Crossing - comparing Liverpool to Arsenal
Crossing - comparing Liverpool to Arsenal
Crossing - comparing Liverpool to Arsenal
Yesterday I tweeted about how I describe crossing positions, which people liked. I also tweeted the maps of the 4 players I selected's recent crosses, which you can see below https://twitter.com/GriffinFtbl/status/1336076641752248326
Crossing was a big talking point at the weekend due to Arsenal crossing all game against Spurs but were unable to score. It's also talked about a lot by opposition fans who want to criticise Liverpool, who are very successful at crossing with their full backs being very important
Analytics twitter has always been quick to dismiss crossing as an inefficient way to attack It's seen as the old-school way of attacking, long balls and crosses. But in reality they're rarely scored so you're better off creating good chances other ways
I'm normally anti-crossing also but have began to question it more as I see teams use width successfully and I think crossing can be dismissed too quickly. But as always, context matters
Arsenal cross a lot under Arteta, and it isn't working. Therefore, Arsenal fans took a particular interest in my crossing positions tweet https://twitter.com/Orbinho/status/1333444801199566850
For me there are two ways to cross:
• You want to cross and work to create opportunities for cutbacks and cross, eg Liverpool
• You are being forced to cross, eg Arsenal
Cross is fairly simple but needs to be done right. I'm going to show you Liverpools' crosses against Wolves and Arsenals' against Spurs (some of them anyway, there's too many)
Liverpool vs Wolves

• Intelligent movement and positioning
• Positioned to get 2nd balls
• Attacking space and the front and back posts
• The defence is always retreating (this is the key)
Liverpool vs Wolves• Intelligent movement and positioning• Positioned to get 2nd balls• Attacking space and the front and back posts• The defence is always retreating (this is the key)
Liverpool vs Wolves• Intelligent movement and positioning• Positioned to get 2nd balls• Attacking space and the front and back posts• The defence is always retreating (this is the key)
Liverpool vs Wolves• Intelligent movement and positioning• Positioned to get 2nd balls• Attacking space and the front and back posts• The defence is always retreating (this is the key)
Liverpool vs Wolves• Intelligent movement and positioning• Positioned to get 2nd balls• Attacking space and the front and back posts• The defence is always retreating (this is the key)
Liverpool don't have big target men up front, they have three medium sized forwards but they can score crosses because they attack space and at speed. They aren't in physical aerial duels, they rely on movement
Liverpool don't have big target men up front, they have three medium sized forwards but they can score crosses because they attack space and at speed. They aren't in physical aerial duels, they rely on movement
Liverpool don't have big target men up front, they have three medium sized forwards but they can score crosses because they attack space and at speed. They aren't in physical aerial duels, they rely on movement
Liverpool don't have big target men up front, they have three medium sized forwards but they can score crosses because they attack space and at speed. They aren't in physical aerial duels, they rely on movement
Liverpool don't have big target men up front, they have three medium sized forwards but they can score crosses because they attack space and at speed. They aren't in physical aerial duels, they rely on movement
And of course they quality of cross is very important which is why Trent and Robertson are so important and are excellent creators from wide
Arsenal vs Spurs

• Forced wide by Spurs more than using width
• Not enough movement in the box
• Defence is deep and set for cross
• Crossing quality not great
Arsenal vs Spurs• Forced wide by Spurs more than using width• Not enough movement in the box• Defence is deep and set for cross• Crossing quality not great
Arsenal vs Spurs• Forced wide by Spurs more than using width• Not enough movement in the box• Defence is deep and set for cross• Crossing quality not great
Arsenal vs Spurs• Forced wide by Spurs more than using width• Not enough movement in the box• Defence is deep and set for cross• Crossing quality not great
Arsenal vs Spurs• Forced wide by Spurs more than using width• Not enough movement in the box• Defence is deep and set for cross• Crossing quality not great
Spurs defended deep and forced Arsenal wide because they were more than happy for Arsenal to cross. They let them cross all game and trusted Dier and Toby to defend, which clearly worked
Spurs defended deep and forced Arsenal wide because they were more than happy for Arsenal to cross. They let them cross all game and trusted Dier and Toby to defend, which clearly worked
Spurs defended deep and forced Arsenal wide because they were more than happy for Arsenal to cross. They let them cross all game and trusted Dier and Toby to defend, which clearly worked
Spurs defended deep and forced Arsenal wide because they were more than happy for Arsenal to cross. They let them cross all game and trusted Dier and Toby to defend, which clearly worked
Spurs defended deep and forced Arsenal wide because they were more than happy for Arsenal to cross. They let them cross all game and trusted Dier and Toby to defend, which clearly worked
These are different scenarios against different defences but hopefully you can see the idea I'm getting at. Liverpool control the game and attack with width, they have numbers in the middle and intelligent forwards who attack space
Arsenal were forced to play wide and didn't find success. They also gave Spurs lots of practice at defending crosses against them, so the quality was likely diminishing the more they tried. Arsenal just seem to lack a method to score and it's hard to see how they'll start.
Spurs are hard to break down, they've just kept clean sheets against City, Chelsea and Arsenal. But Arsenal also crossed 35 times against Wolves, but Liverpool found it very easy to effectively attack Wolves with crosses so looking at Arsenal vs Wolves could be worthwhile also
Liverpool have a clear system and method with players who fit the roles across the pitch. Fast, intelligent, hard working forwards. An industrial midfield and creative full backs who push high and have world class crossing. Arsenal are in a very different position
Something I'd like to look at is Liverpool's shape and movement in the box to attack crosses which I might work on in the future. Another thing I'd potentially like to work on is types of crosses (floated, low, etc) and evaluating decision making and quality, just an idea though
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