Tactics

Daniel Rhodes hosts Lee Scott and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat to look forward to the season ahead, topics include: Brief look at the pre-season games, with particular focus on the Man City match and the key tactical points from the penalty shootout defeat. Does it tell us anything about the likely tactical set-ups, or potentially different roles for players this season? What will the specific orientation of the midfield three be this season? How to cover the front three this seasonDo we still have tactical flexibility despite the lack of transfers, or will we struggle to switch from 4-3-3? Predictions for the season aheadAll this and more on Tactics Weekly!

Paul Dalglish, Daniel Rhodes and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat get together to breakdown the tactics of Liverpool versus Tottenham in the Champions League Final, topics include:Line-UpsKey tactical battles within those formations?Scenarios: score an early goal; concede an early goal; 0-0 at half-time; crucial player injured; man sent off; Spurs winning too many second balls after going long over the press; expected substitutions if the Reds are winning with 30 minutes to go.Set piece analysis.Penalty takers?Predictions.Hamzah’s no look penalty stories.All this and more on Tactics Weekly!

Paul Dalglish, Gav Jones, Hamzah Khalique-Loonat and Daniel Rhodes debate the key tactical elements of the season, topics include: Tactical performance of the season.Most tactically effective player of the season in defence/midfield/attack.Best tactical goal (a goal that looked like it had been designed on the training ground).Best tactical substitution.Most improved player. All this and more on Tactics Weekly!

Paul Dalglish and Daniel Rhodes discuss the Reds’ final league game of the season, the two-nil victory over Wolves. Enough for 97 points, but not the Premier League title. Topics include:Liverpool’s fast start, goal on 17 minutes; then Brighton score. Describe those 83 seconds...Trent’s record-breaking season of assists.The match becomes a bit surreal as it seems everyone is interested in the Man City match, and Wolves become more of a threat.It was the away team’s 3-5-2 formation and flooding forward on the counterattack that tested us.All seven of Wolves' shots between the 36th and 73rd minutes.Mane scores just before the end to draw level with Salah and Auba for the Golden Boot.Were you deflated or elated at the end of the game?It has been 750 days since Liverpool last tasted defeat at Anfield in a league game; the next best is Chelsea and Man City on 142 days. It’s been two days since Man Utd lost at Old Trafford, to Cardiff.Subscriber questions.All this and more on Tactics Weekly!

Daniel Rhodes and Paul Dalglish discuss the magnificent comeback versus Barcelona, topics include: Barcelona exact same team, with all 11 players having been rested for the league game. Klopp’s selections, how much choice did he have? Was it just a continuation of the tactics the Reds used in Spain? Barcelona’s more compact shape, and the negative consequences. The atmosphere, and were Barcelona players influenced by it? Were we slightly fortunate not to concede in the first half? The shithousery from Suarez. Wijnaldum coming on for Robertson and a mad two minutes. The gung ho nature of the midfield in recent weeks. The genius of the corner that won it. Do you want to win the league or Champions League more? All this and more on Tactics Weekly!

Gav steps into the hosts chair and is joined by Hamzah and Paul to discuss the deflating loss to Barcelona. They breakdown the game in detail as Van Dijk has an off night, Mo and Mane fail in front of goal, and does Valverde out-tactic Klopp? All this and more on Tactics Weekly!

Paul Dalglish and Daniel Rhodes take a look at the Cardiff victory, the title run-in and the upcoming Champions League semi-finals, other topics include:Klopp decided to keep Henderson in a more attacking role and use Wijnaldum at the base of the midfield instead of Fabinho. It often appeared that Mane and Salah were playing as a two, with Firmino dropping and creating a diamond.Warnock’s approach was passive, and why did it seem like their were plenty of gaps to go through them rather than around or over-the-top.Each of the front three has a good chance in the first half, but no manage to convert.It was analysis by the players at half-time that led to a slightly different corner routine being tried, and it broke the deadlock.Matip and Van Dijk dribbling out with the ball and creating space and committing players.The controversy surrounding the Salah penalty, especially after Warnock’s comments after the game.Looking ahead to Barcelona.All this and more on Tactics Weekly!

Paul Dalglish, Daniel Rhodes and Gavin Jones discuss the victories over Chelsea and Porto at Anfield, topics include: Klopp sticks with the same team (and formation) that faced Porto, apart from Matip coming back in for Lovren. Sarri decided to play Hazard as the false nine with Willian and Hudson-Odoi out wide, and Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek and Kante in midfield. Sarri slightly altered Chelsea’s usual build-up, so instead of going through the middle when Liverpool pressed, they focused on a similar tactic to Bayern and tried to go down the flanks. A fairly passive first 45 minutes for the away side, but they did manage to blunt the Reds’ attacks and offered the occasional threat on break. Klopp mentioned post-match that we needed more focus down the right hand side, and that came immediately after the break with Firmino, Salah, Henderson and Mane linking up for the first goal. Another switch to the right led to Salah’s thunderbastard. Hazard’s two big chances, and then Klopp bringing on Milner and Wijnaldum to regain control. Against Porto, Klopp went for a familiar 4-3-3 formation, with Henderson and Keita as the attacking number eights in midfield versus Conceição who opted to change to a 3-4-3 (or five at the back when out of possession). Porto, like many previous opponents, struggled to deal with the width of the Reds’ set up; particularly when Liverpool attacked on the left, and quickly switched to Alexander-Arnold on the right. Porto’s early passivity allowed the Red to take advantage in the first 30 minutes with two goals and the Salah big chance from the defensive error. The away side coming into the game by exploiting the channel between Alexander-Arnold and Lovren. Although the second big chance for Marega came after the second phase following a corner. Discussing the goals: Keita & Firmino, and the key players involved. Look ahead to the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final away at Porto. All this and more on Tactics Weekly!

Paul Dalglish, Daniel Rhodes and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat analyse the late victory over Spurs at Anfield to take the Reds back to the top of the league! Topics include: Klopp lined up in the 4-3-3 formation, with Fabinho and Lallana dropping to the bench and the manager opting for his favoured midfield of Henderson, Milner and Wijnaldum in the big games. Mauricio Pochettino decided on switching to a back three/five. Toby Alderweireld replaced the injured Eric Dier, and Kieran Trippier replaced Kyle Walker-Peters When the Reds had the ball, Spurs defended in a 5-3-2 shape, or even a 5-4-1 when Lucas Moura dropped deep. Tottenham were unable to cope with Alexander-Arnold and Robertson, especially when play was switched.Eriksen and Alli hardly got involved either, with too much space to cover.Wijnaldum covered at right-midfield with Salah staying high in a 4-4-2 when defending, allowing the quick counter.Spurs shifted to a 4-2-3-1 formation in the second half, Vertonghen to left-back, Rose pushed up to left midfield. Sissoko and Alli central midfield, Eriksen on the right, Moura as the number ten. The asymmetric nature of the full-backs contributed to goal, as Trippier bombed forward onto Kane’s pass; whereas Vertonghen always stayed deeper. Discussing the tactical elements of the goals and biggest chances.The best kind of victories.How many points with Liverpool and Man City drop before the end of the season? All this and more on Tactics Weekly!

Paul Dalglish, Daniel Rhodes and Gavin Jones put Sunday’s nerves behind them to discuss the two-one victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, topics include: Was it always going to be a tough outing after the CL tie against Bayern? Manager or fan reaction Initial tactics and set up Frustrating delivery Lack of tempo in the first half Mane’s goal - and the build up play Salah’s overall performance - good or poor final decisions, or both? The key is the total contribution of the front three, and the team - not individual records Who was to blame for the Fulham goal? How good was the Reds’ reaction to conceding? The Firmino song - crucial new evidence emerges All this and more on Tactics Weekly!