Thread by @EBL2017

Liverpool-Chelsea is a phenomenal match-up of two elite heavyweight titans. There is little to separate the teams each time they play, and I expect the same to be the case in Sunday's final at Wembley. Below, in this in-depth thread, I discuss the match-up in detail.

THREAD!

On paper, Liverpool's press matches up perfectly with Chelsea's 3-4-3. As such, when pressing high, Liverpool can get success, control, and create within these moments. However, Chelsea's technical quality is elite and their players are in close proximity positionally for passes.

As such, there will be mixed moments here. Liverpool can create via pressing, and Chelsea can create via playing through Liverpool's pressing and directly exploiting them in transition or in settled play against their high line like the last fixture between the two sides.

This is where the likes of Lukaku and Werner could be very useful for Chelsea. In the last fixture, Chelsea were profligate within these circumstances despite regularly exploiting Liverpool beyond the last line. They were reliant on their wingbacks and others to run in behind.

The likes of Pulisic, Mount and Havertz are capable of running in behind, but it's not necessarily their primary game. They all like to mix running in behind & coming to feet. So, none are outlets, so it'll be interesting to see if Tuchel plays Lukaku despite his attitude issues.

I think Tuchel will start Lukaku or at least Werner considering how important their runs in behind could be in a game like this. He is the ideal profile to exploit Liverpool's high line. Even in settled play Liverpool will attempt to force Chelsea back and continue to press.

On a big pitch like Wembley and against a team with a lot of players in the build-up with top technical quality, Chelsea will inevitably get *some* moments like this, even if it's off the back of winning second balls after clearances/long kicks. They can exploit Liverpool here.

However, that's only if Chelsea are technically secure. Liverpool are a special pressing team, so it'll be hard to reliably do that. I expect both teams to have joy in each regard because Liverpool have elite intensity & a top press but Chelsea are good technically to combat that

Alternatively, on the opposite end of the spectrum, Liverpool will of course have to be technically secure themselves too. The biggest problem Liverpool had in the previous fixture was their inability to keep the ball which weakened the quality of their press.

If plays breaks down in the 1st/2nd phase, it's near impossible to press aggressively because the ball is lost close to the goal. The block cannot reliably be aggressive. Successful pressing requires technical security when the ball is won to push the opposition back & press high

Liverpool kept losing the ball in deep defensive phases and this resulted in them having to regroup as opposed to counterpressing high up the pitch. Their block wasn't in a conducive position to press high. As such, their high line was regularly exposed. I expect Klopp to adapt.

Liverpool's interiors on the day were Henderson and Milner, but Klopp won't pick those two again. Not only do they roam positionally weakening the compactness of the block centrally, but they also lack the technical security of a Thiago, Elliott or a Jones. 1/3 *will* start.

So, although Chelsea match-up well pressing wise with Liverpool in the building phases and will cause Liverpool issues in that regard, Liverpool *should* be better prepared to deal with Chelsea's press. Then, within those moments, they can exploit Chelsea in transition.

The difference between Liverpool and Chelsea's defensive blocks centers around how they defend in settled play after their press is bypassed. Chelsea will revert into a deep block if needs be whereas Liverpool will continue to try to press high i.e. Chelsea are more pragmatic.

So, when Liverpool do have possession in midfield against Chelsea's low block, they'll be tough to break down. The only situation where Liverpool will likely defend deep is if they're hanging onto the game late on or from the 1st and 2nd phase situations after set pieces.

So, overall, it's a razor tight affair. Chelsea are no mugs despite recent criticism and will absolutely make this an extremely competitive game. Both teams have top presses, physicality, technical quality, compactness, balance, etc. It'll come down to the players' performances.

Even from long balls from goal kicks, throw ins & similar phases of play each team is uber-compact & physical but also fantastic technically with outlets to exploit the opposition in transition. However, the quality of those outlets is in Liverpool's favour, even if Lukaku starts

I'd argue that gives Liverpool the slight advantage, particularly when considering that their fullbacks are of higher creative quality than Chelsea's, so that's two positional advantages (attack & FB) where Liverpool have elite difference makers & Chelsea only have 'top' players.

However, again, it's still a razor tight tactical affair which will come down to player performances. Each manager will give their team the best possible chance of winning from a tactical perspective, & Tuchel will increase that even more with Lukaku/Werner in the XI.

Can't wait