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How has Liverpool done it?
Virgil van Dijk’s season-ending injury alone was supposed to open the title race, but the champions have conceded just three goals in all competitions since losing to the Dutch international.
With key defensive figures Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander Arnold also injured by a visit from a Leicester City team led by the prolific Jamie Vardy, the Reds embarked on the toughest test of their defensive reserves.
The unknown partnership of Fabinho and Joel Matip took center stage but, once again, Liverpool took up the challenge and Jurgen Klopp proved he had the answers to the biggest of defensive dilemmas before he had a chance to derail the title defense. .
“It’s an exceptional job from the players that have really come in,” said Jamie Carragher. Monday night football.
3:07
FREE TO SEE: Highlights from Liverpool’s victory over Leicester in the Premier League
But how has Liverpool done it? the Sky sports The expert breaks down the subtle tactical changes behind Liverpool’s seamless transition to life without Van Dijk …
High line, different execution
“No one can tell me that Liverpool are dropping 10 or 15 yards now without Van Dijk when you look at these positions,” Carragher
“When Liverpool came out [against Leicester], people said they would change completely, “explains Carragher.” They would fall 10 or 15 yards. I watch a lot of Liverpool games and I didn’t quite watch it.
“I have analyzed how they played against Vardy and nobody can tell me that Liverpool fell 10 or 15 yards without Van Dijk. They were still playing on a high line, but the difference is the body position that players like Fabinho adopted.
“Yes, we can talk about him being a midfielder in there, but he has been outstanding. What he did was play a high line, but be ready to run back when the ball went over his head. He ran back and did it. driving [balls over the top of Vardy]. “
Running and matching races
Fabinho keeps the line high before tracking Vardy’s run down the right channel and heading for a pitch.
“When we talk about Van Dijk, let’s not forget that he has been part of the four defenders for the past few years who have had the best defensive record in the league, and I’m sure that would have been the case this season with him,” adds Carragher .
“But there was no question that Liverpool had big problems at the beginning of the season. They allowed three at home against Leeds and then obviously there was the game against Aston Villa.
“We have talked a lot about Monday night football on the Liverpool line and it is sometimes difficult to criticize a team that has a great defensive record and has been so successful.
A defensive awareness is already developing between Fabinho and Joel Matip where they are aware of which areas they are responsible for
“There were times when I looked at the line and thought ‘run back.’ Certainly in the Aston Villa game, where obviously Liverpool made a huge mistake.
“Sometimes it wasn’t so much about the height of the line, but the fact that I always felt like Liverpool’s defenders had to be in a position to run back.” Just run back and equalize the race. on a decent line, okay, they’ve beaten the press and they have time on the ball, let’s give us two or three yards. That’s it “.
Emerging leaders across the field
Joel Matip and Fabinho of Liverpool center-backs keep their form as Leicester tries to play the ball overhead
“When you have this huge figure that you look at in a certain position and he’s out, it’s up to others to step in,” Carragher adds.
“Sometimes it’s not just one player, it can be three or four at a time. What we’re seeing now is that maybe there’s a lot more leadership from other people.”
‘Boot camp work pays off’
1:56
Eddie Howe tells Jamie Carragher and David Jones about life after leaving Bournemouth and how he’s not desperate to quickly return to management.
Former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe joins Carragher on the Monday night football He studied and claimed that Liverpool’s performances on the pitch were solely due to concerted defensive work in the training grounds.
“What happened because of Van Dijk’s injury, they looked at their four backs and defenders and thought they had to work a bit,” Howe added. “They probably thought they needed to bring the guys together and tune in to each other.
“A lot of this has probably come from training ground and working with the back four to get the basics right because it’s a new back four indeed. They’ve gotten back to basics and that’s the result.
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