Football News: Fulham v Liverpool

Fulham v Liverpool

After the way things have gone in recent weeks, the performance in this match was much less important than the result. It really was a case of just making sure Liverpool got back on track. Which is good because the performance, though much improved, was still very ropey defensively. The problem with the inverted full-back returned in full as players get confused by the defensive demands placed on them. With its requirement for other players to provide the width when the full-back inverts, the midfield is often emptied. That leaves a huge gaping hole at right-back and a midfield that is empty so opposing players can easily get at the Liverpool defence. The full-back is there, which can help cover the midfield gap, but then it leaves the full-back areas empty, usually requiring a centre-back to move out there to cover, leaving a gap at centre-back. The midfielders are busy chasing back into midfield, rather than getting out to the full-back area, so it leaves the open door at the back that we constantly see this season in particular. It is an overcomplication and utterly unnecessary.

It is also not helped by a lack of real closing down when deep in the Liverpool half. The press is something that happens high up the pitch, but when the team drops into defensive positions, there is no one getting tight to opponents, unless a forward chases back, with the notable exception of Endo. The rest want to just stand off and look to pick off loose passes, but are not putting the pressure on to force mistakes. That is why it was so easy for Fulham to score their equaliser, everyone stood off them and allowed them to play through far too easily. I know it is van Dijk’s style to sit off when a player is running at him, and it works for him almost all of the time in that situation, but once the team is set in defensive positions then they need to get right in the opposition’s face and make it difficult. Instead, they stand off and make it easy.

Thankfully the team looked much better going forward in periods of the game. The press was not as intense as in the past, but it was still able to get a few mistakes from Fulham. The key to the win was fast ball movement. Not all the time, but just in periods there were times when the team passed the ball with pace, rather than the slow, lethargic stuff that has been eviedent in recent weeks. It makes a huge difference as it gave the defence no time to organise. With Fulham already being a team that struggles…