIK SZOBOSZLAI– 5Again suggested he flatters to deceive, too often playing at a slower tempo than those around him.MOHAMED SALAH – 7What’s left to say about Anfield’s Egyptian king and his ultimate cool shot from the spot?DIOGO JOTA – 4Forced off after playing in pain after Tosin Adarabioyo hauled him to the deck early on.CODY GAKPO – 5Flitted in and out of the action, the Dutch wide man didn’t look that shocked to be replaced.SUBSDARWIN NUNEZ (for Jota 30) – 5Still a work in progress, says Slot – but working much harder off the ball.LUIS DIAZ (for Gakpo 65) – 5Ever-willing to shows that feisty left-sided pace of his.ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER ( for Curtis Jones 81) 5Ill in midweek but as the Argentine always does, got stuck in.JOE GOMEZ (for Trent Alexander-Arnold 81) – 5A few welcome minutes for the defender now down the pecking order. 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