Tactical Breakdown: Brighton 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 made …
Liverpool And Their Calculated Defensive Gamble
Gambling, by its very nature, doesn't always come off.
There can be no debate that Liverpool -- after the sale of Dejan Lovren to Zenit St Petersburg -- gambled when they didn't sign a centre half last summer.
Instead, the Reds pushed the boat out to sign Thiago Alcantara from FC Bayern and planned on using Fabinho as their fourth choice centre half.
Now, with long term injuries to both Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez that strategy looks shortsighted, …
Priceless Matip faces career-defining period at Liverpool
When it rains, it pours. Or in Liverpool's case, when it rains, a monsoon arrives.
The Reds find themselves in one of the most bleak, unfortunate injury situations in their recent history, following an awful period in the fitness department.
When Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for the season with cruciate ligament damage it felt bad enough, but in the weeks since, things have got even worse for Jurgen Klopp.
Having to make do without the likes of Thiago, …
How can Liverpool get Robert Firmino firing?
Roberto Firmino looked like the odd man out in attack against Manchester City. In truth, it’s nothing to be embarrassed by really. After all, most players would have trouble keeping up with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota. The Brazilan has never been blessed with blistering pace, but it was never really an issue. Mentally, he was always a couple of seconds ahead of opponents. That no longer seems to be the case.
The Liverpool No.9 has always been …
Liverpool's New Tactical Shape Offers Opportunity To Lesser Seen Squad Members
Jurgen Klopp sprung a surprise in Liverpool's recent 1-1 draw against Manchester City at The Etihad.
After Diogo Jota scored a hat-trick against Atalanta in the Champions League a few days prior to the clash with Pep Guardiola's team, speculation was rife that Klopp may drop Roberto Firmino, one of his key lieutenants, and retain Jota in the starting team.
As it turned out, though, the German picked both Firmino and the Reds' new signing from Wolves as the Champions …
Tactical Breakdown: Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool
As I have grown up, I have witnessed titanic clashes between footballing behemoths. Games for which the world would stand still for 90 minutes in order to witness the spectacle. In the early noughties, it was Arsenal and Manchester United; then Chelsea and United; Liverpool and Ferguson's side followed briefly, before the rise of Pep Guardiola's Barcelona precipitated a new dimension to El Clasico, now a monumental clash between the world's two finest teams. Matches between Klopp's Borussia Dortmund and …
Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool: Who Was Man of the Match?
The points were shared at the Etihad Stadium as Liverpool and Manchester City played out a 1-1 draw in the final match before we head into another international break. It was probably a fair result with both teams failing to create too many clear-cut chances. City will feel the more disappointed of the two sides, though, having missed a penalty late in the first half.
In goal, Alisson was very impressive. He was so quick off his line on a …
Tactical Breakdown: Atalanta 0-5 Liverpool
“I don’t think any system could have defended tonight Sadio, Mo & Diogo, the way they played, with the support of the others.”In his post-match presser, Jürgen Klopp was bubbling with praise for his entire team, championing the manner in which the team defended with concentration and discipline, and attacked with synchronicity and fluidity. It was a significant departure from the nature of Liverpool's most recent games, with a distinct shift in tone, tempo and action, akin …
Tactical Breakdown: Liverpool 2-1 West Ham United
With minimal rest between games and an extremely unfortunate recent injury record, Liverpool are battling, hard, each week. Late on Saturday evening, West Ham United went to Anfield without their in-form striker Michail Antonio, but still with a clear, disruptive game plan in mind.
David Moyes' West Ham were structured in a 5-4-1 system, with a deep low block designed for defenders to double up on Mo Salah and Sadio Mané, and minimise the spaces between defenders for those players …
Exciting Jota looks the perfect fit for Liverpool
For so long, Liverpool have been crying out for top class quality behind Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
The Reds' front-three have been the best attacking unit in world football over the past three years, but if one of them is missing, their absence is felt hugely.
Taking out one of the trio has instantly made Liverpool a far less daunting proposition, with those in reserve not cutting the mustard, whether it be Xherdan Shaqiri or Divock Origi, …