Earlier than travelling to the Parc des Princes for his or her Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain tonight, Liverpool’s analysts could have pored over what occurred when Chelsea made the identical journey final month.
Amongst their observations shall be how Liam Rosenior adopted a courageous strategy, specifically in the way in which he had his gamers search to press the Parisians on their very own patch.
Rosenior’s aspect didn’t go to Paris with a plan to sit down again, to defend deep, to counter and pray.
They took the sport to the reigning champions of Europe and whereas the scoreline — a 5-2 defeat within the last-16 first leg — would counsel this resulted in catastrophe for Chelsea, it shouldn’t deter Liverpool from attempting to do the identical.
Arne Slot’s aspect have had points when urgent groups excessive this season, granted. Not least in opposition to Manchester Metropolis on the weekend, when Metropolis bypassed the Reds’ midfield with ease. Liverpool’s teaching employees additionally noticed first-hand how dominant PSG’s midfield may be at Anfield final March.
However those that watched Chelsea’s first leg unfold can say they had been arguably the higher aspect till Filip Jorgensen’s mistake gifted PSG the aim for his or her 3-2 lead within the 74th minute. It was solely then that all of it unravelled for the guests.
Liverpool seemed badly out of types of their 4-0 defeat by Manchester Metropolis on Saturday, they usually face one other robust task away to Paris Saint-Germain tonight
Arne Slot is aware of higher than anybody how dominant PSG’s midfield may be, after his aspect misplaced to the Parisians within the last-16 final March
However Chelsea proved final month that you could have success in Paris by urgent PSG aggressively, with Enzo Fernandez scoring after the Blues received possession excessive up the pitch
Earlier than then, Chelsea had been within the tie, positioning themselves excessive up the pitch to attempt to safe turnovers and scoring twice by means of Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez. Each objectives got here seconds after the guests pressured PSG into giving up possession.
We all know Liverpool usually are not the urgent monsters they had been underneath Jurgen Klopp, however Slot ought to recognise that PSG may be weak to a excessive press, and beatable.
PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov didn’t seem essentially the most dependable versus Chelsea, and so Liverpool ought to be looking for to check him on the Parc des Princes themselves.
BEWARE THE PSG COUNTER
The chance with Chelsea’s strategy was it gave one of many world’s most gifted assaults, led by Ousmane Dembele, the chance to cost at them on the counter.
PSG’s second aim, for instance, arrived 14 seconds after a shot by Cole Palmer was saved by Safonov on the different finish. That transfer additionally concerned Dembele twisting and turning Wesley Fofana, who didn’t cowl himself in glory defensively.
Liverpool must be ready for these conditions if and when their gamers are positioned excessive they usually lose possession. However Chelsea confirmed should you get at PSG and reply nicely when required, then you may have some pleasure amid a hostile ambiance.
Slot’s aspect have been poor at defending counter-attacks this 12 months. The pairing of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk has been exploited too many occasions, whereas midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister may be discovered wanting out of possession.
Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk have been uncovered too many occasions this season – they must be at their greatest to take care of PSG’s menace on the counter
Ryan Gravenberch can even need to up his recreation out of possession to take care of the likes of Vitinha
Their again 4 within the loss to Metropolis, which included Joe Gomez at proper again, was missing in tempo. Jeremie Frimpong could possibly be match sufficient to start out in Paris — however will he start within the entrance three, as he has finished in a number of European video games this time period?
In any case, Rosenior held no regrets over his high-risk strategy in Paris.
When reporters pressed him on it a number of days later at Chelsea’s Cobham coaching floor, the Blues boss mentioned: ‘I may play 5-4-1, sit again, kick them the ball again, not give them a counter-attack, they win 4-0. I’ve seen that in Ligue 1, I’ve seen that within the Champions League. I reside and die off hindsight.’
DON’T BE NAIVE LIKE JORGENSEN
As talked about, all of it unravelled for Chelsea after 74 minutes when Jorgensen tried and did not cross out from the again, which ended with him selecting the ball out of his personal aim.
When Chelsea beat PSG in the summertime’s Membership World Cup closing, Enzo Maresca had his goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, play lengthy passes in the direction of the wingers. That gave PSG little likelihood of robbing him of possession on the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
However Rosenior noticed one thing in Jorgensen’s passing capacity in coaching, trusted him for that Champions League journey, and finally, his insistence on enjoying out of his field helped PSG.
With Alisson Becker injured, Liverpool shall be utilizing their very own youthful understudy Giorgi Mamardashvili in aim. He shouldn’t search to play into PSG’s palms in the identical means Jorgensen did. Even when underneath orders to cross from the again, he should assess the state of affairs and adapt when wanted.
Filip Jorgensen’s naive passing out from the again value Chelsea dearly in Paris final month
Robert Sanchez’s cross map from Chelsea’s Membership World Cup conquer PSG in July exhibits how his direct kicking successfully bypassed the Parisians’ excessive press – Giorgi Mamardashvili should be equally adaptable tonight
Mamardashvili, the massive Georgian, is calm with the ball at his toes however he’s not Alisson. See Brighton’s first aim two weeks in the past: the goalkeeper was made to panic by the Seagulls’ press and conceded an inexpensive throw-in which led to a aim.
Alisson has been identified to go lengthy at occasions however he doesn’t have the identical shops any extra. After a stellar 12 months for Gravenberch, groups now goal him and Mac Allister and shut off the pair as passing choices.
Jorgensen was nonetheless attempting to cross out of his field in the direction of the tip of that first leg, even after he had already allowed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to attain PSG’s third.
Chelsea’s vice-captain Fernandez threw the ball at his goalkeeper in anger at one stage for sticking to that technique. Will Mamardashvili be taught from his mistake tonight?
