LFC tactics & stats thread: Crossing, the low block and set pieces

(Using FBref crossing data) https://twitter.com/HamzahKL97/status/1344370659430981633

Over the last five games LFC have come up against a compact low block, and in all but one game, struggled to score.

Fulham 3-5-2/5-3-2
Spurs 4-4-1-1
Palace 4-4-2
WBA 4-6-0/4-5-1
NUFC used a 523

Four of these games included LFC's four highest crossing volumes this season.

24 FUL
25 THFC
25 WBA
19 NUFC

LFC average 15.7 crosses p90 in 20/21
19/20: 14.9 p90
18/19: 13.2 p90

As a rule of thumb, when LFC make 20 or more crosses something isn't right.

Two questions arise:
1) What's wrong with crossing so much
2) Why are LFC crossing so much recently?

LFC are currently struggling to break through the low block. Having vertically aggressive players like Keïta, Thiago and Ox can help remedy this. But more important, is GAMESTATE

Last year, LFC often opened the scoring with set pieces. Once LFC went ahead, the opposition had no choice but to chase the game. When they do so, they take risks & leave spaces in behind. This means LFC can counterattack. When LFC go ahead, they're more likely to score again.

Last season, LFC scored 10G from set pieces, and often to open the scoring, see ARS 3-1, CHE 2-1, AVL 2-1, BRI 2-1, UTD 2-0 and WOL 2-1.

This season, without Van Dijk, LFC have looked far less likely to open the scoring from set pieces.

Since Van Dijk has been injured, LFC have scored from 3 set pieces. Two of these was a "big goal", i.e. one that took the lead/equalised: Evans' OG and Firmino's winner against Spurs.

A LFC player has scored one big goal from a set piece since the Everton game.

These big goals affect gamestate. Without them, LFC aren't afforded the opportunity to break, which means Salah and Mané are less likely to get one-on-ones, and it's harder for them to score. Instead, they get stuck between defensive lines, doubled up on and crowded out.

Back to crossing: low blocks compact the central area, and leave space out wide. But if LFC are just in wide positions and are crossing, it's really easy to deal with. Dier & Alderweireld were super comfortable facing crosses when they were set and facing the crosses coming in.

The same was true with West Brom who were defending crosses from a relatively easy position.

Crosses are far more effective when they're played behind defenders who are moving and having to adjust position in motion, and it's in those moments that Salah, Mané & Firmino thrive.

Liverpool's success against the low block last season was less so a product of brilliant tactics to slice them apart, it was actually quite often based upon set pieces or punishing a mistake, and then ramming home the the gamestate advantage, as the opposition tried to equalise.

Key points:

High crossing volume usually indicative of LFC frustration

LFC need to improve set pieces

Return of Thiago, Keïta & Oxlade-Chamberlain offers an alternative method to breaking down low blocks

Gamestate is king, once LFC draw opposition out, game only ends one way!

P.S.

Super clinical or lucky finishing also helps!

A screamer or deflected goal can force a team to chase the game. If Salah/Firmino scored one of their big chances against NUFC, the game could have very plausibly played out differently.