As Liverpool prepares to host Manchester City at Anfield, the clock is ticking down to one of the Premier League’s most exciting matches. As both teams negotiate a crucial December stretch, this matchup is expected to have significant ramifications for the championship battle. Pundits Dave Davis and Grizz Khan explored the nuances of this match in depth on Anfield Index’s perceptive Daily Red podcast, illuminating the disparate fortunes of the two teams. Excitement is growing quickly as Liverpool’s growing confidence under Arne Slot and Manchester City’s defensive weaknesses are being scrutinized.
Depending on the circumstances of the game, Manchester City’s defensive structure out of possession (OOP) frequently plays in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-4 mid-block. City’s pressing system flaws were exposed by Brighton’s tactical setup. Due to City’s inability to stay compact, passing lanes were left open, allowing Brighton’s forwards to cause havoc with opposing movements.
Exposing City’s Pressing and Defensive Vulnerabilities
Liverpool’s tactical change against Real Madrid in the second half demonstrated how they could take advantage of Manchester City’s defensive shortcomings. “In the second half against Real Madrid, we started attacking more centrally in the half-spaces rather than out wide,” Dr. Barter said, describing the crucial tactical change that occurred after the interval. This made Madrid’s defensemen track runs and stretch, which exhausted them and gave us more room.
The change in focus towards the half-space, particularly from Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister, produced a much bigger threat for Liverpool, according to Davis, who concurred with this assessment and said it made the team more effective moving forward. We were able to transfer the ball into risky locations more swiftly and efficiently, which demonstrated the change.
According to Barter, Liverpool’s second-half adjustments were supported by a notable statistical improvement: “We had our highest percentage of very high passing chains, over 15 passes in a chain, for the season.” We were able to create more danger as a result and eventually win the game.
