Tactical Breakdown: Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United
When Manchester United travel to Anfield, it's usually a big affair. It was even bigger an occasion than usual because on Sunday they travelled not just to Anfield, but to Anfield, the home of the Premier League Champions, for the first time in thirty years. Their players were spared the taunts that would likely have filled their eardrums from the first minute to the very last. In both that regard and the scoreline, they can consider themselves fortunate.
Jürgen Klopp …
Tactical Breakdown: Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
"Before looking at tactics I think it’s important to preface any tactical discussion within the unique circumstances players, managers and clubs find themselves in, especially Liverpool FC. Jürgen Klopp’s team is currently in the midst of a season in which their pre-season was disrupted, their transfer plans unexpectedly affected and in which games are being played at a faster rate than I can write them up. The nature of this campaign has resulted in a number of decisions being …
Tactical Breakdown: Midtjylland 1-1 Liverpool
With Liverpool's qualification from the group stage of the Champions League settled prior to MatchDay 6, most fans were looking forward to a game with no significant consequences, in which they could put their feet up and enjoy the reigning Premier League champions' second team play against Danish champions, FC Midtjylland.
Liverpool set out in their usual 4-3-3. Kelleher retained the gloves, with Alisson still injured. Ahead of him was a back four of Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Williams and Tsmikas. The …
Tactical Breakdown: Liverpool 0-2 Atalanta
Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta is a fascinating side. In their 0-5 loss to Liverpool at the Bergamo Stadium they displayed a number of interesting tactical concepts that in themselves were reasonable, astute and innovative, but were ruthlessly dismembered by a Klopp side at its cutting edge best. Central to that performance was the ability of the forwards and midfielders to synchronise their movements to drag the Italian side's players out of key areas, and use direct passing, dribbling and excellent …
Liverpool vs Sheffield Utd - Tactical Analysis
Liverpool met Sheffield Utd at Anfield for their first game of 2020, hoping to pick up where they left off in 2019. In securing a comfortable 2-0 victory, they did just that. Liverpool's tactical approach was an intelligent one given the challenges presented by their opponent's system & Christmas scheduling.
They were able to simultaneously control possession of the ball whilst seeking to exploit their opponents' pressing system. Klopp's tactics contributed to the team breaking the club record for passes …
Liverpool 1-0 Wolves: A Tactical Breakdown
"This was a marvellous tactical battle, but for Nuno Espirito Santo, despite his best efforts, couldn’t quite deliver a surprise in morphing into Nuno Espirito Santa(!!!), but with Liverpool, rather unexpectedly, now four points clear of Manchester City, it seems Christmas may just have come early…" - Wolverhampton 0-2 Liverpool: A Tactical Breakdown, 23/12/2018It's remarkable how much, and at the same time, how little has changed in just over a year. Indeed, given Wolves' comeback against Manchester …
Liverpool 5-2 Everton: A Tactical Breakdown
The fixtures seem to flash past in a blur. It's hard to imagine how it feels for Jürgen Klopp, given his side barely have time to rest, let alone develop match specific tactics between recovery days and fitness top-up sessions. Rotation is a necessity for Liverpool if they are to get through this utterly chaotic wintery whirlwind of matches.
Against Everton, Klopp was exceptionally bold, with five players rotated out, and Origi, Shaqiri and Lallana all brought in for the …
Liverpool 4-1 Norwich: A Tactical Breakdown
Liverpool's Premier League game against Norwich was the first genuine test Jürgen Klopp's men have faced since becoming European Champions. This was the first occasion in which points were at stake, the team would be able to set a marker and display their intent for the season.
The scoreline indicates a strong performance, and the side picking up from where it left off. Yet there were a number of signs that indicate both change and qualitative variance compared to last …
Liverpool 4-1 West Ham: A Tactical Breakdown
"It was a joy to watch, to be honest." - Jürgen KloppJürgen Klopp was all-smiles as he delivered his post-match press conference, and who could bemoan him for being so, after such a strong performance from Liverpool. The Holy Trinity of Salah, Firmino and Mané not only bagged a goal apiece but thrived and attacked with intensity across the match. Liverpool's full-backs, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson, shone too with their offensive contributions remarkable, consistent and at a high …
Southampton 0-2 Liverpool: A Tactical Breakdown
It might just be me, but I do love a good-old 0-2 victory. Indeed, this was Liverpool's first 2-0 league victory of the season. And we should not knock that at all, a 2-0 is an underrated scoreline, it usually means control by one side within a fair game, a game in which the opposition is resolute enough to not concede more, but the winning team is focussed enough to not concede at all. That's a massive generalisation, and not …