Podcast Tactics Weekly: Mo Thunderbolts The Reds to Three Points Over Chelsea

Paul Dalglish, Daniel Rhodes and Gavin Jones discuss the victories over Chelsea and Porto at Anfield, topics include:

Klopp sticks with the same team (and formation) that faced Porto, apart from Matip coming back in for Lovren. Sarri decided to play Hazard as the false nine with Willian and Hudson-Odoi out wide, and Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek and Kante in midfield.

Sarri slightly altered Chelsea’s usual build-up, so instead of going through the middle when Liverpool pressed, they focused on a similar tactic to Bayern and tried to go down the flanks.

A fairly passive first 45 minutes for the away side, but they did manage to blunt the Reds’ attacks and offered the occasional threat on break.

Klopp mentioned post-match that we needed more focus down the right hand side, and that came immediately after the break with Firmino, Salah, Henderson and Mane linking up for the first goal.

Another switch to the right led to Salah’s thunderbastard.

Hazard’s two big chances, and then Klopp bringing on Milner and Wijnaldum to regain control.

Against Porto, Klopp went for a familiar 4-3-3 formation, with Henderson and Keita as the attacking number eights in midfield versus Conceição who opted to change to a 3-4-3 (or five at the back when out of possession).

Porto, like many previous opponents, struggled to deal with the width of the Reds’ set up; particularly when Liverpool attacked on the left, and quickly switched to Alexander-Arnold on the right.

Porto’s early passivity allowed the Red to take advantage in the first 30 minutes with two goals and the Salah big chance from the defensive error.

The away side coming into the game by exploiting the channel between Alexander-Arnold and Lovren. Although the second big chance for Marega came after the second phase following a corner.

Discussing the goals: Keita & Firmino, and the key players involved.

Look ahead to the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final away at Porto.

All this and more on Tactics Weekly!