The game between Liverpool and Manchester City was supposed to be pivotal in the title race. Liverpool, defending champions, have been faltering, and in the end, the game ended in a deserved win for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s first win at Anfield. Below we will analyze the tactics applied by both coaches in tactical analysis: Manchester City’s 4-1 victory over Liverpool.

Line Ups

Both Klopp and Pep utilized the 4-3-3 system, although with differences. City use of full backs are to bring them into the half spaces, creating numbers in the central areas. Liverpool’s FB’s overload wife areas, pushing the front three more towards goal.

Key Players Out

Liverpool FC

Virgil Van Dijk – ACL

Joe Gomez – Knee

Joel Matip – Ankle

Diogo Jota – Knee

Naby Keita – Unknown Fitness

Liverpool has had well-documented injury problems this season. All five (5) absentees would have been in contention to start the game. Gomez has been an essential cog in the defense, but he does not offer much offensively. The four biggest misses for Liverpool would be Virgil Van Dijk, Diogo Jota,Joel Matip, and Naby Keita. These players are big misses due to the attacking threat they provide for the Liverpool team. Although Liverpool have been losing games, they have only been losing by the odd goal. They have really experienced a shortage of defenders and not a defensive crisis. Whoever has come in has done well.

Virgil Van Dijk (CB)

The team’s defensive leader Van Dijk plays a critical role in helping to organize the defense.

He doesn’t get the credit he deserves as an attacking force uses both feet very well and plays pinpoint 70-yard diagonals, usually releasing Mohammed Salah down the right flank.

He is a strong and accurate header of the ball, and at 19.3 Meters, he is a threat on set pieces.

Diogo Jota (F)

He plays any position across the forward line and can drop deeper into midfield.

He is a fantastic dribbler with a great shot and an eye for a goal.

Diogo is a great passer and retains possession well.

He loves to play in tight spaces and could help unlock teams deploying a low block against Liverpool.

Naby Keita (MF)

A creative player able to find space between the lines and open attacking opportunities for his teammates.

Naby had been experiencing a good run of games earlier in the season before his injury. He would help unlock tight defenses.

Joel Matip (CB)

Joel likes to make forward runs and overload the midfield to increase passing options for the midfielders.

He also makes accurate passes.

Joel is an accurate header of the ball, and at 19.5 Meters, he is a threat on set pieces.

Manchester City

The two (2) critical players out for Manchester City are not just Marquee players in the City Squad, they are among the best players in the world at their position.

Kevin DeBruyne (MF)

DeBruyne is arguably the world’s best central midfielder. He makes intelligent runs and always seems to have miles of space because he tends to play between the forward and midfield lines.

DeBruyne delivers accurate short or long passes and pinpoint deliveries on set pieces. He is also a goal threat from penalties and free kicks.

Sergio Aguero (F)

Aguero is a 40 goal per season striker. He loves to receive the ball just around the ‘D’ of the 18-yard box, where he loves to swivel and shoot. He is clinical inside the box as well.

Aguero has excellent close control and beat players in one-on-one situations on a regular basis.

Impact of Missing Players

All the players above are big misses.

Liverpool FC

Liverpool’s long list of essential absentees has been having a telling effect on their title defense chances. The absence of Henderson and Fabinho in midfield has impacted the forward runs of the full-backs. Opponents have been finding space behind them as Thiago Alcantara is not adept in covering these defensive positions.

The absence of Van Dijk’s creativity and long-range passing has reduced service to Salah. While Thiago Alcantara has high passing accuracy, he delivers the ball slower for Mane and Salah.

Manchester City FC

Man City has struggled to replace Aguero’s goals; however, players like Ilkay Gundogan have stepped up their goal-scoring exploits. Tight defensive displays helped them put together a 20 game unbeaten run; their last defeat came against Tottenham Hotspur on November 21st, 2020. They have also not conceded a Premier League goal in six games since January 3rd against Chelsea.

It is a credit to the entire team to see how well they have been playing without DeBruyne. When he starts, nearly all attacks go through him. Bernardo Silva has stepped up his performances, but the intelligence and versatility of Gundogan and Cancelo have been remarkable.

Other Factors to Consider

Four of the players used by Jurgen Klopp lacked match fitness. Allison, Fabinho, Henderson, and Mane were all returning from injuries. Fabinho is not usually rash in tackling but gives away a penalty. Allison consistently made passing blunders that contributed to two of the goals.

Formations and Tactics

How They Set Up

Liverpool FC tactical analysis

Klopp’s preferred 4-3-3 is pretty standard; however, in possession, the formation switches into a 2-5-3. The center backs split wide, and Robertson pushed up. Most of the attacks were down Liverpool’s left side as Bernardo Silva often tucked into the midfield, allowing Roberston space on the flank. Knowing Sterling’s blistering pace, Alexander-Arnold tended to tuck in to form a back three rather than play high. When Sterling pushed too high; Trent would drift into space behind him unmarked as Zinchenko was marking Salah. Alexander-Arnold could therefore get on the ball and send crosses for Firmino and Mane to attack. Henderson used his passing accuracy to try to find Mane and Salah.

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Mane looked to make runs between Cancelo and Stones while Salah used his pace to get in-behind Zinchenko. The strategy allowed Liverpool to win the penalty after Salah got in behind Zinchenko, cut into the 18-yard box, and Dias fouled him when he came across to cover.

Manchester City tactical analysis

Pep’s teams are known for their tactical versatility and freedom. In the first half, Manchester City did not look to press Liverpool. Guardiola used Phil Foden as a false nine supported by Raheem Sterling. Allison with the ball would have multiple passing options. Man City instead tried to be defensively compact when out of possession.

Their lack of press and compactness in the first half explains why Liverpool dominated possession. At times Manchester City even deployed the low block with Gundogan and Rodri dropping deep from their defensive positions and even Barnardo Silva dropping deep.

Playing in this compact defensive style is unlike Pep Guardiola teams, but it was a good tactic. Liverpool struggled badly against low blocks used by teams like West Bromwich Albion, Burnley, and Brighton Hove Albion.

Building the play phase

Man City looked to build from the back. Their passing ability and pace helped them to beat Liverpool’s press on several occasions. In possession, the formation changed to 3-2-2-3. Zinchenko tucks in to form a back 3. Cancelo pushes up into the double pivot, even beyond Rodri, to support the attack.

Gundogan and Bernardo Silva pushed up between the midfield and forward lines, supporting Mahrez, Foden, and Sterling in the attack. This formation gave Liverpool’s high press a problem. As Mane presses Stones, Salah pressed Zinchenko, and Firmino would press Dias. It would leave both Rodri and Cancelo available between the lines to receive a pass and turn.

Cancelo usually got on the ball his range of passing and positive dribbling decisions created penetration behind Liverpool. Bernardo Silva would also drift into a right-wing-back position. This would pull Curtis Jones out of his space whenever he tried to press Silva. With Curtis leaving the midfield line, Foden dropped into that position to receive the ball.

Attacking the wide channels

Alternatively, Bernardo Silva could find Mahrez from his Right Wing Back position. Despite all of these options on the right side, most of Man City’s attacks came down the left.

Foden dropping into midfield means he would have to be marked by a midfielder. With Gundogan pushing out to the left to make space for Cancelo in the double pivot and Salah pushing high on Zinchenko, Dias could find Gundogan.

Gundogan would play in Sterling, now isolated against Alexander-Arnold. The tactic led to winning a penalty. However, it was missed by Gundogan and the chance to score Manchester City’s first goal. In both instances, Sterling easily beats isolated Alexander-Arnold.

Man City clearly targeted Alexander-Arnold. When building play on the right side, Gundogan would push forward to the inside left. Resulting in him taking the Right-Back with him. Gundogan’s movement creates space for Rodri to find Sterling playing very wide on the left. Alexander-Arnold now needs to come out to defend Sterling. Sterling either easily beat the Liverpool man for pace or would cut back to Gundugan. The Manchester City in-form player seemed to always time his runs into the box perfectly.

The game changed in the second half with the introduction of Gabrel Jesus for Mahrez. Man City was now able to match Liverpool numerically in advanced positions.

Allison’s uncharacteristic mistakes

The ease Allison had of playing out from the back no longer existed. The second goal came from Jesus pressing Allison. The wide players were pressed by the Center Backs who had split. This forced Allison to clear badly.

The ball ricocheted to Fabinho, who also fluffed his clearance. Allison found himself back in possession. Once again Allison’s clearance is misplaced and heads straight to Foden.

Foden receives and attacks Robertson by getting on the inside of him. Foden finds the in-form Gundogan, who scores.

The third goal was similar to the second. Bernardo Silva intercepted Allison’s pass after Sterling pressed him. Bernardo Silva lobs the ball back to Sterling, and Sterling scores. While Foden’s run and near-post shot were brilliant for the fourth goal, Gabriel Jesus created it. Gabriel Jesus dropped into the midfield, receiving the ball in between the lines. He then played in Foden by dropping the ball behind all the defenders to the right.

What do Both Teams Need

Liverpool FC

• Liverpool needs more shots from a distance to counter the increasing use of low blocks.
• More shots will create more free-kick and corner kick opportunities. Players like Nat Phillips pose an aerial threat. The good headers of the ball will score more from set-pieces
• Their midfielders need to move the ball faster with more accuracy.
• The forwards need to be better in the possession phase and more accurate in passing.
• Play more to the forward’s strengths. Until Liverpool can use Divock Origi as a target man or sign one, they should play from wide areas to targets on the ground.
• Alexander-Arnold needs competition. He is increasingly looking like a defensive liability at right-back.
• The players need better rotation and rest. They have played a lot of games and now look fatigued.

Manchester City

• They need to shoot more when in the finishing the play phase.
• Attackers need to work on shooting accuracy. The forward players are not clinical enough in front of the goal.
• Pep needs a long-term quality replacement for Aguero. They have been fortunate with Gundogan’s scoring run, but you struggle to see where the goals will come from if he gets injured.

 Conclusion

Pep took a different approach to his visit to Liverpool’s home ground. He did his homework as he used tactics successfully executed by other teams. Tactics are very uncharacteristic of the way his teams play. Tactics such as the defensive low-block and conceding possession to Liverpool were new. He changed his tactics and the player’s responsibilities in the second half, and that may have taken players like Allison by surprise which contributed to his errors.

Liverpool’s injury crisis and individual errors played into Pep Guardiola’s hands, but City also had significant injuries, missed a penalty, and failed to take other opportunities. Manchester City and Pep deserve the credit for a job well done, so take nothing away from them. And all of this with no Aguero and DeBruyne!

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