Liverpool’s press, the mother of all control
Arsenal’s trips to Anfield have always delivered exciting games, most memorably their win in 1989 to clinch the title ahead of Liverpool, the Arshavin 4–4 draw and many more. Recently, it has become more of a bogey ground for the Gunners shipping 15 goals in the last 4 games since Juergen Klopp’s arrival. Liverpool’s press and their devastating pace on offensive transitions was a recurring theme in these four games, and the former would prove effective once again.
Unai Emery’s tinkering continued from last year fielding a 4–3–1–2 with Dani Ceballos at the tip of the diamond as Nicolas Pepe was handed his first start alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Liverpool meanwhile were in their usual 4–3–3 with no surprises in the shape nor the starting eleven.
The start of the game felt like someone was replaying one of the previous four games at Anfield. Liverpool’s players swarmed Arsenal, pressing them intensively up the pitch. Arsenal’s ideas of any form of build up to find Pepe and Aubameyang in the space behind Liverpool’s full backs was totally negated. On the right side Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Matteo Guendouzi and the supporting cast were smothered by the touchline when they attempted any form ball progression.
Ceballos’ performance in the number 10 position against Burnley couldn’t have been better, dropping to support the build up, returning to defend the ball, and assisting Arsenal’s two goals. This time however, it was a different beast. The midfielder playing a slightly similar role at the tip of the diamond had no time to show his technical ability on the ball. Boxed by Liverpool players who pressed him from all direction as seen early on when Jordan Henderson pressed Ceballos from his blind spot to retrieve the ball for Liverpool. A theme that re-occurred throughout the first half
The intensive pressing from Liverpool denied Arsenal any control of the game and kept them under pressure, but despite that Liverpool had little threat on offensive transitions mainly due to Arsenal’s block being deep thus depriving Liverpool’s front three from any space once they regain possession. A chance fell to Sadio Mane in the 20th minute after Ceballos was trying to play a cross field ball to bypass the press. The Spaniard’s execution failed him, and Mane had an opportunity to open the scoring but he was denied by Bernd Leno.
Emery’s idea to field a diamond was probably to neutralize Roberto Firmino’s role in midfield. Firmino excels in terms of dropping to press the opponent’s midfield and also by being the linkage in the offensive phase, whether to enable the advancing full backs or combine with Mohamed Salah and Mane. Defensively, Firmino helped in the smothering of Arsenal’s build up and on the other side of the pitch he managed to pop into spaces in the midfield, but still Arsenal’s defence was deep and compact.
Up front Arsenal were seeking to attack the spaces behind Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold using the pace and trickery of Aubameyang and Pepe. Both threatened sporadically with Aubameyang’s lob ball edging by the post after another howler from Adrian. Pepe’s curler from the right side would have produced a spectacular goal to put Arsenal ahead, but his chance in the 33rd minute was the one that could have changed the path of this game. On an offensive transition after a Liverpool corner, Henderson failed to clear the ball failing for Pepe who only had Robertson in-front of him. He slalomed past the Scottish defender with only Adrian now between him and the net. Unfortunately for Pepe, the ball’s position wasn’t adjusted for a left footed shot so it was an easy save for Adrian.
With Pepe and Aubameyang waiting to strike on the counters, and Arsenal’s diamond trying to clog the channels and central areas, it was out wide where Liverpool found space. Alexander-Arnold and Robertson found plenty of space out wide forcing Arsenal’s diamond at times to flatten into a midfield four. The space was still there though as Ceballos, Guendouzi and Joe Willock couldn’t do two jobs at the same time.
Liverpool’s full backs’ trade mark low fizzing crosses across the goal are their most dangerous asset, and it’s how they assist most of the goals they participate in as seen in the figures below.
The time and space they had on the wings against Arsenal wasn’t as effective though because Arsenal’s defensive line was as deep as possible, denying any space between the defensive line and Leno. Thus denying the possibility of these low/medium height crosses across the goal, leaving Liverpool with the option of normal crosses which they don’t excel in.
The problem for Arsenal though wasn’t the chances created from the space on the wings, rather the constant pressure of these crosses. Constant pressure that resulted from Arsenal’s inability to keep possession due to Liverpool’s hyper-energetic press off the ball. The constant pressure from these crosses finally paid dividends when Granit Xhaka cleared Arnold’s cross into a corner kick for Liverpool.
Liverpool’s effectiveness from corner kicks has been evident lately in their recent goals. From a numbers perspective they topped the list for goals scored from corners in the Premier League last season. Scoring 14 goals from corner kicks, 4 more than 2nd place Brighton and Burnley.
Joel Matip opened the scoring from that corner after an excellent cross from Arnold. Five minutes after, Mane had a similar chance from another corner from the right side.
In the second half, the game opened up and Arsenal’s mistakes took over. David Luiz tugged Salah’s shirt in the penalty box after Firmino put him through with a one touch pass. Salah smashed the penalty into the top corner giving Leno no chance to save it. Salah’s second goal came after Fabinho found the Egyptian with a pass into the vast space that Arsenal left. Shimming past Luiz then accelerating towards the goal leaving Nacho Monreal in no man’s land, and clinically slotting it into the far bottom corner. A trademark Salah goal where he utilized his rapid change of movement, pace, and finishing.
Late in the game Emery switched to 4–3–3 introducing Alexandre Lacazette after Lucas Torreira had joined earlier in the game. The latter grabbed a consolation goal for the Gunners but it wasn’t enough on the day.
The space on the wings factored in opening the scoring, and the game allowing Liverpool’s forwards to flourish. However, it was Liverpool’s pressing that’s behind all this. The press denied Arsenal any opportunity to build up, and any chance of retaining the ball for a long period of time. Keeping the game in the offensive phase for Liverpool with crosses showering the Arsenal defence. The crosses didn’t create any significant chances during the first half but their constant presence was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
Emery’s approach was understandable but as always theory differs than practice. Liverpool’s press reigns supreme, again ! and it’s yet to be seen whether any team can bypass it.
