🔍 Tactical comparison
🔴⚪️ Arsenal and Liverpool🔴 pressing structures
How did both coaches try to annihilate opponent’s build-up ?
BIG THREAD 🧵⤵️
🔴⚪️ Arsenal and Liverpool🔴 pressing structures
How did both coaches try to annihilate opponent’s build-up ?
BIG THREAD 🧵⤵️
I/ ARSENAL : MAN-ORIENTED PRESS
During the first fifteen minutes, Arsenal’s man-oriented press with a high block was relevant to prevent numerical superiority for Liverpool, who faced issues to counter this high press.
During the first fifteen minutes, Arsenal’s man-oriented press with a high block was relevant to prevent numerical superiority for Liverpool, who faced issues to counter this high press.
Given Trent Alexander Arnold was positioned as an inverted fullback, Xhaka’s mission to man-mark him as much as possible was difficult but not impossible. If he succeed to limit his activity, VVD had no other option but long balls.
Odegaard was the « hunter » in this pressing phase. He had to do aggressive runs on the ball carrier, as much as possible. And he did it with a good level of consistency.
Given this man oriented press, Liverpool had to find alternatives to take a deep breath. And this came from Curtis Jones drop-offs, to create space behind for Fabinho and Henderson.
Arsenal controlled two key aspects of Liverpool’s low build-up : Arnold as an inverted fullback and wide ball circulation, thanks to Odegaard and Saka’s high speed and agressive runs.
Sometimes, Xhaka replaced Odegaard’s role, whilst Norwegian midfielder man-marked TAA in order to not loose the advantage in pressing they had.
This one of the reasons why Arsenal perfectly managed first 30 minutes.
This one of the reasons why Arsenal perfectly managed first 30 minutes.
II. LIVERPOOL : BLOCK CHANNELS
Liverpool’s press was slightly different than Arsenal in the way to block channels, especially the left one. No agressive runs, but individual press (Jones on Partey) and they only jumped if Arsenal built-up wide.
Liverpool’s press was slightly different than Arsenal in the way to block channels, especially the left one. No agressive runs, but individual press (Jones on Partey) and they only jumped if Arsenal built-up wide.
Liverpool’s intentions to block channels were relevant, but as soon as Arsenal bypassed this density on the flank, it was more complicated to cover distances for Liverpool players.
Henderson played a key role in that pressing process, to try preventing Arsenal defenders to target Xhaka on the channel.
In second half, Liverpool drastically changed its pressing phase, and implemented the same kind of aggressive shape as Arsenal in first half : man-oriented press, more Liverpool-friendly.
Arsenal couldn’t settle the regular build-up pattern anymore, forced to do long balls, which quite annoyed Arteta on the bench.
Liverpool did what Arsenal did in pressing in the first 30minutes, and the consequences were the same : Arsenal couldn’t use inverted fullback (Zinchenko) and lateral passes. Liverpool won important balls at key moments.
To conclude, both teams have succeeded to take advantage in their momentum. Thrilling game, with a lot of intensity on pressing phases.
Loading suggestions...