Lessons from Lionel Messi
How Liverpool can relate to the best to ever do it.
Alright, so I know I promised that I wouldn’t write about the World Cup on this Substack, but come on. I’m sure you guys will allow me to dedicate at least one post to the genius of Lionel Messi.
On Wednesday night, the best player in the history of the sport put on a real show against England. In the process of knocking Thomas Tuchel’s men out of the tournament, Messi registered two assists and largely ran the entire second half in Atlanta.
His performance got me thinking about Liverpool. I know, kinda weird. But you’d be surprised how many random things across all different walks of life manage to get me thinking about the Reds.
Messi started two fires in my mind. Let’s go deeper.
So if there’s one thing that’s haunted Liverpool over the past 12 months, it’s the almighty low block. Arne Slot essentially developed into a meme for highlighting them so often.
After winning the Premier League in his debut season at the helm, the Reds regressed last term, particularly when presented with the task of breaking down stubborn defences.
Well, England adopted their own low block against Argentina. After gaining a lead thanks to Anthony Gordon, Tuchel’s outfit proceeded to post just 12 per cent possession — yes, twelve — between the 55th and 92nd minute. Incredible stuff. Catenaccio.
Argentina had to find a way through, with much of the emphasis placed on Messi’s 39-year-old shoulders. But rather than shooting from distance or dribbling past an entire team on his own, the South American took a different approach.
Messi essentially positioned himself outside of the block. He found himself looking in from more withdrawn areas, drifting into the biggest spaces that emerged and often popping up on the right wing.
He created four shots for his teammates, more than any other player on the pitch. Messi typically paints himself as the guy who finishes the move. The scorer. But against England, he was the key to the door. The prober. The needle.
His behaviour as a magician living in the suburbs got me thinking about Trent Alexander-Arnold, and how the Scouse defender offered those deep-lying solutions for Liverpool.
When you think about who tends to lurk outside the block at Anfield nowadays, you’ve got the likes of Milos Kerkez, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Jeremie Frimpong and Ryan Gravenberch. A gang of runners and physical specimens, basically.
