Rio Ferdinand Praised Sarri’s Strategy

DBasia.news – Chelsea played draw 1-1 against Liverpool in the 7th-week match of 2018-2019 Premier League at Stamford Bridge, Saturday (29/9). The former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, praised the strategy by Maurizio Sarri in this match.

Ferdinand assumed The Blues’ defense could respond Mohamed Salah’s aggressivity. Chelsea have started the dominance at 25′ from Mateo Kovacic’s passing and Eden Hazard teased Alisson Becker. The Blues led with a 1-0 score.

When the match was about to end for Chelsea’s victory, Daniel Sturridge came as Liverpool’s hero. The British player scored the beautiful goal and summed up the match with a 1-1 score.

In that match, the strength of the trio strikers Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino couldn’t perform to the maximum level. Salah and Mane who are usually pressing from both wings couldn’t develop their game. In fact, during the previous match, trio Firmansah were the main support for The Reds in scoring the goal.

 

Maurizio Sarri

---

“The two full-backs would usually be like wingers, high and leaving the midfielders and defenders isolated. Today, much more conservative,” Ferdinand told BBC.

“They understood that their areas are where Liverpool thrive. They defended superbly to a man. The whole back four were superb,” said the man who continues his career as a commentator.

Statistically, there were 13 opportunities by Liverpool, and 6 came close to the net. Meanwhile, the wing defenders were filled by Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta. “They understood the threat of this Liverpool and they adapted accordingly,” Ferdinand continued.

Achieving one point made Liverpool failed to maintain the leading position in the temporary standing, surpassed by Manchester City. Meanwhile, Chelsea are in the third rank, two points behind The Reds and Man City.