Remnants
In their quest for Champions League football, the imperative to win is self-explanatory. Liverpool were presented the chance to increase their lead over Chelsea, who had lost against Manchester United, the team sitting in third place. Aston Villa had narrowly edged things in their match against Sunderland, further increasing the need to hold one’s own from a Liverpool perspective. In their first ever match in the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool more than held their own. It being a derby, made it safe to bet on a ferocious spectacle for we the viewers to see. Both sets of players were to be expected to exert themselves physically maximally. To the credit of the team, this prerequisite was upheld across the board. And so, leaving the Hill Dickinson stadium with 2 goals from the old guard, Liverpool left remnants of themselves all over Everton’s new home. Liverpool two, Everton one. Let’s have a look.
Starting from genesis, Everton no doubt started the game with impetus and zeal that is to be expected of the home-team. Liverpool being the guests, took their time to make themselves at home. Everton had prolonged periods of possession, which kept Liverpool honest in their out — of-possession work. Everton’s main means was to circulate the ball across their backline and using this to tame Liverpool’s high pressure. By horizontally circulating the ball between their defenders and involving Pickford, Everton successfully equalised the flow of the game, lulling Liverpool into lower, mid-block. From this point onwards Everton would look to launch direct passes/balls in behind Liverpool’s defensive line, the common beneficiary being Beto.
Illiman Ndiaye thought that it was he that was to be the first goalscorer, only to find out that it was in fact meant to be the Egyptian King, scoring in his very last Merseyside derby, Mohammed Salah scored with a nifty first time finish after an exquisite diagonal pass from Cody Gakpo. The lead-up to the goal was expertly and typical to that of a high-pressing team. Win the ball on one side of the pitch, before quickly exploiting the other side with speed and precision. The goal came in untimely fashion from an Everton perspective as they believed that they were ahead, just minutes before.
Now, one of the issues with Liverpool’s out-of-possession game model has been how quickly the team are able to regain their defensive shape in the moments the opposition has reset possession after a break in play. Whether it be a corner, throw in, free-kick or simply the opposition playing the ball backwards to the goalkeeper, Liverpool have displayed a lack proactivity in the aftermath of these instances. From a defensive POV, without the ball staying connected and compact with one’s teammates via proximity is crucial to preventing the opposition from accessing their players further forwards.
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In the lead-up to Everton’s goal, Liverpool had won a free-kick, which was cleared away by the Everton faithful, Liverpool latched onto the clearance and due to Everton pressure, they forced to play back to the goalkeeper, who then booted the ball long, giving it back to Jordan Pickford. Liverpool still recovering their defensive shape from this previous phase of play, found it to be that Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz were sucked away from their support units. Unable to be supported by those behind them but also unable to defend and block the centre of the pitch with their cover shadowing and pressures.
Jordan Pickford notices this fact and immediately throws the ball into Gana Gueye, who would not be accessible if not for the positioning of Liverpool’s frontliners. This pass eliminated 3 Liverpool players, Gakpo, Wirtz and Isak. Everton act swiftly as a collective and look to involve their left-back Mykolenko in this play, who notices that Everton have finally achieved numerical parity against Liverpool’s backline. Dewsbury Hall, McNeil & Beto make the dash in-behind Liverpool’s defensive line causing a race between themselves and Van Dijk, Konate and Robertson, the Evertonians won this phase of play and scored. Liverpool will be kicking themselves at their lack of organisation after a messy phase of play, rather than a tactical mishap in their organised shape.
Curtis Jones, deputising as the right-back was the most impressive in his performance, no doubt a busy body on the day, no other player touched the ball more than the Scouser. Further to this, Jones won possession 16 times, the most by any player in Premier League match this season. Positionally messy in this disposition, Jones was inverted into the centre to get closer to the centre and subsequently the ball. Ndiaye took notice of this fact but often left the midfielder to his devices, leaving Jones as the free player. Due to this, Jones was able to use himself as bait, tempting any Everton player to the ball, freeing up space to be exploited via a pass or carry.
Ryan Gravenberch continues to gain experience in this newish role of his, leaving his duties as the first receiver. The reasons are obvious, positioned in the higher spaces he is forced to use his virtues in these higher spaces. Riskier ball carries, tight touches under pressure, body feints, dribbles, threaded passes mean more in the positions he is now taking up, next season should be interested.
Liverpool continues to tighten their grip on Champions League qualification, Mohammed Salah and Virgil Van Dijik made sure of this fact. Two wins in a row, Liverpool continue to keep in touch with those above them whilst also increasing the gap between themselves and those below them. 5 games, Champions League then we recuperate.
