Final season, Liverpool received two, drew six and misplaced two of their video games towards the standard ‘huge six’, whereas this marketing campaign, they’ve already equalled that tally of two victories within the Premier League.
Liverpool entered the worldwide break high of the league, profitable six of their first seven Premier League video games, however Arne Slot insisted that the match towards Chelsea could be their first actual problem.
It marked the start of a troublesome run of fixtures together with video games towards RB Leipzig, Arsenal and Aston Villa – groups that may check Liverpool on the highest stage.
The Reds emerged with a 2-1 win towards Chelsea, however how did they rise to fulfill the tactical problem and what may it inform us concerning the subsequent few video games?
Up to now this season, Liverpool have sometimes dominated possession with most groups prioritising defence towards them. Chelsea underneath Enzo Maresca, although, got here into the sport because the Premier League‘s fourth-placed staff and high scorers.
They backed themselves to trigger Liverpool issues with an attacking, optimistic strategy.
Malo Gusto began at left again rather than the suspended Marc Cucurella however was nonetheless requested to invert into midfield. This was dangerous because it left Liverpool’s forwards one-on-one with the again three, however in midfield Chelsea had a four-on-three numerical benefit.
Partnering Moises Caicedo with Romeo Lavia additionally gave Chelsea a technically excellent double pivot that might repeatedly evade stress and win their one-on-ones if the free participant wasn’t out there.
In consequence, the guests might simply progress by central areas, breaking Liverpool’s press and forcing them right into a compact defensive block. As soon as Liverpool had been pinned again, Chelsea might run their most popular attacking patterns.
On the left, Gusto often ran ahead past Jadon Sancho, forcing Ryan Gravenberch to trace him into the final line. This not solely stored Gravenberch from influencing the sport in midfield, it additionally left Trent Alexander-Arnold one-on-one with Sancho out vast.
Neutralising Chelsea’s risk
Nevertheless, this didn’t appear totally towards Liverpool’s plan for the sport.
Chelsea had been the league’s high scorers heading into this one, with their high quality in transition serving to them put 4 previous Brighton and 6 past Wolves earlier this season.
Liverpool clearly got down to keep away from quick breaks and deny Chelsea clear sights of aim.
There was a particular give attention to suppressing Cole Palmer, the league’s most prolific aim risk behind Erling Haaland final season. Realizing Palmer likes to float into the proper half-space, Cody Gakpo was tasked with monitoring again to assist Andy Robertson at left-back.
This marked a distinction to how Liverpool used their left winger of their final huge match, when Luis Diaz stayed excessive to use Man United’s attacking full-backs.
It restricted Chelsea’s capacity to overload Robertson, forcing them to give attention to the alternative flank the place Alexander-Arnold defended fantastically.
Maresca even subbed on Pedro Neto at half time to go much more aggressive on the Liverpool proper again, however the former Wolves man couldn’t make the distinction.
Liverpool’s conservative strategy prolonged to their in-possession work, too.
Each Gravenberch and Curtis Jones had been often seen transferring vast to obtain the ball throughout buildup, closing off the direct ball to the wingers and forcing Liverpool to construct up extra slowly.
In consequence, the staff might keep compact and be set to defend any turnovers.
At instances, nonetheless, this solely served to empty the midfield and additional compound Chelsea’s midfield dominance.
Discovering an answer
Liverpool finally discovered the weak spot in Chelsea’s strategy – the three-on-three scenario on the again. Early indicators of this got here when a misplaced Chelsea go allowed Diogo Jota to win possession, although the chance wasn’t totally capitalised on.
As tensions rose as a result of some poor selections by referee John Brooks, the Anfield crowd cranked up the quantity.
Liverpool responded by enjoying extra immediately, isolating Mohamed Salah towards Levi Colwill. With Salah capable of maintain the ball up, his teammates might transfer ahead and provides him choices within the last third.
Breaking the sport down
Moments after a no-penalty name, Ibrahima Konate performed direct underneath stress…
…Liverpool broke ahead, Salah’s shot is deflected…
…and Jones is fouled contesting the unfastened ball.
Within the second half, Virgil Van Dijk performed one other of his direct passes by the centre…
…which reaches Salah in area.
He crossed into the field the place Jones’ run will not be tracked…
…and he finishes to win the sport.
As soon as Liverpool took the lead, Chelsea made a number of adjustments however didn’t discover a approach again into the sport.
Regardless of Chelsea‘s early dominance and late push for an equaliser, they hardly ever threatened Caoimhin Kelleher past their single aim. Liverpool’s deep defence held robust, with standout performances from Alexander-Arnold, Konate and Van Dijk.
Security first strategy
Earlier than the season, a lot was manufactured from Liverpool’s tactical shift underneath Slot, with elevated give attention to tactical intricacy.
But when Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool was about trusting people – counting on the centre-backs to carry the final line alone, trusting Alisson to make essential saves – Slot’s staff is simply the opposite aspect of that coin.
They stifled Chelsea’s assaults first and with the small variety of probabilities they created themselves, the person high quality of Salah turned these probabilities into objectives.
It’s nonetheless a recreation of wonderful margins on the high, however Liverpool confirmed on Sunday that they need to construct from a defensively strong base within the largest video games.
Time will inform if it proves profitable.