Liverpool’s Powerful Gegenpressing

DBasia.news – For the first time, Liverpool swept out all the five initial matches of Premier League since 1990-1991 season. After defeating West Ham United (4-0), Crystal Palace (2-0), Brighton & Hove Albion (1-0), and Leicester City (2-1), not it’s time for Tottenham Hotspur as the victim.

Last season, Tottenham became the winner with a 4-1 score, but not it’s time for Liverpool who went home with three points by two goals from Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino. One goal as the counter from Tottenham just happened until the end of the match by Erik Lamela.

Tottenham got two consecutive defeats, previously by Watford with 1-2. Their performance in the match was also far from the usual intensity by Mauricio Pochettino squad. Perhaps, it’s influenced by the earlier match, plus the exhaustion of Tottenham players after the 2018 World Cup.

Blaming is easy after the defeat. However, Liverpool deserve the appreciation. They played wise, clever, and know how to find the antithesis of Tottenham’s performance.

The ball possession was just 39 compared to 61 of the host, but it didn’t do them the justice of the real match. Liverpool, or perhaps Jurgen Klopp, knew that Tottenham will take attacking initiative, ball possession, and defending Liverpool since the beginning of the match.

That’s where Tottenham entered the Liverpool playing zone. The gegenpressing or high pressing along with the counter-attack was applied from the players of all sides.

The pressure from Liverpool, especially James Milner, Naby Keita, and Georginio Wijnaldum in the midfield forced Eric Dier, Moussa Dembele, and even Kieran Trippier to do the mistake, and a chance for Liverpool.

Dier failed to pass the ball seven times. One back-pass he did was stolen by Mohamed Salah but anticipated by Tottenham goalkeeper Michel Vorm as the best player for the host.

Gegenpressing, Liverpool to Tottenham Defense

 

Liverpool vs Tottenham

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17 kicks, and 10 of them met the target. While Tottenham with 61 percent ball possession, just scored three kicks from 11 efforts.

Most kicks from Liverpool were close to the penalty box area, the signature style of gegenpressing. When Liverpool stole the ball, they came to the one-third of the Tottenham defense directly.

That’s why Liverpool looked more accurate in attacking compared to at Tottenham the time when they have to pass the defense. Tottenham players have no space to develop the game.

When Liverpool attacked, they did it like a boom, with two full-backs did the overlap, the penetrating midfielder, and the individual performances of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, and Firmino, Liverpool best players.

Firmino, especially. The Brasilian striker contributed not only from the goals achievement but also his hard work in defending and pursuing the opponent. His hard work scored a goal and utilized the miscommunication in Tottenham’s defense line.

Solid Liverpool Defense

 

Liverpool

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Despite Lamela’s classy goal who converted it from the narrow-angle before the match ends, Liverpool defense in playing was solid, just like the previous four matches. Klopp found the stability for the four Liverpool defenders.

Andrew Robertson in the left defense, Trent Alexander-Arnold in the right, and Virgil van Dijk also Joe Gomez as the tandem in the back sector of Liverpool, standing in front of Alisson Becker.

Gomez completed Van Dijk’s performance. The Dutch defender has the capability for air duel and physical strength to chase the ball, but with slow movement. That’s where Gomez completes Van Dijk with his acceleration and press the opponents holding the ball.

In that condition, it will be difficult for Dejan Lovren or Joel Matip to replace Gomez as the starter in Liverpool’s defense line. Gomez won four airball duel, three tackles, one ball block, and three ball sweeps.

While Van Dijk swept the ball twice, cut the opponent twice, airball duel twice, and also two tackles. No wonder if Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen could do nothing by Liverpool defense who just conceded two goals so far in the Premier League.