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Liverpool vs Manchester City: Latest Tactical Battle
A THREAD
A THREAD
Liverpool vs Manchester City has always been an enthralling fixture for the last few years. Both sides fighting for the title having top quality players in every position with world-class managers leading them and ensuring a highly competitive and entertaining game.
One of the common tactical battles in this fixture has been City’s build-up vs Liverpool’s high press. Both managers always try to outwit each other with their main weapons and it was no different this time around too.
In this piece, we will be taking a microscopic view on their latest tactical battle and how both teams adjusted to each other throughout the game with perhaps City winning the battle in the second half by constantly playing out of Liverpool’s press.
Liverpool’s Pressing Scheme:
They press in a 4-3-1-2 shape with Firmino often dropping deep to mark the opposition’s deepest pivot while Salah and Mane moving high and narrow to press the opposition’s CBs. (1/2)
They press in a 4-3-1-2 shape with Firmino often dropping deep to mark the opposition’s deepest pivot while Salah and Mane moving high and narrow to press the opposition’s CBs. (1/2)
The midfield three stays central and mark zonally but also act on triggers to move and press the opposition’s full-backs out-wide whenever Liverpool initiates a touchline press. (2/2)
This is their typical pressing structure against a back four and specifically against 4-3-3 which means it is subject to change against different systems that the opposition deploys.
City’s Build-Up Structure:
Pep has always been innovative with his approach when it comes to build-up and especially against tough oppositions. Although he kept the same structure that City has been deploying in the past few weeks, he made a few little tweaks.
Pep has always been innovative with his approach when it comes to build-up and especially against tough oppositions. Although he kept the same structure that City has been deploying in the past few weeks, he made a few little tweaks.
Joao Cancelo inverted from his RB position to create a double pivot and a 2v1 overload with Rodri on Firmino. The one unusual thing we saw was Bernando dropping deep to the wide RB spot vacated by Cancelo, perhaps it was done to turn himself into a passing option for Stones
The 2v1 overload worked in the initial minutes of the game with Firmino finding it extremely difficult to control two players.
NOTE: Here Mane and Firmino are annotated as CF and LW respectively to illustrate the frame better.
NOTE: Here Mane and Firmino are annotated as CF and LW respectively to illustrate the frame better.
Liverpool’s Adjustment:
Liverpool adjusted their press in the early stages of the first half and decided to have Mane and Salah positioned at a lower height and closer to the centre in order to cover the central passing lanes to Cancelo and Rodri.
Liverpool adjusted their press in the early stages of the first half and decided to have Mane and Salah positioned at a lower height and closer to the centre in order to cover the central passing lanes to Cancelo and Rodri.
The most noticeable change was the positioning of Salah, who positioned himself wider and at a lower height to cover the opposition left-back, Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Liverpool sacrificed their high intensive press to maintain central compactness which worked well for them as City found it hard to progress the ball as the first half went on.
Escaping the Cover-Shadow:
As the second half started, Liverpool somewhat reverted back to their aggressive approach especially seen in the states when Liverpool was losing. But City were calm and composed and were able to navigate through the high paced and chaotic nature.
As the second half started, Liverpool somewhat reverted back to their aggressive approach especially seen in the states when Liverpool was losing. But City were calm and composed and were able to navigate through the high paced and chaotic nature.
With Salah and Mane positioned high and narrow to press City’s CBs while keeping FBs in their cover-shadow, City didn’t have access to their FBs. For this they utilized the concept of ‘link-man’ with one of the central pivots dropping deep, receiving from the one in possession
Here is one such example of City utilizing this concept on their goal-kick with Ederson almost acting as a centre-back and Stones positioned wide almost like a deep FB. Mane gets baited by Ederson into pressing thus leaving Stones free, who is found by Rodri via the link pass.
Here is the same concept happening on the other side this time. With Salah pressing from a wide-angle and Firmino covering Rodri, Ruben Dias had an ample amount of time and space on the ball and an open vertical lane to pick out İlkay Gundogan, who then found Zinchenko.
To prevent Zinchenko from receiving free in space, Trent stepped up from his position to press but was late and far away which gave Zinchenko the time to pick out Foden (who had interchanged his position with Raheem Sterling). Foden then darted in the space left in behind Trent
2v1 Overload on Liverpool’s Wide Midfielder:
City, through their intelligent positioning and smart movements, were able to create 2v1 overloads on Liverpool’s wide midfielders. It was often achieved with their own wide midfielder and false 9.
City, through their intelligent positioning and smart movements, were able to create 2v1 overloads on Liverpool’s wide midfielders. It was often achieved with their own wide midfielder and false 9.
This is well highlighted in the following example.
This example is from the build-up leading up to their fourth goal - this time Liverpool’s wide-midfielder covered the wide lane but left Jesus completely free, who received and switched the play to Foden out-wide who cut in to score a world class goal.
This was certainly an interesting battle with both of the teams adjusting to each other but it was City at the end who were able to remain calm and composed and find different ways to outplay Liverpool’s press.
End of the thread.
