Tactical Analysis: How LFC broke Spurs hearts
STEVEN Gerrard’s 82nd minute penalty gave Liverpool a thrilling 3-2 win in a topsy-turvy Premier League game at Anfield.
Jan Vertonghen’s quick-fire brace either side of the interval looked to have won the game for Spurs despite Luis Suarez’s early goal.
But Stewart Downing capitalised on defensive errors from Kyle Walker and Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris to equalise. Suarez was then brought down by Benoit Assou-Ekotto, giving Gerrard the chance to win it from the spot.
Line Ups
Brendan Rodgers went with Daniel Sturridge alongside Suarez in an attacking 4-4-2 formation. Philippe Coutinho and Downing played as inverted wingers, cutting in from the flanks, while Lucas Leiva and Gerrard started in the centre. At times the formation became 4-4-1-1.
Jamie Carragher made his 500th Premier League appearance at the heart of the defence and Brad Jones came in for the injured Pepe Reina.
Andre Villas-Boas was forced to rejig things with Aaron Lennon unavailable and opted to strengthen the midfield by bringing in Jake Livermore. Mousa Dembele moved out to the right flank with both him and Gylfi Sigurdsson playing a little deeper in a 4-4-1-1 formation. Gareth Bale played in the hole behind Defoe.
How did the Team Handle Bale?
With so much of the focus pre-match on the outstanding form of Gareth Bale, the key for Liverpool was how to defend his particular threat. The answer was in Lucas, who pretty much stuck to the Welshman throughout and was excellent in his job.
He was partnered by Gerrard who played a similarly disciplined role, the sort of game that Rodgers craves out of him. He picked his moments going forward but he was far more impressive holding in midfield, protecting the back four, making key tackles and interceptions.
Gerrard has proved this season that he is more than capable of playing the team role that Rodgers needs rather than the all-action midfielder role that he may have done in his younger days. It was another case of leadership by example.
The result of Liverpool’s solidity in defensive midfield and the restriction on Bale was pretty clear, as Spurs often struggled to build attacks through him. While he did provide the cross for Vertonghen’s equaliser, Bale was often quiet. His method of attack is pretty straightforward; he runs with the ball as fast as he can, as far as he can, before hitting at the goal as hard as he can.
So there are a basically two ways of dealing with it – you stop him getting into his run, or you block the inevitable shot. Liverpool did well at the first, with only 3 of his ‘take-ons’ being successful (the yellow dots above), while he was a bit wasteful in shooting, often blasting over.
The result of this was that Spurs, for all their exciting and dynamic forward play, were hit and miss in the final third.
For every excellent Dembele run there was a Defoe miscue. In the end they were relying on the aerial prowess of Vertonghen and a set piece threat to cause any real damage.
Suarez Goal
It was fabulously executed, featuring some wonderful interplay between Philippe Coutinho and Jose Enrique, whose pass was brilliantly anticipated by Suarez to beat Lloris at his near post.
Downing – Played his part
Downing, in particular, had a good game. He made the most passes into the final third of any player on the pitch, and was 100% successful in them. He frequently found an overlapping Johnson or a lively Suarez and played smart balls, creating chances and finding space.
Downing has, along with Henderson, rehabilitated his reputation somewhat this season and is beginning to find a role within the Rodgers setup after seemingly being told he was free to leave the club.
Spurs Goals
Bale did not score, as he had in Tottenham’s five previous matches, but he contributed to both goals which were scored by the Belgian international, Vertonghen.
The free-kick that saw Spurs take the lead was questionable both because Bale flung his hands to his face, an area of his body Lucas Leiva had gone nowhere near to win it – and because it was soft. “On that reckoning, there would be 200 free-kicks a game,” said Rodgers.
Liverpool did not deal with it well. Jamie Carragher headed it down, it struck Daniel Agger, Glen Johnson slipped and Vertonghen, switching feet with the kind of effortless technical ability that seems to come as standard for those who have played for Ajax, drove it home.
The first had been more of a centre-half’s goal as Mousa Dembélé held the ball up by the corner flag and found Bale, who characteristically produced a superlative cross.
Once more Vertonghen intervened, rising above Johnson to leave Brad Jones stranded.
Coutinho v Allen
After Spurs went 2-1 ahead they were beginning to take control of the game, and this came through numbers in midfield.
In Sigurdsson and Dembele they had two wide players more comfortable in the middle, and thus they were increasingly outnumbering and outpassing Liverpool in the middle third.
While Lucas and Gerrard coped well, the force of numbers was beginning to show. Rodgers responded with a smart substitution, replacing Coutinho for Allen. Now, Coutinho hadn’t been poor, nor was Allen particularly great when he came on, but it addressed a balance problem.
Aside from his contribution to the goal, Coutinho was a bit isolated and was looking tired. In bringing on Allen, Suarez was moved to the left and Allen gave them the extra man in midfield to get more of a foothold on the game.
While his contribution was limited, it gave Liverpool more defensive solidity, stopped Spurs from running away with the game and put Suarez up against Kyle Walker – who about 5 minutes later hit back a horrendous backpass which ended up in the back of the net, via Downing.
Despite the interesting tactical match-ups and changes that occurred during this game, it is ultimately defined by Spurs taking aim squarely at their foot and pulling the trigger. After Kyle Walker contributed to that goal, Spurs had a couple of chances of their own to get back in the lead.
At 2-1 they were looking comfortable. This was compounded by Defoe who inexplicably headed the ball back into the box while defending a corner, put Assou-Ekotto under pressure and the result was a penalty.
Liverpool Winner
The Final Word
It showed good character from Liverpool to take advantage of mistakes and drag themselves back. Rodgers showed tactical nous in switching things up and there were excellent performances from Gerrard, Lucas and Downing to give them more hope going forward.
For Spurs, it’s a harsh result they thought they had the game won – but they need to figure out a more nuanced version of running very fast at the defence for a main tactic.
Bale and Dembele are excellent players, but when man marked, they don’t have the attacking threat to worry top teams. Defoe was anonymous. They need to address this.
Follow me on Twitter @MRSSG
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March 15th, 2013
Dont kid yourselves,you were second best against a side that had played a fixture less than 72 hours previous.2 comical indiviual errors & the woodwork won you the game.
March 15th, 2013
get over yourself we outplayed man u with 10 and didnt get the result we outplayed man city twice and two mistakes cost us same with arsenal it makes a change us playin bad and winning spurs are a class side but watch us progress over the next couple of seasons BACK WHERE WE BELONG
March 15th, 2013
Don’t be a total fool . ‘back where we belong’ ??? Do we belong out of all the cups and struggling even to get into top 6 ???
March 15th, 2013
Another ‘next season is our year’ nutter.
March 16th, 2013
What’s the point in supporting a club if you’re not allowed to hope for better days…?
March 16th, 2013
As i said,dont kid yourselves..!!
March 15th, 2013
Spurs lost this game due to the fact that they gifted two goals to liverpool.
March 15th, 2013
Who cares??liverpool won the game deal with it.its just karma we dominated you at white hart lane and lost now you guys dominated us at anfield and we won that sounds fair to me
March 15th, 2013
Very good summing up but what you failed to mention was Gerrard butted Bales in the back of his head. This may or may not have been an accident but he played on regardless of his concussed look and Lucas tried to crack him again but missed and Bale went down. For the rest of the game he looked in pain has the crowd chanted Gerrard hes hard. What this showed was we lost the game and Oliver was there for a penalty you see the Prem Picks the refs and even if Defoe and Walker had not gifted chances the Ref would have done. Liverpool have played Swansea seven missing and no fine they have had 4 pens in three games. So enjoy your run because its only for Skys sake they want a soap opera for top four and bottom. This is because Utd are to far ahead and there’s no Drama. I cant grumble because we had the bragging rights and it was a good game we lost not Liverpool won. What Avb did was change our midfield completely for the missing Lennon putting Livermore and Parker in middle and Dembele Siggy on the wings left no proper cover for Walker and Ekotto when they attacked this nearly done us in Rome losing 4-1. What i would have done was play Huddlstone for Livermore a natural passer with a thunder shot and also helps in Defense . The problem we have playing in Europe is draining our legs and playing squad with injury’s and loans Townsend scoring for QPR should replaced Lennon. So well done i wont mind you finishing 4th if we are 3rd
March 15th, 2013
It’s funny how spurs fans are just like manure and chav fans. They always seem to be watching another game. Spurs had a period of about 40 minutes at the end and beginning of both halves when they were running midfield.
Gerrard didn’t but him, both players went up for a free ball, and bale came of worse. Lucas didn’t even touch his face, but bale went down like he had been shot by a sniper. You got the goal from that. What about a legitimate penalty that Coutinho didn’t get, which would have put us 2 0 up? We don’t complain, as we have more class.
Overall it should have been a draw on play alone, but sometimes it just doesn’t go like that. We should know
March 15th, 2013
Yes Davspurs, and the moon landing was faked, Elvis is alive and living in Toxteth & you were abducted by Aliens. Gerrard won the header fair & square.
March 15th, 2013
Hahahahahahahaha..this loss hit those deluded spurs fans so hard they are still bitter cos they expected to win
March 15th, 2013
Well said Katie Price I knew you were more than breasts on legs.
March 15th, 2013
The game had nothing to do with Liverpool tactics. It was a game dominated by Spurs, the away side who had played on thursday, two comical mistakes handed Liverpool the win. Spurs had more possession, more shots, more on target, if it wasn’t for the two very uncharacteristic errors and poor finishing Spurs would have won 5-1.
March 15th, 2013
So did spurs win 5-1? Nope so face the fact and shut up. Liverpool were the better side n took their chances well.
March 16th, 2013
Even the most blinkered Liverpool fan will admit spurs were the better side
March 16th, 2013
the liverbird is alive.
March 16th, 2013
I think we did well knowing we played exalent against ManU and lost this must be a fantastic morel boost
March 16th, 2013
Let spurs fan or wicheva stop whinin 4 heavens sake…as a l’pul fan..,i cant help bt say we were outplayd bt i’ll take d win for games we’ve playd well(untd@ anfield, citeh both legs, spurs@ d lane,udinese @ anfield) &yet lost…our ability2 play dat badly acordin2 haters& yet win characterizes us as a big team…still basking in d flow of our1st goal thogh
March 16th, 2013
Looks like the luck ran out today though got smashed by relegation fodder Southampton. Mugs