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Continuing my analysis for Midtjylland by analysing their opponents in the Champions League. They take a trip to Anfield on Tuesday where they face Liverpool who won their group stage match after a 0-1 away win via a Tagliafico OG. This is certainly a big clash of two of the leading data/analytical titians in football!
It is a slightly different take this week as I ran out of time due to work commitments so I have focused solely on Liverpools crosses and set-pieces as these are their strengths through their full-backs. Plus it is Midtjyllands area of expertise in the set-piece department.
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Overview
Here is a brief overlook at Liverpool and it also includes the topics which we will look into in the bottom right corner (full-backs crosses and set-pieces).
Key findings:
Target attacking corners on the edge of the 6 yard-box
Full-backs width and main crosses of the ball (Trent deep, Robbo cutbacks)
Use of Firmino to draw defenders in and create space for inverted wingers
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Corners
Attacking corners
Below shows a range of different corners used by Liverpool and what can cause them problems.
Attacking the space
The first corner is Liverpools main target area, where they use outswingers to aim for the space where the attackers will attack from the edge of the box.
Short corners
The next corner routine that can happen is Liverpools short corner, they work it into a higher position away from the corner then they look for the back post behind the opponents defensive line where a teammate will get in behind.
Problems vs. zonal in specific areas
A way to combat Liverpools attacking corner routines is by zonal marking their key areas then using players to man mark and slow down the runners from deep who attack this area.
Defending corners
How Liverpool defend corners is with a mix of zonal and blockers. Below is a visual showing their setup which they perform on every defensive corner, this is exactly the same on the other side, the full-backs switch and stay in these positions shown below.
Here are clips showing their defensive shape on corners, highlighting their positional roles.
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Crosses
The full-backs are a big threat for Liverpool, they're the main sources of creation but they do it in slightly different ways. The visual below shows Trent taking his crosses from a deeper position on the pitch and Robertson is a lot closer to the goal with his.
I will now use video to show how they create their chances in these roles and how they differ from each other.
Trent and Henderson
The build-up between Henderson, Trent and inside forward allows space creation to find time to whip a ball in behind the defence. Below in the visual we can see Henderson pushing up to form a triangle to interchange and find space to then cross it to the attackers.
Video showing this in game.
Robertson
Robertson opts to go to the by line unlike Trent and drive past his marker, below we can see this in the footage. It allows him to cut it back and we see it often finding Mane in the box.
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Final thoughts
Recently the Jersey Bulls who I am currently with have put their games on hold due to COVID-19, so I am available for some work or any roles with a club, please get in contact via Twitter @DylanBuesnel or by email dbuesnel1998@hotmail.co.uk