WHEN Brendan Rodgers was brought in as manager of Liverpool Football Club, talk revolved mainly around Tiki-Taka football and the importation of Barcelona’s style to Anfield. Much was made of the 7 seconds to close down and regain possession and the idea that Liverpool would provide death by football through the means of a possession orientated strangulation of the opposition.
But this theory or ‘philosophy’, as the current media craze labels it, has not been so abundant this year and the team look all the better for it.
Instead of playing in the same way throughout the match, Rodgers charges have developed a dual approach to the game. There is a manner in which the reds start the game which alters in the second half.
The first half is reminiscent of much of what we saw last season. The players adopt a high tempo pressing game from the moment the first whistle is blown, with the midfield and strikers being encouraged to win possession as high up the field as possible. The idea is to score that first goal and score it quickly. This is why it would seem appropriate to describe it as Blitzkrieg football.
Blitzkrieg was the means by which the German army would attack in the Second World War; it was designed to be lightning quick and to overwhelm the opposition before they were ready for battle. Liverpool’s high pressure starts to matches are equally designed to put as much pressure on the opposition before they are prepared or settled into the game. The interesting part is that the team has continued to play in the same vein after a goal has been scored. It would seem that the idea is to not only get the first goal but also to score as many as possible in the opening 45 minutes.
The second half is where there has been the most change in Liverpool’s play. Rodgers has allowed Stoke, Aston Villa and Man Utd to have possession of the football for sustained periods in the next 45 knowing that they have to attack to gain parity. However, the team is as industrious as it was in the first half just in a different manner. Instead of pushing the team high up the pitch to win the ball, the players are asked to control the game off the ball, by containing the opposition and closing space. The squad is then tasked with winning the ball in their own half and launching counter attacks.
Again in a Blitzkrieg style, the team looks to take advantage when the opposition are at there weakest with speed of movement and thought the key to opening up the defence. This also ensures that Liverpool are less vulnerable to the counter-attacks that cut them open so easily last season.
This desire to relinquish possession seems contrary to the principles that we expected from Rodgers. However, the shift is one which looks to exploit the opposition as they have to go in search of a goal. Of course this switch in style may only come into play if our first half exploits do in fact yield a goal. We will need to see what happens if we are unable to break down the opposition or if we are behind going into the second half.
What it does illustrate though, is that Brendan Rodgers has learned from last season. Rather than leaving ourselves vulnerable to the counter attack, we have been more savvy and ultimately more ruthless in the business of winning matches. Rodgers has blended attacking brutality with defensive resilience creating two distinct systems of play for the team. This potentially makes Liverpool a more formidable foe with the team able to adopt different approaches without having to change personnel.
The development of this system has already improved with games. Stoke put Liverpool under enough pressure to concede a penalty and it was only the resultant save that prevented the Reds from dropping points. Against Villa, the system worked very well but there were a couple of opportunities for Benteke who was again denied by Mignolet. However against Man Utd, Liverpool appeared in control even at the end of the game and the Reds had a brilliant chance on the counter to make it 2-0 with Raheem Sterling forcing a smart save from David De Gea.
Perhaps what is more mouthwatering is that there is still the injection of Suarez and Moses to come which may well make the second half tactics more profitable. There may be less containing and more counter punching from the reds as they look to use the pace and guile of the attacking quartet to counteract their competitors and hit home their advantage.
Not only is it pleasing to see that Rodgers is malleable in his tactics and progressive in his thinking but also Liverpool keep winning – and long may that continue.
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I noticed this new development after our last match and i must commend Rodgers.. Y.N.W.A
Good article.
Rodgers showing signs of becoming an excellent manager.
shame second half is not the same as the first but football doesn’t always work that way. Besides the opposition managers would not be doing their job if they allow Liverpool to continue playing the same way the entirety of the game.
let’s hope Suarez can be less individual than last season as on occasion it became semi frustrating, although with the players around him at times it was understandable.
Can’t wait for the next game!
now we have some capable players like ilori,cissokho,moses and suarez back,teams will be wary of our counter attack and pressing. YNWA
learning from his mentor mourinho,actually this is mourinho based pattern. keep it up BR,once again this is our season.I love the reds!!!
No disrespect, but not in a million years is this the mourinho pattern….. His way of football is very negative. While we play possession based play, mourinho’s play is based more on counterattacking….. The success he has achieved was more often than not due to very negative football….hardly beautiful to watch…. Rodgers is bringing the liverpool way back to Anfield…. While the 2nd halves are very different to what Rodgers brought to Anfield last season, Liverpool’s play is just a pleasure to watch…..
A lot of deluded people round here . 3 narrow wins and all of a sudden Rodgers is top manager. Well he ain’t . We just had a good start.
Clearing all our deadwood from past regimes is a sign of someone who knows what he’s doing.
playing our best football in years, plaudits all round the country and you say he’s not a top manager.
Bringing in players to booster the team and squad, real competition for the first time in years….
I think you need to look up the word deluded in a dictionary. Your picture is the only definition, no offence.
Here is the number 1 delude himself. What age are you Aaron ? Only my 6 year is as naive as you ?
Deadwood ? He has replaced them with more deadwood . Allen aspas alberto for starters.
The squad is no better off than last season , only a complete ‘delude ‘ would think otherwise
No better than last season??? I’m not sure it’s possible to be more deluded, I’m actually crying with laughter.
But in all seriousness my heart goes out to you, so much football wasted on your inexperienced and deluded mind.
Henderson playing well, Carroll, Downing, Spearing gone. Mignolet on form, Toure strong, two players for almost every position, a first for us in the PL and you say not a change from last year? D-E-L-U-D-E-D
Wake up and smell the facts.
Dennis, B Rodgers has done a very good job.
Every Manager in world football makes mistakes in buys, so Yeah Allen was not worth £15M but he is still a good footballer and at times looks the part, just he needs to be more consistant and Be like Henderson now, Taking more risks and playing more offensive and adding goals to his game.
Assaidi, Borini are both dead wood i hear that. And i think Alberto looks to light weight for my liking, i think we should have kept hold of Shelvey and used the £6.8M and another £8M and brought in a Good Mobile Tough Tackling Defensive Midfielder to compete and Cover Lucas Leiva. ( M’Vila(23) Of Rubin Kazan Or B Matuidi(26) Of PSG)
But most of the other signings Rodgers has brought to the club has improved the squad dramatically, he has now strengthened the back 4 for now and the future.
Hopefully in January the owners back him well with £45-£55M to strengthen 3 more positions:
GK: So Mignolet has good class, qulaity competition for his place
DM: Class, quality competition and Cover for Lucas Leiva
RW / RWF: Good pacey quick right winger to compete with Sterling and Moses, as Moses is just a loan signing without an option to buy.
LW / LWF: Good pacey quick left footed Wide man to compete with IBE
But we are definately have a much better squad this year, Hopefully Rodgers sorts out his differences as Skrtel should not be sold in January or sold at any cost. He should be allowed to compete with Agger, llori, Sakho and Toure fairly. And the best pshould be picked, Rodgers should hold no grudge with skrtel if they have fallen out and vice versa
pleas lets allow BR a fre hand and right now, he is really showing the stuff he is made of… We are not carried away but we are happy with the position we find ourselves right now… Those who probably hates BR are nowhere to be found these days, they are probably hiding
No shola , not hiding . Right here . I wish Rodgers was decent but he is not . We won’t get top four this season sadly , despite the improved start
@flitz would u be happy if rogers had lost the 3 games? We are the only team that has won the 3 games and have not conceeded a goal, so we can only hope for improvement, things are looking good atm, and I know the staffs aren’t sleeping YWNWA