defence
PART 1 OF 2 Preface As Liverpool fans close a chapter on last season, many are left to ponder if the club will come to rue a missed and golden opportunity, which in the grander context of British and European football, may well be the start of a new challenge in the English Premier League […]
For the most part of the 2014-15 Premier League season, Emre Can was selected as part of a three-man defensive unit, despite playing in midfield for the majority of his career. The 21-year-old, who made 40 appearances in his maiden season at Anfield in all competitions, is neat and tidy in possession, while he isn’t afraid of […]
A statistical review of goals conceded A disappointing season came to an abrupt end against Stoke with a defensive performance that made my Sunday league side look as solid as Chelsea. Yet in the aftermath of the defeat it seems the popular consensus is the attack is the main reason we didn’t finish top 4 […]
“Just because everything is different doesn’t mean anything has changed” – Irene Peter. Defensive frailties have been at the forefront of Brendan Rodgers’ reign as Liverpool manager so far. The goals of last season papered over last season’s cracks and despite the improvement since Christmas 2014, Liverpool are only 4 goals better off defensively than […]
With one of the most exciting & open races for a top 4 finish how do Liverpool ensure they get this coveted position? Fitness & Intensity Liverpool FC’s most successful brand of football in the past 18 months has involved high intensity pressing starting with the striker. This was highlighted in the recent Man City victory. […]
Having conquered Spain, Europe, and the eventually the World, Pep Guardiola was quick to shake things up with his Barcelona side. Once things become static, success slips away. Pass into the space, not the player’s feet. Move the ball, move your team mate, move the opposition. The evolution of Barca’s formation from 4-3-3 to 3-4-3 (with sniffs of […]
On a popular football management game – the one inventively titled Football Manager – the attribute for a goalkeeper’s distribution with feet is called “kicking”, not “passing”. This crude definition of one of the footballing aspects of a goalkeepers’ game, indicates that there’s still some way to go before they’re considered the eleventh outfield player. […]
With the exception of relegation battlers, you would be hard-pressed to find a defence in the league that has come under the same level of scrutiny as Liverpool. Whether it’s Neville or Carragher on a Monday night, or the ingenious Alan Shearer perceptively offering some of his innovative, ever-insightful though perpetually crap “analysis” on a […]
Fabio Aurelio, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher and Alvaro Arbeloa. Now that was a solid back four. You felt confident going into games under Benitez with those four at the back. Well organised by Carragher, and Hyypia read the game magnificently. Time to stop drooling folks and wipe that smile of your face as that was […]
Seven games into the season and we’ve arrived at the second international break already. Ordinarily, I have no time for these most unwelcome of interuptions to weekend life. Like most Reds, and fans of other clubs I’m sure, the highlight of my weekend is watching club football. It’s what we look forward to, what we […]
