Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur

Match report on Liverpool – scout name: Rickylee Griffiths

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 stadium name - Anfield
street name- Anfield
Road
city/town-Liverpool
county - Merseyside
post code – L4 OTH

MANAGER:- Jurgen
Klopp

ASST. MANAGER:- Pepijn

Ljinders

2018-19 Premier League table

showing recent form. Liverpool 2nd Champions league group
and bracket
 Ap GOA Yellow Total GOA Yellow Total
NAME Pos. ps. Sub. LS PENS Assists /Red Mins NAME Pos. Apps. Sub. LS PENS Assists /Red Mins
Played Played

Alisson Georginio CM 47 4 5 0 0 4 3693

GK 51 0 0 0 0 1 4950 Wijnaldu
m
Simon
Mignole
GK 2 0 0 0 0 0 180 Adam CM 16 10 0 0 0 2 573
t Lallana
Trent Xherdan RW/C 30 15 6 0 5 2 1420
Alexand
RB 40 2 1 0 14 3 3381 Shaqiri
er-
M
Arnold Alex CM 2 2 0 0 0 0 21
Nathani Oxlade-
el Clyne
RB 5 3 0 0 0 0 201 Chamberl
ain
Andrew
Roberts
LB 48 0 0 0 13 7 4222 Daniel CF 27 19 4 0 2 2 879
on Sturridge

Virgil Mohamed RW 52 3 27 5/5 10 2 4331

Van Dijk
CB 50 0 6 0 4 4 4464 Salah
Sadio LW 50 1 26 0/1 2 4 4295
Joel
Matip
CB 31 5 1 0 1 6 2347 Mane
Divock CF 21 14 7 0 1 0 682
James CM/
Milner
45 14 7 5/5 6 91 2837 Origi
FB Dejan CB 18 3 1 1262
Fabinho Lovren
DM 41 11 1 2 0 10 2923
Alberto LB 5 1 0 343
Naby CM
Keita
33 11 3 0 1 2 1813 Moren
o
Jordan CM
Henders
44 15 1 0 4 41 2819
on

Pos=POSITION - Apps=Appearances - Sub=STARTING ON THE BENCH

 Goal Sub Y/R Formation 4-3-3 Goal Sub Y/R
13. Alisson 1 H.Lloris©

4- V. Van Dijk 5 J.Vertonghen

32 J.Matip 4 T.Aldeweireld
26 A.Robertson
2 K.Trippier
66 T. Alexander-Arnold
3 D.Rose
3 Fabinho
17 M.Sissokho 74’
14 J.Henderson©
8 H.Winks 66’
5 G.Wijnaldum 62’
20 D.Alli 81’
9 R.Firmino 58’
7 H. Son
10 S.Mane 90’
23 C.Eriksen
11 M.Salah 2’
10 H.Kane
27 D.Origi 87’ 58’
27 L.Moura 66’
7 J.Milner 62’
15 E.Dier 74’
12 J.Gomez 90’
18 F.Llorente 81’
22 S.Mignolet
62 C.Kelleher 13 M.Vorm
6 D.Lovren 22 P.Gazzaniga
18 A.Moreno
6 D.Sanchez
20 A.Lallana
23 X.Shaquiri 16 K.Walker-Peters
15 D.Sturridge 21 J.Foyth
21 A. Oxlade-Chamberlain 24 S.Aurier
24 R.Brewster 33 B.Davies
Formation 4-2-3-1 12 V.Wanyama
11 E.Lamela
FORMATION AFTER SUB 1 FORMATION AFTER SUB 2 FORMATION AFTER SUB 3

Liverpools base formation remained a 4-3-3 after Milner was subbed on for Gomez was subbed on for Mane and played RB.
Origi was subbed on for Firmino but Salah would Alexander-Arnold moved to RM and Milner to LM. Origi
move closer to Origi in the build up phase and Mane
Wijanldum at LCM played behind Salah creating a 4-4-1-1. Origi was trying
to play balls quickly in behind to Salah when he received
would remain wide. the ball
In Possession –
Build The Attack
• From goal kicks:
• Alisson takes goal kick from centre of 6 yard box
• CB’s split to either side of the box.
• Full backs pushed to either touchline.
• Henderson pushes forward to compete for headers
and 2nd balls.
• Fabinho and Wijnaldum form a double pivot with
Fabinho sometimes dropping between the centre backs.
• Salah moves inside to a right striker position.
• Mane stays wide and looks to run inside the
opposition fullback.

• Alisson would usually pass short to Van Dijk.

Robertson and Mane were viewed as out balls. He’d
also look to play Salah in behind if the opposition
defensive line stepped up too far.
In Possession –
Create The Attack
Once the ball was played to Van Dijk Fabinho
would drop between the centre backs.
Firmino would drop into attacking midfield.
Salah would act as a striker.
Mane would either stay wide or move closer to
Salah and form a front 2
Henderson would offer an option between the
lines.

Van Dijk would look to play forward quickly.

He’d often play passes into Fabinho.
He’d also look to play passes into Hendersons
feet.
He’d try and play lofted high through balls In
behind to Salah.
He’d also try and play the ball into Mane’s feet.
In Possession – Finishing The Attack

In the final third they lack creativity. Their only real method of
chance creation against a block was their fullbacks crossing from
deep or shooting from outside the area.

Firmino struggled to get into the game and couldn’t provide his
usual creative spark.

When Alexander-Arnold had the ball Firmino and Mane would

make movements towards the back post. If Alexander-Arnold
picked the ball up deep he’d look to drive towards the right half
space and look to shoot or cross. He made overlapping runs when
Liverpool moved the ball from left to right.

When Robertson had the ball Firmino and Salah made movements
toward the back post.

They looked devoid of ideas outside of crosses or shots from the

fullbacks and the attack lacked connection.
Out of possession
– Defensive block
• Liverpool defended in a 4-5-1 block.
• When the opposition had the ball wide
Fabinho would shuffle across alongside
either the RCM or LCM to make it harder
to play out of wide areas.
• Van Dijk and Matip defended crosses into
the box well but Alexander-Arnold is a
weak defender.
• They were compact and very hard to play
through.
 Pressing

Liverpool view pressing as an attacking weapon.

Their players angle their bodies to force opposition

mistakes so they can win the ball back.

They press out of their 4-3-3 shape and are incredibly

intense. Every outfield player is ready to jump onto loose
balls and misplaced passes.

On the left hand side they pressed with Firmino starting

central, Mane would jump on the opposition left centre
back with his body angled to force him wide. Wijnaldum
would then press the fullback, angling his body to cover the
pass down the line. Robertson would then press the
Tottenham midfielder closest to the ball. If an unmarked
opposition player dropped into midfield to receive the ball
Van Dijk would follow him, leaving a gap in their defensive
line which the opposition nearly exploited early in the
game.

On the right they were less intense and engaged when the
ball went into the opposition wingers feet. They would look
to box the winger in with Salah, Alexander-Arnold,
Henderson and Fabinho shuffling over to him.
 STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

• Pressing • Matip and Alexander-Arnold struggled to deal with high

balls in behind them
• Defensive block
• Their movement in the box was predictable
• Intensity
• Crossing
• Lack of creativity in the final 3rd
• Building from the back • Players would be too far away to combine sometimes
• Counter attacks • Too much emphasis on the fullbacks for creativity
• Getting in behind quickly
• Overlaps
• Moving into half spaces
• Defenders possess good recovery pace
• Van Dijk is an excellent one on one defender
• Both fullbacks possess excellent technique which made their shots
and crosses more threatening
• Lofted through balls
 PLAYERS
Alisson- Excellent shot stopper, Excellent distribution, good vision to find runners in behind, right footed, 6’3
Trent Alexander-Arnold – Excellent crosser, excellent technique, 5’10, struggles with one on one defending and pases over his head, Threat from
range, Not a good one on one dribbler which limits his effectiveness high and wide, right footed
Andy Robertson – Excellent crosser, good movement to arrive into crossing positions, excellent technique, threat from range, good one on one
defender, defends space well, easily riled up, 5’10, fast, left footed
Virgil Van Dijk – Excellent one on one defender, excellent in the air, very strong, fast, good passer, good vision to find runners in behind, 6’5, right
footed
Joel Matip – good ball carrier, aggressive defender, follows runners into midfield, strong, misjudges high balls, 6’5, long legs, doesn’t always seem
in control of his body, right footed
Fabinho - Strong, good awareness of space, not the fastest, 6’2, good passer, calm temparement, right footed
Jordan Henderson – Captain, good ahead of the ball, good stamina, good awareness of space, decent passer, very direct with his passing, prone to
being pressed, strong 6ft, right footed
Georginio Wijnaldum – Energetic, good passer, secure in the build-up phase, good tackler, fast, 5’8, right footed
Mohamed Salah – Good finisher, Fast, very strong, good back to goal play, not easily pushed off the ball, good dribbler, Penalty was aimed to the
right, left footed, doesn’t always fulfil his defensive duties, 5’9
Roberto Firmino – Drops into midfield, struggled to get into the game, 5’10, good movement to the back post, not strong, right footed
Sadio Mane – Good feet in tight spaces, very fast, improvises well when attacking, intelligent movement, right footed, 5’9, uses flicks
Divock Origi – 6’1, strong back to goal play, good finisher, competes well in the air, Good movement in the box,Composed, Poor passer, right
footed
James Milner – Good stamina, good awareness of danger, rash in tackles, dependable to carry out tactical instructions, strong, strong runner,
prone to being pressed. 5’9, right footed
Joe Gomez, strong, quick, 6’2, play right back and centre back, right footed
 SET PLAYS & OTHER INFO.

On defensive corners they used a mixed marking approach.

Robertson, Matip, Van Dijk, Firmino and Wijnaldum covered the six yard
box.
Henderson,Fabinho and Alexander- Arnold marked man for man.

Salah stood on the edge of the box and Mane covered the side of the
box nearest to the corner taker.

Robertson would follow any runners from outside the six yard box to the
near post.

Set Piece takers

• If James Milner is on the pitch he takes penalties, otherwise Salah
does.
Defensive corner
• Salah’s penalty was hard and towards the right side. It was a good
height for the keeper and not a great penalty.
• Alexander-Arnold was the main set piece taker, good and consistent
delivery. Salah took one but the delivery was poor. Milner was an
option on attacking set pieces
Attacking corner
left Hand Side
• High, fast, inswinging delivery from Alexander-Arnold. Aim was to put
opposition keeper under pressure.
• Matip, Van Dijk, Firmino, Wijnaldum, Mane would stand close to the
keeper.
• Fabinho edge of the box
• Salah top right edge of the box
• Henderson on the left edge of the box
• Robertson defended on the halfway line
• Matip stands on the keeper acting as a blocker
• Mane runs toward the front post
• Wijnaldum peels away to the back post
• Firmino acts as a blocker at the back post
• Van Dijk contests aerial duel with the keeper
Attacking Corner
Right Hand Side

• Trent taking
• Henderson comes for short
• Salah edge of the box
• Matip and van Dijk making runs from deep
central
• Mane Wijnaldum starts central
• Mane runs front post
• Wijnaldum acts as blocker
• Firmino lurks around the centre of the box
• Ball is high with pace towards the near
post
 CONCLUSION

Liverpool were lucky to win against Tottenham. They were awarded a fortunate penalty in the 2nd minute after Mane kicked the ball off Sissokhos already raised arm.

Salah scored the penalty by shooting hard and to his right. It wasn’t a great penalty but the power was enough to see it go past Lloris.

Tottenham created a lot of chances and should’ve scored. Liverpool were incredibly direct woth their passing and only seemed likely to create a chance with a ball in
behind as opposed to creating against Tottenhams block.

Tottenham got in behind Liverpool a few times but Van Dijk did a good job of keeping up with Heung Min Son.

The game was ultimately decided by the 2nd phase of a set piece where Origi lost his marker and finished well on his weaker left foot.

Liverpool lacked variety in their play and were uninspiring in attack. Their pressing was excellent and was their main source of creating attacking opportunities,

Their defensive work was good and their block did well not to let anything past them, Their issues came when players were dragged out of position when pressin high
up the pitch.