Tactical analysis: The impossible task of stopping Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool’s march towards a highly anticipated first Premier League title seemed to take a significant step on Sunday evening when they defeated old rivals Manchester United 2-0 at Anfield.
The win saw the Reds extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to 16 points but it didn’t come as so usually seen at Anfield these days. Jurgen Klopp’s men created the best chances of the game against a depleted United side but the scoreline remained on a …
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 3-1 Manchester City: A Tactical Breakdown
When the fixture list was announced, all eyes immediately scanned for one fixture: Liverpool vs. Manchester City. Last season, the fixture at the Etihad provided some of the most breathtaking, tactically stimulating and utterly brilliant football England has ever seen. It was a credit to football and to sport. This time, the Anfield leg offered Liverpool the opportunity to go nine points clear of their rivals, in November. Titles cannot be won in November, but they can be lost. Whether …
Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool: A Tactical Breakdown
On Sunday afternoon, perhaps the worst United side in living memory lined up against arguably the best Liverpool side in living memory, and most certainly the best side in the Premier League era.
With Mohamed Salah unavailable through injury, Sadio Mané was positioned on the right of Liverpool’s 4-3-3, and Divock Origi on the left. Conceptually, even without Salah, these two forwards were supposed to operate inside United’s wingbacks, and attack the spaces outside of the centre-backs. From this, it …
Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal: A Tactical Breakdown
After a series of underwhelming performances, Liverpool's victory against Arsenal was a significant step in the right direction. Whereas in previous games, Liverpool had conceded a number of chances, and defended poorly, through not pressing effectively or making positional errors, the fixture on Saturday evening was far more akin to the efficient, composed and effective performances which came to define Liverpool's ruthless machine-like intensity over the course of last season.
Liverpool set up in their typical 4-3-3 formation, but whereas …
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool: A Tactical Breakdown
Liverpool's start to the season always appeared challenging. But how Liverpool would respond to this challenge would likely be the best indicator of how well the team will perform in the coming months. Playing Southampton away from home was the first potential banana skin of the season, even more so due to the 120 minutes, Liverpool had to play against Chelsea in midweek. Nonetheless, Liverpool was expected to win, perhaps not comfortably, but win as the better side.
Whilst Liverpool …
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 0-0 Bayern Munich: A Tactical Breakdown
There are very few clubs with the prestige and history of Bayern Munich. Irrespective of their current form or standing, when a club such as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Barcelona are set to visit, everyone sits a little straighter. These fixtures are precisely what makes Europe's premier competition the best club competition in the world, in any sport.
Yet when Bayern Munich were drawn against Liverpool, it was one of the few occasions that they were not immediately considered …