Joaquín Papa Tactics At Liverpool Montevideo 2025: Redefining Uruguayan Football With Positional Play – Tactical Analysis

Liverpool Montevideo have been one of the incredible sensations in Uruguay and, indeed, all of South America this year.

After a complicated 2024, following a historic 2023 that saw them crowned Uruguayan champions for the first time in their history, the team failed to qualify for continental competitions.

However, the team seems to have rediscovered its footballing identity.

Led by the promising coach Joaquín Papa, part of the new generation of Uruguayan managers that also includes Martín Varini, the team plays bold football, based on possession and high recovery.

Working under the positional play methodology (controlling spaces to dominate time), Liverpool Montevideo once again lifted the Torneo Apertura, the first competition of the year in Uruguay, and is now competing for the overall Uruguayan Championship.

Already qualified for the final stage of the tournament and showing that it continues to thrive during the Golden Age of its history, the Belvedere club stands up to the country’s two giants, Nacional and Peñarol; both historic clubs at the South American and world level.

In addition, Liverpool Montevideo have stood out for their management and manipulation of high pressing.

Whether by passing it or drawing the opponent in, Liverpool Montevideo have often succeeded in establishing themselves in the opposition half through different build-up designs, both against aggressive high blocks and against medium blocks with tendencies for intermediate pressing jumps.

This has created excellent conditions for their attackers.

From their centre-forward, Abel Hernández, who enjoys dropping off to link as a third man thanks to his strength and passing technique, to their wingers, such as Nicolás Vallejo, who benefit more from attacking depth in 1-v-1 duels.

This Liverpool Montevideo tactical analysis will examine Liverpool Montevideos build-up designs and first-pass mechanisms under Joaquín Papa.

Liverpool Montevideo Numerical Superiority In The First Line & Centre-Back Activation

One of the most interesting traits of Joaquín Papas Liverpool Montevideo is how naturally they operate in situations of numerical superiority against the opponent’s first pressing line.

The team capitalizes on this initial superiority when facing a medium block that presses with two forwards against a structure of three defenders plus a pivot (3+1).

Numerical superiority against the first pressing line.

Instead of forcing risky passes, they encourage the centre-back (or full-back stepping in) to carry the ball forward, provoking one of the opponent’s midfielders to jump out of their line.

That provocation is no accident; it is by design.