Analysis: Controlling and dominant, Liverpool are back to their best

https://www.twenty3.sport/analysis-controlling-and-dominant-liverpool-are-back-to-their-best/


When Liverpool racked up 196 points across two Premier League campaigns, they did so by controlling, well, everything.

They dictated play when in possession and bossed the opposition when out of it. They replaced the heavy metal football – that chaotic, basketball-style approach they utilised during Jürgen Klopp’s earlier years at Anfield – with something just as intense, just in a different way.

The Reds wanted to grind the opposition down. They’d smother any space and position their centre-backs high up the pitch to ensure the ball just kept coming back. It was just relentless.

It no doubt would’ve been draining for the opposition and it is why there was always a feeling of inevitability. No matter what opponents did, Liverpool would eventually find a way through. It happened time and time again.

Last season, without any fit senior centre-backs for the majority of the campaign, Klopp’s men had to adapt. Their defensive solidity map helps visualise this.

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This focuses on where Liverpool engage the opposition. The lighter the red, the busier they are in that part of the pitch. During the 2020/21 campaign, Liverpool were pretty active across all six zones. They weren’t dominating a smaller space and were instead a little stretched, perhaps a byproduct of trying to protect their makeshift defence.

However, as a result, this would, occasionally leave the Klopp’s men exposed in midfield. Those in that part of the pitch would have more to do and it’s why opponents managed to get at the defence with greater regularity.

For comparison, a look at their defensive solidity maps for 2018/19 and 2019/20.

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As you can see, the Reds are usually more active in the three areas outside of the opposition’s penalty area.

They hemmed their opponents in and forced them to be switched on for large periods of the game. Any lapse in concentration would result in an opportunity due to how aggressive Liverpool were with their positioning of players.

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This season, though the sample size is only four matches, we’re already seeing a similar pattern. The busiest three areas for Liverpool are the same ones as during the 2018/19 and 2019/20 campaigns.

We may only be four matches into the new season, but the title hopefuls have been owning the middle third. Win that part of the pitch and you, more often than not, win the match.


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Obviously, having Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip back in defence has played a significant part in this transformation. They’ve also been aided by Fabinho being back in midfield. Something which may have been overlooked, however, is Harvey Elliott’s part in this.

The youngster will likely be sidelined after suffering a dislocated ankle against Leeds United. It is a huge loss for the Reds after the 18-year-old carved out a unique role for himself in the midfield.

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He struck up an understanding with Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right which allowed both players a little more freedom, purely due to the extra man on that flank.

Not only that, though, Elliott was impressive without the ball. He was averaging over six pressing duels per 90 and ranks in the top 20 for ball recoveries in the opposition’s half.

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So, Liverpool are once again bossing the ball and the space. It is perhaps why they now look defensively robust. Only Manchester City (20) and Wolves (30) have allowed fewer non-penalty shots against this season and they’re one of only four teams to have an xG conceded total of below three.

Klopp’s side have been utterly dominant in their four outings. Granted, the opposition needs to be taken into account as do the events in each of the games. But you can’t help but be impressed by what they’re showing defensively.

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When the scores have been tied, Liverpool have allowed just seven shots in from inside their penalty area. When the Reds are leading and the onus is on the opposition, they have allowed just 12 shots from inside the box.

At no point has it looked as though Liverpool would lose.

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Everyone has been talking about Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City as title favourites, but Liverpool are low-key going under the radar and if these averages continue as the season progresses, they’ll be in a title challenge.

 

Nice to see a positive article. Only four games in but we know what this team can do and are doing. We can only control what we do and atm that's working.

 

Also it’s kind of what we all said last year while pundits and Oppo fans didn’t understand.

losing vvd Matip Gomez did more than jist screw the defence, it screwed the attack because we weren’t pushed up as high, weren’t putting the opposition under pressure as high and winning the ball back.

It would have been very interesting to see what would have happened this year with Eliott in that RCm position as played it very different to Hendo who would generally drop back into RB role to grrt the ball while taa pushed further on.

With Elliott wider this year, TAA comes inside more, but with Hendo there wonder if that’ll continue. Will Hendo be pushed on more In same way Elliott has done it will TAA push on and wider with Hendo tucked back a bit.

 

It's a good question. I don't think Hendo will push on as much because he doesnt have that attacking ability. But he is good at picking the odd pass and playing long balls, so I would want him to hold back and let Trent go upfield and stay out wide, with Salah sticking centrally.

Alternatively, Hendo could play the more defensive role (Gini role) on the right and let Naby / Thiago be more attacking down that left?

 

why didn't you put this in your won analytics thread

now i'll actually read it.

Like i could have said as much after one preseason game. you could see it.

 

Agreed. I was pretty confident going into the season anyway simply because we had our defenders back but there were (are) question marks over whether or not VVD would need team to get back to peal condition (along with Matip and Gomez).

I'm just glad that we've started pretty well and look good all round.

 

Lol it was too long to post as just a comment. But I'm happy if you want to merge it.

 

I'm wondering how close to the first team Kaide Gordon is considered to be. He is another exciting prospect that plays with no fear, completely different to Elliott but in the same position, I think.

 

He's not a mod anymore

 

1. Henderson. likes to balloon crosses that are just saved form going out by robbo. I'm sure he will do fine doing exactly this in harvey's absence. he moves a nice deep deep cross thats so high even peter crouch couldn't score I don't think ive actually ever seen him put on to the near post.

2. XG. load of **** all i see is misses of chances and masses of misses. my version of xg is would a donkey kicking out at the side of the barn hit it? if yes then its XG.

3. Nobody noticed that we are not defending the opposition box compare 19/20 to this year. we were higher up playing pure offside. we were on the half way line pinning teams in. The 4 matches so far suggest were are not quite as high up the park and we are not pressing quite up on the opponents box. thats kind of interesting to think on.

4. finally all you need think in any game is if we score first we will win. We have VVD. end of. If we get the first goal and sides have to come out slightly then salah will run in behind them and they will have a long day. Its only a question to my mind that we cannot score against deep set defenses. we need to figure that one out.

 

who told you that

 

will be in the team for norwich.

that insider info.

btw totally different player to Elliott. he is lightening quick.

 

Can't say

 

**** me a whole thread designed to screw us over and jinx us all at once lmao

 

Don't worry - it's all to no avail because we didn't spend a ****load of money on somebody.

 

Summary...?

 

Red bad, dark red good or something

 

Get a proper RB and you should compete for top place.

 

You should take an interest in another sport mate

 

No



**** off fat boy