{"id":4801,"date":"2017-05-15T15:45:54","date_gmt":"2017-05-15T14:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.friendsofliverpool.com\/?p=4801"},"modified":"2017-05-15T12:02:55","modified_gmt":"2017-05-15T11:02:55","slug":"analysis-of-liverpools-attacking-struggles-vs-southampton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.friendsofliverpool.com\/2017\/05\/analysis-of-liverpools-attacking-struggles-vs-southampton\/","title":{"rendered":"Analysis of Liverpool’s attacking struggles vs Southampton"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liverpool faced a very organised Southampton side at Anfield. Southampton played with a 1-4-2-3-1 formation but without possession their shape was going to change to a 1-4-5-1 with a deep defensive line.<\/p>\n

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Liverpool used their usual 1-4-3-3 formation having an overall possession of 65% throughout the match, but, as we know, possession does not win matches unless it is used wisely.<\/p>\n

Southampton were a solid and compact defensive unit leaving minimal gaps in zone 14 by overloading this area of the pitch. This was going to be a big challenge for Liverpool.<\/p>\n

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To resolve this challenge, Liverpool needed to execute to perfection the basic attacking principles of football: 1. Create Space; 2. Maintain Possession; 3. Exploit Space. These principles are based on movement off the ball, quality of passes, decision making, high tempo of play, stretching the opposition, changing the direction of play, and creativity. However, Liverpool failed to deliver these crucial points against Southampton.<\/p>\n

NO WIDTH IN FINAL THIRD<\/h3>\n

Liverpool\u2019s FBs (Milner and Clyne) were constantly pushing forward into high positions on the field to support the attacking plays, but they were often caught in positions not providing enough width to Liverpool\u2019s attack by making runs to inner channels instead of trying to stretch Southampton\u2019s defensive unit by staying in wide channels, as you\u2019ll see in the following video.<\/p>\n