Stay on counter-attack?
Newcastle’s second goal in the win over Southampton was a masterclass in the art of ruthless counter-attacking, seizing upon an error from a corner and breaking with pace and purpose before Kenedy finished off the move and the Saints by tapping in Dwight Gayle’s unselfish pass from close-range.
It has been the strategy most often deployed by Benitez this season and United profited from it on this occasion, staying compact, allowing their opponents to dominate the ball and inviting them forward before hitting them on the break.
United have struggled when teams have turned the tactical tables and forced them to attack, and Benitez will know his side are vulnerable to being caught on the counter themselves once the creative well has ran dry.
It means he may consider altering his approach for Huddersfield and hopefully catch the Terriers by surprise.
