Bugs me a little when I see people decrying crosses. The ones to Cody and Mo to each other have been particularly profitable, just like the ones to the back (left stick) from Henderson to Mané used to be.
Notable that Robertson's crossing, from set pieces and open play, like nearly all aspects of his game, is rapidly declining in quality.
Attacking corners, to be specific. The corner we conceded against Ipswich was actually the first we’ve shipped in the PL all season. We just aren’t good at scoring from them.
Great article Josh. I know you have recently adjust your view on Núñez. But I wonder if crossing is going to be a tactic whether this may also be a way to unlock him. If we less reliant on the false 9 stuff as there is no space, could we use more of his physicality in the middle? I think he is pretty decent with his head and at least can occupy 2 defenders.
I been watching past clips of him more closely, and it’s amazing how he is able to drag defenders with him and crates space for others. Could he be a different type of false 9, the one that never gets the ball but facilitates the game by creating space for others? I know people often speak of him as being brainless, but I think he has some football smarts in that he makes so much good runs and gets in good positions but does not finish it off. Perhaps we could just be using it as a decoy.
Don't agree with loads of this. Too much to address it all.
We create low block problems for ourselves by playing in only the left-hand two-thirds of the pitch. The first two photos and the first video show that we have no width down the right outside the 18-yard box. This is not the opposition causing us problems. This is us causing our own problems. Along with packing in defending about three years ago, Tranquiliser Arnold also seems to have packed in playing wide, meaning all those crosses that got him (and Robbo) so many assists up until about 3 years ago under Klopp have largely dried up ssince he reinvented himself in the invertoshambles role.
Yes he assists against Ipswich but as soon as he shapes to cross they should be piling out to catch us offside. That's just Alan Hansen's "terrible defending" by Ipswich.
Gakpo should be way better in the air than he is, but yes we should target him more.
The Forest game was crying out for big R-L switches from Tranq onto Gakpo's head. The Forest right back was dwarfed by Cody. It was an obvious half-time tactical teamtalk by Slot but he didn't act on it and we got more clueless bashing away at a brick wall, shooting from everywhere.
Just checked. Aina is supposedly six foot tall. That must be in Nigerian feet. He looks about 5 8 in Imperial. Fotmob has his aerial win percentage at 36% which is terrible even before you factor in that Gakpo is probably the tallest left winger in world football (unless Crouchy is still playing and out of position) so Cody should be annihilating Aina in the air.
Interesting observations. Reading this took me back to the hey day of crosses in the 90s premier league where the likes of Shearer and Sheringham reaped rewards against mostly one dimensional CBs and flat lined back 4s! Crossing and crossing positions seems to have evolved but unfortunately commentators seem to have not! The one thing I notice about us is that we rarely attempt to get to the by line and cross low across the six yard box. Not sure if this is true based on data on crossing positions or just my eye test failing…do we seem to prefer to play back out from the by line back into deeper crossing positions? Or do the planned movement of our forwards and midfielders mean that this would be an ineffective technique?
Watching the Ipswich game it almost felt like Liverpool was practising playing against a low bloc and trying different options. Crossing is obviously a good option, as you point out, but in the recent past too many of the crosses (and corners) have been too short and close to the first man/near-post. Back post crosses make sense as the ball gets past the big lump of defenders in the middle. Have you seen any other teams playing the low bloc successfully?
Bugs me a little when I see people decrying crosses. The ones to Cody and Mo to each other have been particularly profitable, just like the ones to the back (left stick) from Henderson to Mané used to be.
Notable that Robertson's crossing, from set pieces and open play, like nearly all aspects of his game, is rapidly declining in quality.
spot on about Robbo's crossing and his game in general ... love Robbo and hate seeing his decline
No clue if the data bears this out, but I think Arsenal are also increasingly scoring from open play crosses as well
Everton, Goodison Park, 12th February (not 2nd)
So true Josh when you say Attack Vs Defence
It’s been like that all season apart from the Chelsea match but we still managed to win that game
It’s a pleasure watching the Reds at the moment taking control of possession from the go
so true that many of our matches have become "low block" matches but Saturday at Bournemouth will be a different type of match
💯
Loved this piece mate. Now the question comes to my mind is why we’re not as good at corners this year,
Attacking corners, to be specific. The corner we conceded against Ipswich was actually the first we’ve shipped in the PL all season. We just aren’t good at scoring from them.
Believe Arnes’ set piece coach was unable to join due to visa issues
But Liverpool had been pretty good from attacking corners during Klopp's tenure.
Most of the players are the same.. So just because there isn't a set piece coach.. Liverpool don't know how to score from corners?!
Great article Josh. I know you have recently adjust your view on Núñez. But I wonder if crossing is going to be a tactic whether this may also be a way to unlock him. If we less reliant on the false 9 stuff as there is no space, could we use more of his physicality in the middle? I think he is pretty decent with his head and at least can occupy 2 defenders.
I been watching past clips of him more closely, and it’s amazing how he is able to drag defenders with him and crates space for others. Could he be a different type of false 9, the one that never gets the ball but facilitates the game by creating space for others? I know people often speak of him as being brainless, but I think he has some football smarts in that he makes so much good runs and gets in good positions but does not finish it off. Perhaps we could just be using it as a decoy.
Feels like we are just missing that striker that can head it in 😅
Don't agree with loads of this. Too much to address it all.
We create low block problems for ourselves by playing in only the left-hand two-thirds of the pitch. The first two photos and the first video show that we have no width down the right outside the 18-yard box. This is not the opposition causing us problems. This is us causing our own problems. Along with packing in defending about three years ago, Tranquiliser Arnold also seems to have packed in playing wide, meaning all those crosses that got him (and Robbo) so many assists up until about 3 years ago under Klopp have largely dried up ssince he reinvented himself in the invertoshambles role.
Yes he assists against Ipswich but as soon as he shapes to cross they should be piling out to catch us offside. That's just Alan Hansen's "terrible defending" by Ipswich.
Gakpo should be way better in the air than he is, but yes we should target him more.
The Forest game was crying out for big R-L switches from Tranq onto Gakpo's head. The Forest right back was dwarfed by Cody. It was an obvious half-time tactical teamtalk by Slot but he didn't act on it and we got more clueless bashing away at a brick wall, shooting from everywhere.
Just checked. Aina is supposedly six foot tall. That must be in Nigerian feet. He looks about 5 8 in Imperial. Fotmob has his aerial win percentage at 36% which is terrible even before you factor in that Gakpo is probably the tallest left winger in world football (unless Crouchy is still playing and out of position) so Cody should be annihilating Aina in the air.
Interesting observations. Reading this took me back to the hey day of crosses in the 90s premier league where the likes of Shearer and Sheringham reaped rewards against mostly one dimensional CBs and flat lined back 4s! Crossing and crossing positions seems to have evolved but unfortunately commentators seem to have not! The one thing I notice about us is that we rarely attempt to get to the by line and cross low across the six yard box. Not sure if this is true based on data on crossing positions or just my eye test failing…do we seem to prefer to play back out from the by line back into deeper crossing positions? Or do the planned movement of our forwards and midfielders mean that this would be an ineffective technique?
Watching the Ipswich game it almost felt like Liverpool was practising playing against a low bloc and trying different options. Crossing is obviously a good option, as you point out, but in the recent past too many of the crosses (and corners) have been too short and close to the first man/near-post. Back post crosses make sense as the ball gets past the big lump of defenders in the middle. Have you seen any other teams playing the low bloc successfully?