A familiar fault reared its head as Liverpool once again
failed to capitalise on their opportunities and consequently squandered the
chance to win. Nonetheless, there was plenty to be pleased with in the
performance: Mourinho’s typically deep line was unable to prevent the creation
of a couple of big opportunities, and United’s erstwhile prolific attack never
really looked like troubling the hosts’ back line. These plus points are both
endemic of a change of tactical approach that has the potential to make
Liverpool unstoppable.
The new tactic is in many ways a subtle change, but it could
serve to dramatically improve results. Out of possession, things are much the
same: Klopp has his players pressing high, looking to hustle the opposition
into a mistake. This was very effective against United, who were forced to
simply put the ball out of play on multiple occasions. The change has come in
the approach when Liverpool do have the ball. Previously, attacks have been as
frenetic as the turnovers in possession through which they were instigated; in
other words, the plan was to nick the ball and then descend upon the goal as
quickly and directly as possible. This worked to destructive effect against
teams who left gaps to be exploited at the point of turnover, but opponents were
increasingly opting to sit very deep against Liverpool so as to negate this
risk. In response to this, Klopp has got his team playing much more patiently
in the build-up phase. The only way to consistently break low blocks is
intricate passing sequences – recently, these have become a much more regular
feature. The idea is that teams can no longer feel safe sitting back: if they
do so, the likes of Coutinho and Firmino will find a way through with their
playmaking talents. This is good in and of itself, but what gives it the
potential to be so effective is the fact that the attack still possesses the capability
to launch explosive counter-attacks. Teams will be in trouble when they step up
and in trouble when they sit deep – once the players are fully adjusted to the
new method, there will be no simple way of stopping them.
In some ways, it is strange that this tweak to the system
hasn’t come sooner: patient passing when in possession and aggressive pressing
off-the-ball are a natural mix. When the opponent is only rarely afforded the
ball, their natural tendency is to take more risks when they get it – they wish
to capitalise on the fact they are actually in possession by turning that possession
into a scoring chance. This risk-taking leaves them more vulnerable to the
press: this allows a gap to be exploited at the turnover if it exists, and if
it does not then the side playing the possession-based game nonetheless have
the ball back. Thus the system serves as a potential way of creating chances,
but also as a way of limiting chances for the opponent: given Liverpool’s
defensive woes of late, any help they can derive from their tactical setup is
welcome. To put it simply, the opposition cannot score if they don’t have the
ball – the principle is basic, but the ramifications are significant. All the
while Liverpool are moving the ball around, looking for an opening, they are
simultaneously relieving the defence of all pressure; they may be called upon
as ball-players, but this is one aspect of the game in which Matip and Lovren
are fairly accomplished. As such, the new system being employed is working
towards improving things at both ends of the pitch.
Why, then, did Liverpool still fail to pick up a win against
United? There are two principle reasons. The first is that the adaptation to
the new style is a work in progress: the team cannot be expected to transform
into Guardiola’s Barcelona overnight, and the incision and fluidity of the passing
therefore still left something to be desired at times. After a full season of
being stumped by the deep line, it would be unrealistic to demand that the
players immediately work out how to consistently unlock it. The second reason
is that, even when the chances were cleverly carved out, they were not taken.
Emre Can and Joel Matip missed the biggest opportunities of the match, with Mo
Salah also failing to turn home from close range. This has been a big problem
of late, and can also in part be attributed to Klopp’s tweak of the system.
Under the old methods, nearly all of the chances created were 2v1s (or similar)
by virtue of the way in which they came about: everyone charged forwards off
the back of the press, overwhelming defences and creating easy scoring
situations where the ball could just be passed home. Now, whilst some of the
chances being made are still clear-cut, the goalkeeper cannot be taken out of
the equation completely: faced with beating him, the players are struggling.
Admittedly David De Gea is something of an exceptional case – he is one of the
best keepers in the world, and his stop to deny Matip was extraordinary.
Nonetheless, the problem applies more generally: Liverpool have to get better
at burying their chances if they wish to reap the full rewards that the change
in style has to offer.
All in all, though, the draw was more encouraging than it
was frustrating. There are clear signs that Klopp’s amended tactical vision is
starting to be understood and implemented, and when this comes to full fruition
it will be fantastic.
- - Follow me on Twitter
@JamesMartin013
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