Tactical Breakdown: Liverpool 1-4 Manchester City
Liverpool fell to a third straight league defeat as Manchester City won 4-1 at Anfield. The result all but rubberstamped Manchester City's attempts to reclaim the title, yet the scoreline flatters to deceive in a game that was closely contested but ultimately decided by a number of key individual errors from Liverpool.
Systems
Liverpool were set up in their usual 4-3-3. Initially, they pressed across the front, but as the game wore on their pressing waned. The midfield of Thiago, …
Set Piece Toothlessness Hindering Liverpool After Defensive Injury Nightmare
Liverpool's defensive injury crisis has hindered them in so many ways this season.
Losing Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip has obviously hamstrung the defending champions in defence, not that you would necessarily know it from the goals conceded column.
The break glass in case of emergency defenders -- Fabinho and Jordan Henderson -- have coped admirably with their new tasks and Liverpool, on the whole, have been solid at the back. The 7-2 evisceration at Villa Park, …
Tactical Breakdown: West Ham 1-3 Liverpool
Liverpool travelled to the London Stadium buoyed by a brilliant performance against Spurs. However, David Moyes' West Ham side have proven this season they can vie with the best, and hope to challenge for European qualification at the end of the season.
West Ham lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape. Michail Antonio led the line, supported primarily by Said Benrahma who would help create a front two when out of possession. Jarrod Bowen also contributed offensively, moving up in the …
West Ham 1-3 Liverpool: Observations as majestic second half secures vital win
With Roberto Firmino rested and Sadio Mane the latest addition to the injury list, it looked as if Liverpool were going to need to win ugly at the London Stadium. A drab first-half seemed to confirm those pre-match convictions.
But in the end, the win wasn't ugly; it was beautiful. Either side of a contender for Liverpool's goal of the season, Mohamed Salah curled home unerringly and Georginio Wijnaldum finished off an incisive one-touch move.
Craig Dawson would deny the …
Tactical Breakdown: Spurs 1-3 Liverpool
A month ago, Spurs travelled to Anfield in a contest for the league's top spot. Since then, results have tailed off for both sides, and an hour prior to kickoff, the news that Fabinho was injured compounded a terrible winless run for Liverpool with more adversity.
However, the truth was that the Reds had played fairly well recently, but had not had the results to reflect their performances. As Statsbomb's James Yorke argued in recent weeks, Liverpool were due to …
Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool: Observations as Fernandes downs improved Reds
Defeat at Old Trafford, but at last reason to be optimistic. Going forward, Liverpool started to tick again.
Having been benched in midweek, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino responded commendably. Salah was the finisher and Firmino the architect as the Reds scored twice at Old Trafford for the first time since 2014.
This time, they were undone by defensive errors and an admittedly magnificent winning goal from Bruno Fernandes.
But they travel to Spurs with something to build on.
The …
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 …
Big Man Centre Forward: The Next Step In Liverpool's Evolution
The attacking trident of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane has served Liverpool extremely well over the course of the last four years.
But now, after umpteen defences burned and English and Champions League medals in their back pockets, the time feels right to break up the forward threesome.
The Reds have now drawn a blank in three consecutive Premier League games and their attack has been culpable for this toothlessness. In times gone by, any responsibility for the …
Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United: Player ratings as Reds draw blank against arch-rivals
This was an occasion for Liverpool to banish their rut. Instead, they've sunk further into it.
The draw with arch-rivals United keeps the Reds three points off the pace, but above all it cements Manchester City's newly-established status as title favourites.
Belief among supporters and among the players is clearly low. Liverpool aren't functioning as a unit given their makeshift defence and with every match the task of retaining their title is growing more difficult.
Joel Matip's imminent return will …
Liverpool and Man United finally meet in fixture to match the hype
When Liverpool play Man United, it always means a huge amount. It remains the No.1 fixture in England, bar none.
The history between the cities, whether it be relating to music, fashion or the success of their football teams, makes it a heavyweight match-up that will forever feel special.
Despite the build-up always being gargantuan and those pre-match nerves arriving regardless of where both sides are in the table, the hype is rarely justified.
For starters, too many recent games …