Klopp actually talked about this on MNF football years back with Carra - if you can find it. He was highlighting our match against Newcastle and how we failed to 'protect the attack'.
Essentially what he was showing was how Coutinho moved over on to the left to receive the ball
Essentially what he was showing was how Coutinho moved over on to the left to receive the ball
up the line from the full back. Henderson moved over onto the flank also deeper than Coutinho to give him an option if he couldn't progress - which he couldn't so passed to Hendo.
At this point we had our left 8 and our 6 both on the left flank. Gini tucked in as the 6.
At this point we had our left 8 and our 6 both on the left flank. Gini tucked in as the 6.
Hendo tried to pass the ball into sturridge's feet - but we lose the ball. He shouldn't have though because you don't pass into a central underload - if you lose the ball they can just immediately attack right through the middle - which is what happened.
Newcastle had 4 midfielders packed through the middle of the pitch - we had just Gini. They played around him, he couldn't put pressure on the ball to prevent a throughball - they picked off our high line which pretty much always happens if you give people time and space on the
ball. So Newcastle scored. There are thing the defensive line and Migs could have done better of course - but ultimately the problem starts in midfield - they failed to 'protect our attack'.
So when we attack now we tend to have full backs ahead of the ball - CBs split and our
So when we attack now we tend to have full backs ahead of the ball - CBs split and our
CM occupies the middle of the pitch. One of them aggressively puts pressure on the ball if they escape the counter press of our FWs and full backs - while the other covers and tries to give us shape, cover and structure.
The aim is to buy 3-5 seconds to get the defence back to
The aim is to buy 3-5 seconds to get the defence back to
a place where they can repel counter attacks.
Players that are ahead of the ball cannot counter press nor protect the attacks. Which means we lose Gini's runs from deep, dummy runs, 3rd man runs etc to stretch play and offer penetration.
Players that are ahead of the ball cannot counter press nor protect the attacks. Which means we lose Gini's runs from deep, dummy runs, 3rd man runs etc to stretch play and offer penetration.
The best balance I have seen to allow Gini to do this is when Keita plays - who will sometimes stay deep as a deep controller and allows Gini to run ahead of the ball. Like his lob against Bournemouth. He can't do that with Milner or Henderson as both tend to drift wife to
look for space. Likewise with Ox as he tends to play as a very aggressive 8 getting ahead of the ball more himself.
Ultimately it comes down to roles. In every attack there are 11 roles to be performed on the pitch and someone has to be doing each of them in our system.
Ultimately it comes down to roles. In every attack there are 11 roles to be performed on the pitch and someone has to be doing each of them in our system.
In the past, the full backs role was more defensive, they would stay behind the ball more and our midfield would be more offensive and required to support the attack and be heavily involved in the final 3rd (e.g. 2016 when Lallana & Gini both had 15 G+A, fullbacks almost nil).
That has flipped now - the full backs are our width, our attack is narrower to attack the posts and arrive late for cut backs / rebounds / shallow clearances and our midfield has more work to do protecting the attack.
It's not a personnel thing but a tactical thing.
It's not a personnel thing but a tactical thing.
Fabinho is interesting here as he is a threat staying behind the ball with 30 yard screamers and his chipped balls from zone 14 into the half-spaces - such as yesterday.
But Gini is someone who works in small spaces and needs to be closer to the action to be a threat.
But Gini is someone who works in small spaces and needs to be closer to the action to be a threat.
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