Liverpool has made it to the final!

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter! In this issue, we analyze the match between Fulham and Liverpool.

Foreword

Today's game analysis takes an unexpected turn because while I was still working on this post, it was suddenly announced that Klopp will be leaving Liverpool this summer. This announcement likely came as a surprise to most. In a recently released YouTube video on Liverpool's official page, Klopp explained his decision. You can watch the full interview via the following link.

Liverpool is undoubtedly back in top form and a strong contender for the title. Although the team seemed uncertain last year with almost the same players, they are currently full of confidence. At the beginning of the season, I wasn't completely convinced by their performance, but their victories have boosted their confidence enormously, and they are improving with each game. Now they are once again a challenging team for any opponent.

However, it is now clear that Klopp and his team are pursuing a slightly adjusted tactical approach and reviving the legendary Liverpool counter-pressing style.

⚽Fulham vs Liverpool

The starting lineups:

The first half

Klopp's team started with full commitment and dominated the duels from the beginning. Although Fulham attempted to adopt a more tactical approach, they were initially heavily impacted by Liverpool's aggressive pressing. Liverpool employed an early intense pressing strategy with 4-5 players during goal kicks, forcing Fulham to play the ball out wide where they were immediately put under pressure. This tactic proved effective as Liverpool often regained possession after Fulham attempted a long pass.

It's fascinating to observe that the legendary pressing trap, once developed by coaching pioneer Sacchi, still proves its effectiveness in modern football!

Particularly impressive was the speed with which Liverpool's midfield transitioned and immediately shifted into counter-pressing. Fulham had hardly any opportunity to hold onto the ball for more than five passes in their own ranks. Although clear scoring opportunities had not yet arisen by this point, Liverpool demonstrated physical presence and superiority.

Liverpool displayed remarkable tactical flexibility in possession of the ball. It was fascinating to see how versatile they were in their actions. As soon as Liverpool progressed into the second zone, the popular formation of modern football was evident: the 3-2-2-3 or the 3-2-5 formation, forming a box midfield aimed at dominating the center.

In this specific example, Mac Allister and Elliot acted as a double pivot, while the overlapping young full-back Bradley, along with midfielder Gravenberch, formed the two more offensive variations of the box midfield. However, this formation was by no means rigid. Apart from Mac Allister, who clearly held the defensive midfielder position, the other players exhibited great versatility, rotating within the midfield to ensure tactical flexibility and moments of surprise.

However, the first dangerous opportunity belonged to Fulham, who came close to scoring after a threatening corner kick. What's interesting to note here is how a misunderstanding led to this chance. Liverpool opted for a blend of zonal and man marking. Elliot and Gomez couldn't agree on who exactly to mark as Fulham had numerical superiority in that area. This situation was ruthlessly exploited. Gomez lost track of his opponent, resulting in a dangerous attempt on goal.

Although Gapko was listed on paper as the central forward, it was clear to see that he and Nunez regularly swapped positions. Gapko generally operated more on the right side rather than in the center.

While my main focus today is on Liverpool, I still want to acknowledge a fascinating play by Fulham in the 9th minute, which led to an extremely dangerous cross. After winning the ball, Fulham quickly transitioned, and it was impressive to watch the full-back Robinson sprint about 60 meters to overlap Willian. Ultimately, he received the ball and delivered a dangerous cross into the middle. This scene is a real highlight for any coach looking to actively involve their full-backs in offensive play.

The 1-0 goal provides a nice insight into the formations of both teams. Liverpool, in possession of the ball, played in a 3-2-5 formation, while Fulham defended in a compact 4-4-2. A long and precise pass from Quansah led to this crucial moment: Robinson misjudged the situation, and Luis Diaz controlled the ball perfectly, immediately cutting inside and taking the shot. His shot was slightly deflected and could have been saved by goalkeeper Leno.

After the goal, however, Liverpool continued to play unchanged. Unlike many other teams, they did not retreat. Instead, they continued to dominate the duels and made it extremely difficult for Fulham to play their usual possession-based style of football.

The tactical versatility of Liverpool, as I mentioned earlier, was evident in this scene. The two full-backs moved into the center, while midfielders Gravenberch and Elliot shifted to the wings. This formed a 2-3-5 formation, with Diaz and Gapko moving into depth and occupying the spaces in between.

Liverpool also executed a very nice attack worth mentioning. Here, too, overlapping played a crucial role, this time by Elliot, the midfielder, who made a brilliant run and was perfectly played through. This is effective and enjoyable football to watch!

However, how did Klopp's team develop the game from deep in their own half (Zone 1)? Naturally, they changed their positioning here. Since it's crucial to avoid losing possession in this zone, they positioned more players in the build-up phase. After a goal kick from Kelleher, it was clear to see how they lined up with a back four and two defensive midfielders. This was intended to create numerical superiority to successfully play through the opposition. With increasing involvement of goalkeepers in the build-up play, they can be considered as additional players, resulting in a total of seven players capable of successfully overcoming the opposing team.

The second half

Fulham found themselves with their backs against the wall - they now needed to score at least two goals to force extra time. This meant that they had to take more risks throughout the second half, which in turn gave Liverpool more space for quick counterattacks.

Fulham adjusted their build-up play from their own goal kicks as well. They also utilized the tactic where one of the center-backs passed the ball to the goalkeeper, who then had more options from a central position and aimed to make it harder for Liverpool to press. However, this approach was only moderately successful.

Nevertheless, Liverpool often managed to provoke the pass to the full-backs, which almost always resulted in turnovers. Liverpool also didn't simply retreat in the second half but continued to play normally and aimed to score the second goal. They were able to occupy the spaces between the lines very effectively, highlighting the weaknesses of a 4-4-2 formation, as mentioned earlier.

Fulham consciously chose not to take too many risks at the beginning of the second half to avoid falling behind early. However, as the clock reached the 70-minute mark, they had to act if they still wanted a chance at reaching the final. Therefore, they made a bold change to their formation in possession, shifting from a 4-2-4 to a daring 2-1-7, which turned out to be a stroke of luck. They continued to put pressure on Liverpool and ultimately equalized. From that moment on, the momentum was on their side, and they risked everything as they had nothing left to lose.

Klopp's team responded by dropping deeper and defending in a flexible 5-4-1 formation. However, what was impressive is the fact that they weathered Fulham's aggressive phase and immediately attempted to regain a higher defensive line.

They didn't simply retreat completely and concede the game to Fulham. On the contrary, they applied pressure and maintained a strong midfield press. As a result, Fulham struggled to create dangerous chances, and Liverpool deservedly advanced to the final of the EFL Cup.

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