21/09/2018

Stats & Tactics | Liverpool v Southampton

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Article by Mizgan Masani @mizgans

After sending out a brave statement to Europe by beating PSG on Tuesday, Liverpool would look to continue their charge towards Premier League perfection when they meet Southampton at Anfield on a Saturday afternoon. Jurgen Klopp’s men have made a 100% start to the league, winning all of their five games, the recent one being a comprehensive win at Tottenham.They now face a Southampton team who blow hot and cold in terms of their performance level in games. The Saints threw away a two-goal lead at home to derby rivals Brighton on Monday night. So, manager Mark Hughes would be a worried man that his team are not able to defend situations when they are required to.Against Liverpool, the need of the hour will be to defend as much as possible. It will be interesting to see how they cope with the high-pressure of the Reds in a proper atmosphere at Anfield.Let us tactically preview the game and spell out some stats which would intrigue Liverpool supporters:Tactics preview: Expected Formations:

The above image shows us the expected lineups and formations with which both managers may start the game tomorrow. For Liverpool, we might see Fabinho getting his first start, while Naby Keita comes back in place of an evergreen James Milner, who might need a rest after playing two outstanding games in space of 72 hours.Roberto Firmino looks alright again and is certain to start alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian was touted by many to be rested for this game, but it doesn’t make sense at all. The midweek Carabao Cup game is anyway the one in which Klopp is expected to ring the changes, so there’s no point rotating your best lineup in a Premier League contest as of now. Furthermore,Salah would be eager to perform better after his square ball led to the PSG equaliser late on, which didn’t impress him at all.As for Southampton, they will miss Danny Ings for this game, as the striker can’t play against his parent club. The 26-year-old has made a fantastic start to his Saints’ career, scoring three goals in five appearances.Tactically speaking, there will be no complexity from Mark Hughes, as he would want his team to sit deep in a rigid 4-4-2 formation and try to frustrate their luxuriant opponents from Merseyside.So for Liverpool to win this game, they have to start the game rapidly and pass the ball with zip and accuracy.Whenever a team is sitting deep, as we expect Southampton to be tomorrow, the team in possession have to be a tad quicker in everything they do in the build-up play. This forces the defence to constantly change their shape according to the movement of the ball, which sometimes leads to gaps and holes in between the lines or behind a defence.Fullbacks Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will be key in a sense that a switch of play to change the point of attack to opposite side fullback is going to make it tough for Southampton wingers all the time staying deep in their own half.It’d be a better perception from the Reds to try and attack from the sides of the defence, rather than trying to pierce through a crowded midfield and central defence.For Southampton, they just have to sit deep and frustrate the home side, and hope Shane Long and Charlie Austin produce up top on the other side of the pitch.Expect this to be a possession versus defence game.Stats

Liverpool failed to win a game after a Champions League group-stage encounter in the midweek last season. (Drawn 4, Lost 1)
Liverpool have kept clean sheets in their last 7 home games in the league.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 23 home league games.

Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in their last 3 games against  Southampton in all competitions.Article by Mizgan Masani @mizgansWant more LFC content? We have you covered! Start your FREE month trial for theredmentv.com now!