AnalysisPremier League

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea – Tactical Analysis

21 January 2023

1st Half

Chelsea FC

In possession

Liverpool and Chelsea played to a goalless draw, in a game in which Chelsea were better in the first half. Out of possession Liverpool defended 3 vs 3 and 2 vs 2 very well in Chelsea’s build up, but Bajcetic had the problem of having to defend both Mount and Gallagher.

The same when the ball came to the wing. Mount on Milner’s back, if Bajcetic got close to Mount, there was a lot of space in the middle and if it was Konaté defending him, Havertz was attacking his back with a lot of space.

Kai Havertz was very important attacking the spaces with good long passes from Thiago Silva, which gave Liverpool’s defensive line a lot of problems.

Set piece

Chelsea had chances from set pieces, including a goal disallowed by the VAR. Liverpool noticed a lot the absence of Van Dijk in set pieces, being very close to losing the game in these plays.

2nd Half

Liverpool FC

In possession

In the second half, during the first 15 minutes, Liverpool were far superior, arriving a lot on the right flank with 4-5 players to finish in the box, having good chances.

Cody Gakpo

We must highlight Gakpo, who is having a good start in Liverpool, being very useful in aerial duels, playing with his back to goal and being able to have good intuition about when to enter the box. We will have to see if he is able to contribute many goals to Klopp’s side, as he did in the World Cup with the Netherlands.

Mykhaylo Mudryk

Due to Liverpool’s superiority, Potter gave Mudryk his debut as a left winger, with Chelsea switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Mudryk playing at an extraordinary level. He was involved in the build up, making good decisions and positioning himself inside to receive passes and also carrying the ball into those situations to then deliver key passes with ease. He was electric, showed agility, dribbled in several plays and got into the box to finish plays.