Bournemouth 0-3 Liverpool: A Tactical Breakdown
Ho Ho Ho. Christmas has come early.
Liverpool are finally back at their attacking best.
Now, with eight goals in two games, and both Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané in searingly hot form, it seems Liverpool have their attacking mojo back. This is seriously ominous news for the rest of the league, given Liverpool had only dropped two points without even hitting their stride.
Whilst Liverpool's results over the opening fourteen league games was two points away from being perfect, …
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 …
Tactics Weekly: Five Star Reds Dominate Derby To Remain Eight Points Clear
Daniel Rhodes hosts Hamzah Khalique-Loonat to analyse the crazy derby victory, topics include:
The rotation by Klopp, and the potential reasons to do it for the Merseyside Derby. How effective was the tactical set up? Two superb early goals helped to settle the nerves, how much was down to the tactics of either side? Who was at fault, if anyone, for Everton’s opening goal? The perfect Lovren pass, the perfect Origi control and finish. Lovren’s last-ditch intervention with Everton likely to score. Counter-attacking brilliance for the fourth goal. Everton hit back again, Klopp is furious. After half-time the game is fairly quiet until Henderson comes on and plays another cracking over-the-top through ball for Mane, who should score after his Divock-esque control. Another Henderson through ball, another Mane big chance missed. Wijnaldum secures a five star victory over the Toffees …
Tactics Weekly: Reds Stutter Against Effective Low Blocks
Daniel Rhodes hosts Hamzah Khalique-Loonat to discuss the win at Crystal Palace and the frustrating draw against Napoli at Anfield, topics include:
Team selection against the Italian side. Any concerns? The first 20 mins: who was controlling the game. Fabinho injury, how did we adapt? Napoli score, should it have been allowed, and could we have reacted better to the potential foul on Van Dijk. The Reds’ response until half-time and just after.Gomez goes off, does The Ox have an impact? Lovren’s goal, should it have been allowed? Why was the attack seemingly nullified? Our problem, or Napoli’s excellence? Hodgson vs Klopp - expected line-ups from both? How bad were Liverpool in the first half? Were they fortunate to go in level? Any tactical switches after the break? Mane’s goal was vital, and helped us control the first 20 mins of the second half. Should Firmino have killed the game off with his first big chance? Zaha scores, who was at fault? Mentality monsters score a late goal to secure victory …
Tactics Weekly: Can Klopp Avoid Poch's Pitfalls?
Daniel Rhodes hosts Hamzah Khalique-Loonat to discuss listeners' questions, topics include:Do high intensity teams have a shelf life?Can Shaqiri be the next Maldini? How do we deal with injuries to our full-backs? How much tactical adjustments are required if Salah is missing? What are the expectations for our next five league games? …
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 …
Tactics Weekly: Clinical Reds Beat Man City To Move Eight Points Clear
Daniel Rhodes hosts Lee Scott and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat to look back at the Reds’ superb three-one victory over Manchester City at Anfield, topics include: Any unexpected selections in either line-up? We all know how Liverpool were likely to play, but did Guardiola tweak his tactics against Klopp’s side once again? The fast and furious first fifteen minutes. Any tactics involved in the opening two goals? Who was in control for the rest of the second half? Liverpool dominating after the break. The impact of the substitutions and tactical tweaks. The City ‘barrage’ in the last 20 minutes - how effective was it? Any other business and brief look back at the Genk match? …
Tactics Weekly: Liverpool do the Double over their North London Opponents
Daniel Rhodes hosts Hamzah Khalique-Loonat to discuss the league cup victory over Arsenal before Lee Scott joined the pod to focus solely on the win over Spurs last Sunday, topics include: Both teams’ line-ups, and tactical set ups in the league cupWhy it is tough to criticise systemic tactical issues with a group of players who have hardly played together, and at times out of positionA goal bonanzaThe tactical elements of each goal scored and concededShould we expect more from that midfield? The impact of Curtis Jones when he comes on as substituteThe overall influence of OzilThe crazy shin-infused finishLee goes through the Spurs set up, and how they were likely to deal with usThe early goal is vital for game state and tacticsHow well do Liverpool respond? Alexander-Arnold: is he more like Neves, Alves or De Bruyne?Any tactical elements to the goal? How often do we see Henderson getting into the box? Was it a penalty? Did the scoreline flatter Spurs somewhat? …
Liverpool 2-1 Spurs: A Tactical Breakdown
Despite the scoreline displaying a marginal difference, custom to a penalty, this was one of Liverpool's finest performances of the season, and the perfect follow-up to the dull, drab and wasted opportunity that was the Manchester United game.
Displaying patience, breathtaking intensity and consistency, Liverpool dominated from the moment the first goal went in, and for the 75 odd minutes that preceded it. This not just a mature and organised performance, it was utterly brilliant, a display of composure and …
Genk 1-4 Liverpool: A Tactical Breakdown
So it begins. A gruelling period for Liverpool’s squad which will only leave three full rest days until the 23rd January (that’s days between games that are not classed as recovery).
However, this particular fixture carried a little extra weight. Having won seventeen consecutive league matches, Liverpool put in one of their worst displays over the past year, with a drab, insipid and utterly dull affair against Manchester United, for all but fifteen minutes. Having already lost one group stage …