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THREAD- What went wrong for Liverpool vs Aston Villa?
- Joe Gomez
- Liverpool's build-up structure
- Liverpool being hit on the counter
- Liverpool's high line
- Poor defending in general
- Joe Gomez
- Liverpool's build-up structure
- Liverpool being hit on the counter
- Liverpool's high line
- Poor defending in general
Joe Gomez struggled to deal with long balls. It's been a problem of his for a while. Just struggles to read the flight of the ball sometimes. Watkins could hold play up and get Villa up the pitch too easily (at times) because of this.
Gomez does it again and this time it leads to Grealish getting the ball and launching an attack. Simple error.
Build-up was a big issue for Liverpool. Villa's front 2 did a good job of shutting off passes into central areas (from Liverpool's CBs). Liverpool are forced to go long here.
Here's another example. Fabinho has dropped to make a back 3 but nobody drops to be the 'DM' to make a 3-1. Trent is too high up for Gomez to pass to so he tries to dribble through the middle (risky and leads to him being dispossessed).
Because there's a lack of options for those on the ball, it's more likely that they're forced to play long balls (gives the opposition the chance to win the ball back). Can also make them pass into crowded areas in midfield- 'danger zone'.
In these central areas, you have to receive with your back to opposition pressure (harder to sense danger + because your central, pressure comes from more angles). Risky.
Gomez forces a pass into Salah in the 'danger zone'. He's swarmed and he loses the ball -> Villa attack.
Gomez forces a pass into Salah in the 'danger zone'. He's swarmed and he loses the ball -> Villa attack.
Again. Hard pass to get right and receiver is under pressure. Villa fortunate with the deflection but that started the move. Note- you can pass into central areas, the receiver has to have time + space.
In these situations, Klopp should instruct one of the midfielders (or FBs) to create a back 3 and have the #6 in front of them. This makes a 3-1 structure. The 3 can play around the opposition's front 2 = better circulation. FB on possession side joins build-up (#6 in image).
This gives Liverpool better circulation in general + lets them attack from more angles in build-up. Helps move the ball into wide areas as it helps you move the ball quicker and can draw opposition players up. Would've helped vs Villa because LFC looked threatening on the flanks.
With Liverpool's 4-1 structure, the FB gets the ball on the touchline so there are a lack of options (half of his angles are cut off by the touchline). The wide players in the 3 (tweet above) have more angles to play into.
Another big issue was that LFC often overcommitted when attacking. Liverpool caught with 6 or 7 forward at times and then got hit on the counter. Wijnaldum pushed forward more than usual rather than staying back during attacks. Villa have a 3v3.
In this attack, Liverpool commit 7 forward. Don't get hit on the counter this time but it's very risky. Suicidal stuff. Want to have 5 back at all times, 4 at the very least.
This time it's not really an issue of overcommitting. Wijnaldum is on the ball higher than he usually is, his pass is cut out and Villa are away. The defensive transition has to be protected. Misjudgement from VVD too.
Aston Villa hit Liverpool on the break and got in behind their high line a few times. Here, Cash is free so he has all the time in the world to pick the perfect pass.
The line is too high here. They're trying to play a high line right on the half way line. Poor from Fabinho not being alert to Watkins' position but they should drop a bit there. Also shouldn't be bypassed that easily from a throw in.
An issue with the high line is when the line resets and then the opposition play long balls over the top of it. That's when confusion occurs. Fabinho has to follow Watkins there- lack of pace shown there. High line exploited again when there's no pressure on the ball.
Liverpool get done from a throw-in again. Shouldn't be that easy for Villa to get out. Grealish has too much space. There should at least be someone close to Mcginn to stop him making that pass. If there's no pressure on the ball, any defensive line will get exposed. Poor.
Liverpool are poor all round here. Jota is dispossessed way too easily and Fabinho should follow Barkley here.
More sloppy play from Liverpool. Firmino loses the ball and Villa attack.
Little things like this- Fabinho should pressure Targett here. That way he can't make the pass to Luiz that got Villa into space.
Summary- Lots of errors, tactical ones and on-field errors from the players. 3 deflections and a goalkeeping error too. It wasn't all bad but there were still multiple errors that Liverpool must address.
