How Liverpool overcame the 4-5-1 pressing of Chelsea

After a successful first leg in the Champions League quarter-final, Liverpool had the next big challenge at home. In the race for the Premier League, Jürgen Klopps team faced Chelsea. Maurizio Sarris team are slowly getting used to the playing style of the Italian coach and have put in good performances in recent weeks.

In particular, players like Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi have been useful additions to the starting XI. They make Chelsea a more dangerous yet better-balanced team than before. Both players were also part of the starting lineup which Sarri used in his usual 4-3-3 against Liverpool.

Along with the two English national team players, Chelsea started with Kepa in goal. The back four included César Aziplicueta, Antonio Rüdiger, David Luiz and Emerson. As always, the position of the defensive midfielder was occupied by Jorginho, as the key player in Sarris system. He also seems to benefit from the addition of Loftus-Cheek. Along with NGolo Kanté they have two dynamic players who play alongside the slow yet gifted Italian midfielder.

Against the strong Liverpool attack and the fact that Chelsea were playing at Anfield, Sarri decided to go for a lineup with fast players. They were tasked with attacking the spaces behind Liverpools backline. As a consequence, Willian on the right, Hudson-Odoi on the left and Eden Hazard in the centre seemed to be a reasonable choice.

On the other side, Jürgen Klopp had to find the balance in terms of rotation. The game on Wednesday in the Champions League is as important as the game against Chelsea. However, he had to rest certain players after the game against Porto. As always, Alisson was the man in goal while Virgil van Dijk and Joël Matip were the centre-back partnership.

Both were supported by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson on the flanks while Fabinho was the defensive midfielder supporting the build-up. Naby Keïta and captain Jordan Henderson were positioned in the half-spaces. While Henderson improved the deeper circulation, Keita acted much more vertically trying to break the lines or as an additional passing option between the lines.

Klopp didnt rest his best