Before the season started, the media narrative about Arne's style centered around: (1) an effective press when opponents build-up to aggressively win the ball & start attacks, (2) a methodical, patient build-up from the back with shorter passes, (3) controlling the game via possession & keeping play away from our goal, & (4) ensuring that direct attacks had proper structure behind them to reduce the risk of a counterattack.
Yesterday was confusing vis a vis that narrative. We didn't press aggressively or effectively yet continued to commit 4 up front w Curtis man-marking Palmer &, as Josh illustrated, got played through. The methodical build-up was shelved in favor of balls over the top for our forwards to hold up or chase as Aidan91 pointed out. We didn't really control the game at all. We did, for the most part, keep them away from our goal (especially Palmer).
We're all obviously pleased with the result but, to contend for the league & UCL, it was a perplexing & concerning performance ... at Anfield ... to allow Chelsea to control the match and offer that little in attack. Take away one idiotic decision by Colwill & one lapse in concentration from Palmer (missed one great chance) and we're having a different conversation today.
It felt like we were the away team for much of this game. What was heartening was that as soon as they scored we responded almost immediately. It was a strange performance, there was a point in the first half where we punted 3 long balls straight up to Sanchez. I'm not sure if it was bad play or intentional
Very much agree with your points. Though I think first half we were cautious but prying, after Curtis‘ goal we were smart and managed the game. Overall we managed to control Chelsea‘s main strengths: wide players and Palmer.
I expect us to be more front footed against Leipzig. Would be helpful if Curtis could do a job on Simons, same as he did on Palmer. Our approach against Arsenal will be interesting as they probably want to do to us what we did to Chelsea.
one reason why the middle was open in the first half was Arne committing Curtis for large stretches of play to man-marking Palmer. it was essentially Ryan vs. their midfield 4 minus Palmer.
I am liking Slot's tactical approach to playing different teams and styles. Another example of his flexibility. They allowed Chelsea to have the ball but stopped them really creating many clear cut chances. I'm also loving our defensive strength and while the marauding Klopp era was a great watch, we struggled at the back. Slot's more balanced approach is less nerve jangling and good viewing. It feels like a grown up team.
Completely agree with this. Slot and the team are showing so much tactical flexibility at the moment. Chelsea have scored a lot of goals this season already, so the sensible thing was to focus on that and trust the quality of our attacking players when they were isolated with their defenders. Josh is right about how easy it was to break through our lines though. Hopefully some simple positioning/spacial awareness work on the training ground will improve that.
I disagree on this. Jones took care of Palmer and did a great job of doing so. It’s on Slot to solve the structural issues that emerged. And he did that later in the game to be fair.
Yeah Jones was absolutely on man making duty, which he did extremely well, so not on him. I don't know how to/if you can post photos on here, but there is one similar to the one that Josh posted that shows Jones marking Palmer and pointing at Caicedo unmarked that perfectly sums up the setup and its shortfalls.
Jones was committed to man-marking Palmer. It wasn't his fault we were played through. When Chelsea often broke our first line of four, it was essentially Ryan vs. Caicedo/Lavia/Gusto with help from a retreating Dom. It seemed like a tactics issue where our press with 4 was clearly not working (season-high 16 PPDA) but Arne stuck with it & stuck with Curtis man-marking Palmer, so there was always gonna be a free Chelsea player to play through the first line.
I thought we were decent value for the win against a very good Chelsea side who will be thereabouts this season. I don't think Szobo was as bad as some are saying and Darwin was immense.
Agree with your analysis. The game left me a bitter sweet taste. The three points and the win are very much welcome, but performance not so much...
Indeed, apart from some very good teams of City (especially in the early years of Klopp), and some games during the pandemic and injured-plagued seasons, no other team dominated us in Anfield like Chelsea did yesterday.
They did by-passed out first line of defense quite easily repeatedly, with a simple pass. We overcame most of the times the threat with extra running, but it shouldn't be that easy.
And, on the other hand, we struggled remarkably to pass the ball through their first line of pressing...
Kelleher must have broken some kind of record of long balls. 😆..!
And, too many wrong passes too..
I feel that something was not clicking in our midfield.
I don't know if it was that, Jones is a more attacking-minded player than Macca , or Maresca did find a way to neutralize our weapons.
I hope Slot will fix this (to my eyes) glitch..
As I said before, I have a bitter-sweet taste: I'm glad for the winning and the less vulnerable defense but, I also miss the heavy-metal-football's excitement, with storming attacking waves smashing the opposition's lines...😔
If win the league I will have no complaints. I think he's fixing the defence first before moving onto the attack. Which is always the right way to do things.
I don't understand his press when we are playing teams with 3 (or 4) in the middle. He needs to have two ways of pressing. The pincer press that Klopp used in the prime Liverpool team of 2018-20, involved cutting off the full back with Firmino screening the nearest mid. If he got played around, it was okay because we had 3 aggressive, front foot central midfielders (2 usually higher) and the prime Fabinho. In the second half, on our right, Mo Salah inverted and followed the nearest central mid, forcing play to the outside for Trent to deal with Pedro Neto, in more of a traditional 4-2-3-1 shape, (with Nunez doing the pressing ahead of the 3). Channelling wide for 1 v 1's for trent to deal with isn't ideal, but they had more cover with two holders now and at least it meant we weren't being carved open centrally repeatedly. I feel that he needs to recognise these scenarios sooner and adjust because we will face opponents with more of a cutting edge than the generally good Chelsea and they could be out of sight by halftime...
We did allow them the flanks. While Trent held up pretty well vs. Sancho & Neto, Robbo was often in trouble vs. Madueke and feels increasingly like a weak link in our XI.
It felt like with a little more consistent referring decisions we would have had some good moments from the press too. A few terrible decisions when we won the ball back counter pressing.
Slot’s approach worked, and it felt like the small margins were going for Chelsea in this game. A very tight offside with an uncharacteristic error from Konate when he didn’t hold the line and the second penalty chalked off (I know GK touched the ball but he was out of control and lunged at Curtis - we’re always told you cannot be out of control regardless of ball contact).
Even with those small margins not falling the right way we got the win by taking the sting out of the game.
Let’s not forget we started without 3 of Slot’s favourite XI too.
Great analysis, Josh. Distance Covered is one of the top platforms for legitimate analysis on football tactics. Why I find it so good, is because it's actually educating fans and helping us understand and connect with our own football side. When you really understand how your team plays, I find it makes viewing the game a lot more engaging and enjoyable. Well done (and thanks for publishing this content).
Great article! Michael Cox also wrote about the similar thing on The Athletic. Passing through our midfield shouldn't be that easy. In these cases, changing the shape from 4-2-4 to 4-3-3 could have been tried so that Caicedo couldn't find those amount of spaces.
Although its still very new to our eyes, going away from Klopp's heavy-metal football, but a win is a win and we will take all three points.
I’m a bit surprised at the level of concern in the reaction to this match. I thought we looked relatively untroubled defensively for the majority of the match with the only real danger seeming to be Madueke beating Robertson out wide.
Felt like a 2-0 would have been fair enough at the break even with us not able to find a way to progress the ball through Chelsea initially, our attack seemed much more dangerous. Curtis held on to the ball too long in feeding salah for the disallowed goal, could have scored or had his second penalty stand.
I wouldn’t say we looked vintage, or amazing but I felt we handled a tough opponent without too much fuss.
I don’t disagree, it’s just important to determine whether we actually wanted the match flow as it did, because if not, we weren’t the dominant side at Anfield against a team that would happily finish fourth this season.
We couldn’t escape our own half for large periods. Only eight shots, things like that. But Kelleher also had very little to do, and that’s why the game was a strange one to analyse.
Seems like based on his post match comments last night not having possession was not really his plan or something he was too happy with against Chelsea, so maybe the more harsh take is accurate after all.
Gravo was having a wonderful Amsterdam experience. He had Labia. That runt was all over him all game. Plan B was sky high, in the wind, our small hot air balloons were landing anywhere and everywhere.
Our Air Marshalls were missing their targets with Alarming inaccuracy, Step up our Plan Curtis. Tank Regiment Commander. Fought the Fight on the Dance Floor at both ends of the Battle Ground. Maneuvering superbly 'We're not avin this lads' Cole who? Your not avin it either lad!
There was a christening yesterday and a christening due
The Day belongs to our Tank Commander. He did the business on the dance floor😂.
Great showing by Arne Benitez’s reds yesterday!
Yeah felt very Benítez. But this time with depth in attack.
It's as if Slot is rebuilding and getting our defence right is his no 1 priority - it's working !!
Before the season started, the media narrative about Arne's style centered around: (1) an effective press when opponents build-up to aggressively win the ball & start attacks, (2) a methodical, patient build-up from the back with shorter passes, (3) controlling the game via possession & keeping play away from our goal, & (4) ensuring that direct attacks had proper structure behind them to reduce the risk of a counterattack.
Yesterday was confusing vis a vis that narrative. We didn't press aggressively or effectively yet continued to commit 4 up front w Curtis man-marking Palmer &, as Josh illustrated, got played through. The methodical build-up was shelved in favor of balls over the top for our forwards to hold up or chase as Aidan91 pointed out. We didn't really control the game at all. We did, for the most part, keep them away from our goal (especially Palmer).
We're all obviously pleased with the result but, to contend for the league & UCL, it was a perplexing & concerning performance ... at Anfield ... to allow Chelsea to control the match and offer that little in attack. Take away one idiotic decision by Colwill & one lapse in concentration from Palmer (missed one great chance) and we're having a different conversation today.
It felt like we were the away team for much of this game. What was heartening was that as soon as they scored we responded almost immediately. It was a strange performance, there was a point in the first half where we punted 3 long balls straight up to Sanchez. I'm not sure if it was bad play or intentional
Very much agree with your points. Though I think first half we were cautious but prying, after Curtis‘ goal we were smart and managed the game. Overall we managed to control Chelsea‘s main strengths: wide players and Palmer.
I expect us to be more front footed against Leipzig. Would be helpful if Curtis could do a job on Simons, same as he did on Palmer. Our approach against Arsenal will be interesting as they probably want to do to us what we did to Chelsea.
one reason why the middle was open in the first half was Arne committing Curtis for large stretches of play to man-marking Palmer. it was essentially Ryan vs. their midfield 4 minus Palmer.
I am liking Slot's tactical approach to playing different teams and styles. Another example of his flexibility. They allowed Chelsea to have the ball but stopped them really creating many clear cut chances. I'm also loving our defensive strength and while the marauding Klopp era was a great watch, we struggled at the back. Slot's more balanced approach is less nerve jangling and good viewing. It feels like a grown up team.
Completely agree with this. Slot and the team are showing so much tactical flexibility at the moment. Chelsea have scored a lot of goals this season already, so the sensible thing was to focus on that and trust the quality of our attacking players when they were isolated with their defenders. Josh is right about how easy it was to break through our lines though. Hopefully some simple positioning/spacial awareness work on the training ground will improve that.
On breaking the lines, I think that's a result of playing Jones, while he is adept on the attacking front, he's not as good as Macca defensively.
I disagree on this. Jones took care of Palmer and did a great job of doing so. It’s on Slot to solve the structural issues that emerged. And he did that later in the game to be fair.
Fair point, Josh.
On an another, good to see contract negotiations have started with VVD and hopefully others : )
Yeah Jones was absolutely on man making duty, which he did extremely well, so not on him. I don't know how to/if you can post photos on here, but there is one similar to the one that Josh posted that shows Jones marking Palmer and pointing at Caicedo unmarked that perfectly sums up the setup and its shortfalls.
Jones was committed to man-marking Palmer. It wasn't his fault we were played through. When Chelsea often broke our first line of four, it was essentially Ryan vs. Caicedo/Lavia/Gusto with help from a retreating Dom. It seemed like a tactics issue where our press with 4 was clearly not working (season-high 16 PPDA) but Arne stuck with it & stuck with Curtis man-marking Palmer, so there was always gonna be a free Chelsea player to play through the first line.
I thought we were decent value for the win against a very good Chelsea side who will be thereabouts this season. I don't think Szobo was as bad as some are saying and Darwin was immense.
Agree with your analysis. The game left me a bitter sweet taste. The three points and the win are very much welcome, but performance not so much...
Indeed, apart from some very good teams of City (especially in the early years of Klopp), and some games during the pandemic and injured-plagued seasons, no other team dominated us in Anfield like Chelsea did yesterday.
They did by-passed out first line of defense quite easily repeatedly, with a simple pass. We overcame most of the times the threat with extra running, but it shouldn't be that easy.
And, on the other hand, we struggled remarkably to pass the ball through their first line of pressing...
Kelleher must have broken some kind of record of long balls. 😆..!
And, too many wrong passes too..
I feel that something was not clicking in our midfield.
I don't know if it was that, Jones is a more attacking-minded player than Macca , or Maresca did find a way to neutralize our weapons.
I hope Slot will fix this (to my eyes) glitch..
As I said before, I have a bitter-sweet taste: I'm glad for the winning and the less vulnerable defense but, I also miss the heavy-metal-football's excitement, with storming attacking waves smashing the opposition's lines...😔
If win the league I will have no complaints. I think he's fixing the defence first before moving onto the attack. Which is always the right way to do things.
I don't understand his press when we are playing teams with 3 (or 4) in the middle. He needs to have two ways of pressing. The pincer press that Klopp used in the prime Liverpool team of 2018-20, involved cutting off the full back with Firmino screening the nearest mid. If he got played around, it was okay because we had 3 aggressive, front foot central midfielders (2 usually higher) and the prime Fabinho. In the second half, on our right, Mo Salah inverted and followed the nearest central mid, forcing play to the outside for Trent to deal with Pedro Neto, in more of a traditional 4-2-3-1 shape, (with Nunez doing the pressing ahead of the 3). Channelling wide for 1 v 1's for trent to deal with isn't ideal, but they had more cover with two holders now and at least it meant we weren't being carved open centrally repeatedly. I feel that he needs to recognise these scenarios sooner and adjust because we will face opponents with more of a cutting edge than the generally good Chelsea and they could be out of sight by halftime...
We did allow them the flanks. While Trent held up pretty well vs. Sancho & Neto, Robbo was often in trouble vs. Madueke and feels increasingly like a weak link in our XI.
It felt like with a little more consistent referring decisions we would have had some good moments from the press too. A few terrible decisions when we won the ball back counter pressing.
Slot’s approach worked, and it felt like the small margins were going for Chelsea in this game. A very tight offside with an uncharacteristic error from Konate when he didn’t hold the line and the second penalty chalked off (I know GK touched the ball but he was out of control and lunged at Curtis - we’re always told you cannot be out of control regardless of ball contact).
Even with those small margins not falling the right way we got the win by taking the sting out of the game.
Let’s not forget we started without 3 of Slot’s favourite XI too.
Great analysis, Josh. Distance Covered is one of the top platforms for legitimate analysis on football tactics. Why I find it so good, is because it's actually educating fans and helping us understand and connect with our own football side. When you really understand how your team plays, I find it makes viewing the game a lot more engaging and enjoyable. Well done (and thanks for publishing this content).
Thanks for this Daniel, means a lot mate.
Great article! Michael Cox also wrote about the similar thing on The Athletic. Passing through our midfield shouldn't be that easy. In these cases, changing the shape from 4-2-4 to 4-3-3 could have been tried so that Caicedo couldn't find those amount of spaces.
Although its still very new to our eyes, going away from Klopp's heavy-metal football, but a win is a win and we will take all three points.
I’m a bit surprised at the level of concern in the reaction to this match. I thought we looked relatively untroubled defensively for the majority of the match with the only real danger seeming to be Madueke beating Robertson out wide.
Felt like a 2-0 would have been fair enough at the break even with us not able to find a way to progress the ball through Chelsea initially, our attack seemed much more dangerous. Curtis held on to the ball too long in feeding salah for the disallowed goal, could have scored or had his second penalty stand.
I wouldn’t say we looked vintage, or amazing but I felt we handled a tough opponent without too much fuss.
I don’t disagree, it’s just important to determine whether we actually wanted the match flow as it did, because if not, we weren’t the dominant side at Anfield against a team that would happily finish fourth this season.
We couldn’t escape our own half for large periods. Only eight shots, things like that. But Kelleher also had very little to do, and that’s why the game was a strange one to analyse.
Seems like based on his post match comments last night not having possession was not really his plan or something he was too happy with against Chelsea, so maybe the more harsh take is accurate after all.
Gravo was having a wonderful Amsterdam experience. He had Labia. That runt was all over him all game. Plan B was sky high, in the wind, our small hot air balloons were landing anywhere and everywhere.
Our Air Marshalls were missing their targets with Alarming inaccuracy, Step up our Plan Curtis. Tank Regiment Commander. Fought the Fight on the Dance Floor at both ends of the Battle Ground. Maneuvering superbly 'We're not avin this lads' Cole who? Your not avin it either lad!
There was a christening yesterday and a christening due
The Day belongs to our Tank Commander. He did the business on the dance floor😂.
Spell cheque. whats that?