Liverpool Tactical Analysis

Liverpool 4-2 Hoffenheim: A Tactical Breakdown

Anfield, under lights, with a European fixture: the stage was set. Klopp's Liverpool did not disappoint, with perhaps the best team performance of the calendar year, Liverpool's attacking play was simply breathtaking, as the team dispatched Hoffenheim over the first 20 minutes. With the same midfield as the first-leg, and the first league game of...

Analysing Gini Wijnaldum’s Disappearing Act

After having a fairly decent debut season and scoring numerous meaningful goals, Gini Wijnaldum has developed a decent reputation amongst Liverpool fans thus far. Gini's first season playing under Klopp resulted in a return of 6 goals and 9 assists in the Premier League as well as strong performances in the so-called 'big games'...

Liverpool 1-0 Crystal Palace: A Tactical Breakdown

After a late Watford equaliser, Liverpool's Premier League campaign was yet to really get going. A tie with bogey-team Crystal Palace hardly eased nerves, especially as reports of Coutinho's continued unhappiness, and rumours of a knock to Sadio Mané had fans on edge. Nonetheless, the performance was distinctly different to the Champions League first-leg...

Hoffenheim 1-2 Liverpool: A Near Perfect Night?

It was hardly going to be an easy night. Liverpool were away, in their first Champions League game under Klopp, to perhaps the toughest side available in the draw, Hoffenheim, who had not lost for over a year at home. Alongside this, there was the ongoing Coutinho situation, whilst two of Liverpool's best offensive players...

Watford 3 Liverpool 3: A Tactical Breakdown

Completely bewildering, yet almost oxymoronically, so very familiar; Liverpool's 3-3 draw was, for the most part, a frustrating game, with a blisteringly good period of play for Liverpool sandwiched between two periods that were hard to watch. To really understand how the game progressed, and key points within it, we shall look at the goals,...

Tactical Explanation to Wijnaldum’s Absence

For a player like Mesut Özil, despite all the technical ability he possesses such as his elite ball control and dribbling ability, his vision and precise execution of passes – among many others – his career, at least whilst wearing a kit in Arsenal colours, will always be marred by fans labelling him as...

Assessing Klopp’s Tactical Options for Watford

After yet another home loss to Crystal Palace at the weekend, that's the Eagles' third win in as many visits to Anfield, and the Reds' chances of top 4 are hanging in the balance. As a result, Liverpool's trip to Vicarage Road on Monday night becomes all the more important. Despite winning the previous...

Liverpool’s Plan B: Tactical Tweaking of 4-2-3-1?

It’s not exactly been the best start to 2017 for Liverpool, with their dismal January form continuing for much of February. An impressive win against Premier League rivals Tottenham ought to have provided a platform with which to build on heading into the business end of the season. However, Liverpool once again failed to...

Liverpool’s Plan B: Time for the Hipster 3-4-3?

Under Klopp, 2016 was a fantastic year. Goals galore, two cup finals and the development of players such as Roberto Frimino and Adam Lallana. The German tactician started off using a fluid 4-2-3-1/4-1-4-1 formation during the latter months of last season which morphed into an efficient 4-3-3 for the first half of the season. With...

Breaking down the Sum of Liverpool’s Parts – Part 2

Any back-line - let alone the back-five of Liverpool's - will face adversities in the form of the high initial press in trying to lay the foundation for attacks. Jürgen Klopp's system for Liverpool works in a multitude of ways in order to overcome these adversities as mentioned in Part 1 here, but nevertheless, football...