Klopp vs. Bielsa: A battle which can renew Liverpool and Leeds’ rivalry
By Varun Aithal
If stats are telling a positive story, then where is the chance for Bielsa’s men?
Liverpool might have created multiple chances on the pitch but that has come from lots of crosses from the flanks. A fan who has watched and followed Liverpool can say that their fullbacks have played a pivotal role in their success.
In particular, Trent Alexander-Arnold has bombed crosses in from the right flank and his superior gameplay has caused problems for their opponents. The German manager’s boys approach their opposition with a five-man attack consisting of two fullbacks and three forwards.
Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson provided 13 and 12 assists last season, respectively. TAA even broke his record of most number of assists provided by a defender for a second consecutive time.
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The attacking fullbacks of Liverpool can be a blessing in disguise for Leeds United. Bielsa employed a 4-1-4-1 formation throughout Leeds’ promotion campaign and maintained better defensive and attacking tactics compared to his competitors.
They used to sit back a bit while the opposition is in possession. On the counter-attack, the manager preferred the wingers to exploit their opponents. His wingers, Jack Harrison and Helder Costa have used the width to their best and bombarded crosses into the center.
Even on a counter-attack, the Elland Road outfit seems to be quite comfortable as they use a 3-3-1-3 formation, with six players defending on a counter. They are also effective when their midfielders use a high-pressing technique to dismantle the opposition.