Liverpool 4-3 Tottenham | Madness at Anfield | Tactical Analysis

Liverpool and Tottenham played one of the craziest games of the season. We start analyzing Klopp’s side in possession using the 3-2-2-3 shape with Trent Alexander-Arnold as the inverted full-back. Tottenham defending in a 5-4-1 with the wingers too narrow.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Alexander-Arnold was the playmaker, no pressure on him roaming to receive, including dropping down between center backs. Son and Kulusevski so close to each other trying to keep the midfield line compact wich makes pass wide accessible.

Here we see Trent receiving alone with no Tottenham player jumping to press, being too passive in the play that led to the penalty.

And exactly the same in this one. Trent in a more natural position when he plays as right back to put in a cross from the edge of the box for the first goal.

The 3-2-2-3 is very effective in counter-pressing, which Klopp himself has pointed out. Due to the box midfield, Liverpool have more bodies in central areas to surround the opposition upon losing the ball with Trent winning several duels or as in this play with three players surrounding the ball to counter-press and Trent in a great position reading the game perfectly.

Cody Gakpo

The other key for Liverpool was Gakpo’s off-the-ball movement, receiving between the lines. On many plays when the ball came to the flank he linked-up without being covered by the midfiled or the center backs, having time to turn.

Andrew Robertson

After 30 minutes of dominance for the home side scoring 3 goals, Liverpool’s problems came from Robertson’s issuess in the build-up He isn’t a player used to play in a back-3 and it was clear every time he received in the first phase due to his lack of security, having Tottenham several chances to score.

Son Heung-min

And the other problem for Liverpool was in the gap between Konaté and Alexander-Arnold with Son playing a great game. In this play he receives a pass behind Liverpool’s back line and Robertson makes another serious mistake with a bad positioning in the box leaving Harry Kane alone to receive the assist.

Throughout the second half Son created a lot of problems attacking the space with many chances for a comeback.

An entertaining game at Anfield that showed the strengths and weaknesses of both teams.