Trent Alexander-Arnold spoke of Jurgen Klopp’s half-time tactical change against Arsenal. It’s one that shows just how powerful this Liverpool side is.
Funnily enough, it all started with the wrong preparation, according to Alexander-Arnold.
“We worked all week on breaking that midfield line,” he said, per the Echo. “[We] thought they were going to play a four and we’d have to really stretch the pitch out, expand as much as possible.”
That didn’t happen, of course. Arsenal set up with a diamond midfield, packing the centre and allowing Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson free reign.
What transpired was a first-half full of crosses into a packed 18-yard box. Liverpool perhaps should have done better but it wasn’t the game they were prepared for. Fortunately, Joel Matip fired them in front from an Alexander-Arnold corner just before halftime.
Still, things had to change. The game had gone Liverpool’s way but they were struggling to impose themselves and probably needed a second.
“It was tough because the two centre-halves were in the middle and we couldn’t pick anyone out,” said Alexander-Arnold. “The gaffer showed us a bit of analysis at half-time, how we can stretch them and find Bobby [Firmino], Mo [Salah] or Sadio [Mane].”
It’s a tactical change that left Arsenal vulnerable and highlighted Liverpool’s power going forward.
The fact is, Liverpool do like their full-backs to see lots of the ball. But when a team is well prepared to deal with it, the strategy is far less effective – Liverpool don’t have the forwards to battle in the air.
Klopp changed things, pulling the full-backs deeper and creating more movement for the front three. Suddenly, Firmino was able to work the ball to Salah to win a penalty.
And, of course, Salah had the space to score his wonderful second.
It’s a dream situation. A small tweak to the team opens up another, equally dangerous attack. Very, very few teams can set up to deal with everything Liverpool have going forward – possibly no one can.
It’s ability like this that makes the Reds arguably the most dangerous team in the world.
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