Liverpool outclassed title rivals Man Metropolis all through Sunday’s 2-0 win at Anfield, in one other marker of Arne Slot‘s excellent tactical creativity. Right here’s how he did it.
Slot has been effusive in his reward of Pep Guardiola all through his profession, labelling the Metropolis boss a serious affect.
In his first check in opposition to his inspiration, Slot handed with flying colors.
Getting the numbers proper
Pep normally springs a shock within the largest video games, and on this one it was his use of Matheus Nunes as a left winger.
Together with Rico Lewis on the fitting, he gave Metropolis an abundance of midfielders and a slender form designed to cease Liverpool dominating the centre of the pitch.
Slot, nevertheless, made a selection of his personal that was extremely efficient. He set Liverpool as much as press in a 4-1-4-1 form when Metropolis constructed up.
In concept, Metropolis may put six gamers in opposition to Liverpool’s five-man urgent unit, giving them a numerical benefit.
Nonetheless, the trade-off was that Liverpool had an additional participant in defence, with each Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk tight on Erling Haaland.
First-half domination
Regardless of their benefit within the buildup, Metropolis struggled to maintain the ball throughout an electrical opening sequence.
Luis Diaz was instructed to not be baited into urgent the goalkeeper, as an alternative ready for the primary go to be performed.
This meant Liverpool’s urgent unit may shift over to at least one aspect, placing the free Metropolis participant as distant from the ball as potential.
This press was so intense, supported by a baying Anfield crowd, that Metropolis frequently gave up the ball in these conditions.
On this instance, goalkeeper Stefan Ortega does discover the spare man.
However the midfield closes him down so rapidly that the ball is labored again as an alternative of forwards, and ultimately Ryan Gravenberch is ready to anticipate the subsequent go to intercept…
…earlier than establishing an opportunity.
And not using a actual out-ball past Haaland, who was double-marked, the one different choice was for Ortega to play a clipped ball over the urgent unit and into the area the place both Gravenberch or Alexis Mac Allister have been alone in entrance of the again line.
Nonetheless, the character of this sort of go means it needs to be floated to drop behind the urgent unit.
This gave the likes of Van Dijk and Gomez ample alternative to step out and declare it, with their companion nonetheless tight on Haaland behind them simply in case.
Consequently, Liverpool have been in a position to dominate possession.
With Metropolis trying to press excessive, Liverpool have been matched up in one-on-one battles. Mo Salah was trusted to win his battle with Nathan Ake, being Liverpool’s most frequent outlet, whereas Kyle Walker was focused by Cody Gakpo because the weak hyperlink in Metropolis’s defence.
That’s the place the primary purpose got here from.
Within the aftermath of a set-piece, we noticed Dominik Szoboszlai – who coated each blade of grass within the recreation – drop in at right-back.
This allowed Alexander-Arnold to choose up the ball on the other aspect of the pitch. And not using a clear thought of who was marking him, Metropolis couldn’t get sufficient stress on him.
They nonetheless pushed their defensive position up excessive, although, that means he may play an ideal ball in behind for Salah to chase.
With the defence in retreat, Gakpo may merely ghost in behind the unaware Walker and switch in Salah’s cross on the again publish.
After quarter-hour, Liverpool had 63 p.c possession, created 1.20 xG to Metropolis’s 0.0, and had gained six duels to Metropolis’s 4. Guardiola couldn’t afford to attend for half-time, so he instantly instructed Manuel Akanji to start entering into midfield.
The knowledge of preserving Van Dijk and Gomez doubled up on Haaland was on show right here. Akanji at one level was in a position to step up and choose a go that eluded Gomez…
…however as Haaland raced onto it, there was Van Dijk to close him down.
With Haaland marked out of the sport, Nunes turned their finest outlet. However too usually, Metropolis weren’t fast sufficient to seek out him. Right here, he’s free in area and waving his arms (backside left)…
…however the ball is labored by way of Ilkay Gundogan within the centre somewhat than on to him, that means Liverpool can get again into their form…
…and, along with his choices restricted, Nunes finally ends up shedding the ball to Alexander-Arnold anyway.
On the break, Metropolis had made only one try on purpose.
39 – Manchester Metropolis’s first shot try at Anfield got here within the thirty ninth minute; their longest wait for his or her first shot of a Premier League match since April 2010 versus Arsenal (58th minute). Frozen. pic.twitter.com/8DfG0SLb6r
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 1, 2024
*First-half statistics by way of FotMob
Subs within the second
Within the second half, Metropolis got here out taking part in extra direct passes into the ultimate third. With Walker getting forwards to offer width on the fitting, they have been in a position to create some extra probabilities.
Guardiola then subbed on Jeremy Doku and Savinho – two pure wingers who may stretch the pitch and drive Liverpool’s wingers to trace again.
Consequently, Liverpool have been caught defending deep, with no correct out-ball to alleviate stress.
Nonetheless, Slot made his personal adjustments at this level.
Whereas most centered on Jarell Quansah’s arrival to assist defend the harmful Doku, it was the addition of Darwin Nunez up entrance that proved very important.
First, it allowed Diaz to take over the torture of Walker on that wing, along with his physicality and trickery permitting him to carry the ball up effectively in opposition to the tiring full-back.
But it surely additionally gave Liverpool an out-ball when Metropolis’s assaults broke down. It was his relentless charging down of a Liverpool clearance that compelled a mistake…
…culminating in a Liverpool penalty.
Up stepped Salah to win the sport from the spot and ship Liverpool 9 factors clear on the prime.
Victory for the gamers
It was an excellent tactical triumph for Slot. But it surely was achieved by way of the person performances of his gamers.
With out Diaz’s main of the press, Alexander-Arnold’s wonderful lengthy passes, Salah’s skilled holdup play and Szoboszlai’s insane work fee to contribute in each part of play, the tactical setup would have been exploited and defeated.
It’s a testomony to the very good squad Liverpool have constructed, proper as their closest rivals are stumbling.
Fortune is smiling on the Reds up to now this season, however they deserve credit score for making absolutely the most of it.
