When Liverpool were crowned as Premier League champions in the 2019/20 season, they conceded 33 goals, a league best. Last year, however, they struggled to maintain this defensive feat due to the injury problems at centre-back. They conceded 42 goals, needing an extraordinary last gasp Alisson headed goal against West Bromwich Albion to secure UEFA Champions League qualification. Without Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joël Matip in the squad for a large part of the season, the team was vulnerable at the back and ended the season trophyless.
This season, with Matip and especially Van Dijk back fit and firing, Liverpool have kept 21 clean sheets in 34 Premier League games so far, conceding only 22 goals. The campaign went off to a relatively slow start and the Reds found themselves 14 points behind Manchester City in the league in January, albeit with two games in hand. Since then, Liverpool have racked up 41 points out of a possible 45, keeping 11 clean sheets in the process.
After last season’s struggles, the solid defensive structure has been the stepping stone for Liverpool’s success this term. They now find themselves in a unique position challenging on four fronts; one point behind City in the league with four games to go, Champions League and FA Cup finals to contest, and the Carabao Cup already in the locker.
In this tactical analysis, we analyze the key tactics behind Liverpool’s impeccable clean sheet record and defensive organization.
Press / Counter-press
Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool team have become famous for their suffocating counter-pressing in all areas of the pitch. This strategy is used to disrupt the opposition as soon as possession is lost; in defensive transitions. It entails aggressively pressing the opponents near the ball for quick regains high up the pitch, before the other team can settle in possession. This strategy can then lead to chances and goals, because it often leaves gaps in the opponent’s structure. “The idea when we put pressure is not to force them back and to hold the position and protect behind. No, when we go it’s all about the last two meters of the press. We go there to steal the ball.” – Pep Lijnders, Liverpool Assistant Manager.
Klopps counter-press is mainly viewed as an attacking tool to win the ball back and score quickly, but it is actually also a fundamental aspect of the team’s defensive structure; defending from the front. Effective counter-pressing stops the opposition from launching counter-attacks and delays forward progress, sometimes even forcing the ball backwards or out of play. The counter-press does not afford opposing players the luxury of time to make the best decision, leading to a high chance of turnovers.
A team that intends to counter-press have to bear that in mind when they are in possession of the ball. The attacking players must be close enough to the ball and one another to be ready to press immediately after possession loss. Liverpool have become the masters of this under Klopp. They instantly condense the space and form a compact structure. They man-mark tightly, ready to pounce like sharks, while also covering passing lanes and out-balls.
An issue with counter-pressing is the space vacated in behind for teams to exploit that can leave the side vulnerable to counter-attacks. It is all reliant on organization and having the right profile of players to fulfill their roles and have the tactical intelligence to react quickly and instinctively to transitions. In Fabinho, Matip and Van Dijk, Liverpool are equipped with the necessary speed and awareness to cope with opposition counters and balls in behind.
Liverpool lead the league this season in pressures in the attacking 3rd.
During the 4-0 win against Manchester United in April, Liverpool’s 4th goal was created from a pressing situation. Maguire plays a poor cross to young Hannibal Mejbri on the right and the latter takes a heavy touch. The Liverpool players directly jump and close all the passing lanes and options for Hannibal. Robertson ends up nicking the ball into Jota’s path.
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