Match date: 15 December 2013

Coming into the match, Luis Suarez had scored just as many goals as the entire Tottenham side. Andre Villas-Boas has been under pressure for a few matches now, especially after Tottenham lost 6-0 to Manchester City, and said in his pre-match conference that this was a hugely important game for his side (and him).

Villas-Boas deployed a 4-2-3-1, sticking with Roberto Soldado up front after he scored a mid-week hat trick against Anzhi Makhachkala. Etienne Capoue had to start at centre back and Kyle Naughton was brought in to left back as the Spurs’ defense was plagued by injuries.

With Steven Gerrard out injured, Brendan Rodgers selected Lucas, Allen, and Henderson in a 4-3-3 for Liverpool. With Sterling keeping his spot on the ring side of Liverpool’s attack and the back four staying the same.

Spurs’ High Line

One of the reasons that Andre Villas-Boas failed to have success at Chelsea, tactically speaking, was his continued use of a high defensive line. Many thought that because of his Chelsea experience, Villas-Boas would become more tactically astute in his use of a high line and throughout his time at Tottenham the Portuguese manager has shown growth, picking specific matches in which to play a higher line and when to deploy low block. On the day, he reverted to a high line and this was largely the reason for Spurs’ undoing.

The partnership of Michael Dawson and Etienne Capoue wouldn’t be Villas-Boas first choice pairing, but they are in fact the only players that can fill the centre back role that are fit at the moment. With that said, it seemed an odd choice to play a high line with a player like Capoue, who can play centre back, but is more so a defensive midfielder as well as with a player that lacks sufficient pace in Michael Dawson. Immediately, you could see that the pairing were not in sync with one another as Dawson would step to close down a player, Capoue wouldn’t slid over to cover. In fact, on the opening goal, Capoue had drifted into midfield needlessly as Suarez dragged him out of position.

When playing a high line there needs to be pressure in midfield so that the opposition players can’t simply put a ball in behind, but pressure on the Liverpool midfield was something that the trio of Sandro, Dembele, and Paulinho and then Dembele, Paulinho, and Holtby seemed to lack throughout the match. It got worse for Spurs after Sandro’s injury forced Paulinho to drop alongside Dembele. In the second half, Villas-Boas introduced Andros Townsend for Dembele, meaning Holtby and Paulinho were holding behind Chadli, until Paulinho was sent off, making Spurs’ midfield even less formidable.

It was an odd match to revert to a high line considering the opposition as well. Luis Suarez has looked sharp all season, whether running into the channels or dropping deep to collect the ball. In this match, he did the former, running into the channels and just staying between the two centre backs before making his run either way. Sterling, too, offers pace in behind to break a high line as he did against Sunderland last year.

Really, each of the goals that Liverpool scored were the result of Spurs’ playing a high line. On the first, Dawson had to cut out a pass from Suarez into the path of Henderson. The second was a simple diagonal ball from Sterling to Coutinho, who found Henderson and forced Lloris off his line. The third was a little less direct, but started after another run beyond the back line by Henderson. The fourth was the result of too little pressure on Luis Alberto and a run in behind by Suarez and the fifth was Spurs’ line too high when defending in a low block situation.

Liverpool’s Midfield

Without Steven Gerrard, Liverpool’s midfield looked more dynamic and together. Rodgers came into Liverpool with a reputation of his sides keeping the ball and pressing well and it has caused frustration amongst fans when it has been Steven Gerrard’s lack of mobility that has caused Liverpool problems in the midfield. So without Gerrard against Tottenham, Rodgers picked Lucas, Allen, and Henderson in a 1-2 triangle and it was their play that really helped win the match for Liverpool.

Right from the whistle, Allen and Henderson pressed incredibly well and forced the Sandro and Dembele into errors. Both with and without the ball, Liverpool looked create numbers up situations in the centre of midfield with Coutinho coming inside, while Sterling would support occasionally, he would generally keep his width and push Spurs’ depth for a chance at a through ball. Below you can see Allen and Henderson crowding out Sandro, with Coutinho coming in.

This was also an example of how Liverpool’s pressing started attacks, or would have had Sandro not fouled Coutinho. Sterling and Suarez provided good outlets for Liverpool’s midfielders once they won the ball with Suarez provided a vertical outlet and Sterling provided good width to balance Coutinho coming inside to create the overloads in the middle of the pitch. Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson won a number of tackles just around the midfield line as they put consistent pressure on the Spurs’ midfield.

Henderson’s play when Liverpool were in possession of the ball was incredibly important as well. He made a number of runs from deep beyond the Spurs’ back line, three of which were responsible for Liverpool’s first three goals. His runs came especially when Suarez dropped deeper for the ball, meaning that Dawson and Capoue either pushed with the Uruguayan or (seemed to) switch off.

Lucas’ role was just as important as both Allen’s and Henderson’s, not so much because of his tackling (in which he won just 1 of 4), but for his positioning. He intercepted passes around midfield to break up Spurs’ attacks, but when Liverpool were in possession of the ball, he would drop in between Skrtel and Sakho, allowing them to push wide, which in turn allowed Johnson and Flanagan to push making Liverpool look more like a 3-4-3.

Lucas was withdrawn in the 79th minute with Luis Alberto coming on. Allen dropped back to the holding role and Luis Alberto and Coutinho were interchanging in who provided width on the left of Liverpool’s attack. The young Spaniard got an assist in his cameo, but in all his glimpses, has looked good on the ball and will be hoping for more minutes in the busy winter period.

Spurs’ Other Problems

Aside from the high line causing them a considerable number of problems, Spurs were struggling to create chances for themselves. Dembele and Paulinho are similar players in that they can both run forward with the ball well, but are not the type of player that can unlock a defense with a pass, which is what Spurs’ need for their £26m striker in Roberto Soldado. Soldado is a poacher more than anything else and needs goo supply to score his side goals. Without balls being played into him, he struggles, especially as a lone forward.

Of Spurs’ four central midfielders throughout the match, only two chances from open play were created by them, the only two chances that Soldado got in the match.

Christian Eriksen could be an answer for Spurs’, once he is fit, in terms of creating chances for Soldado, but Tottenham also need a bit more creativity in the two that would be behind Eriksen in that formation, which would arguably have to be Holtby, to provide vertical passes to Eriksen and Soldado, next to Sandro or a disciplined Paulinho or Dembele. At the moment, the system does not seem to be ideal for a player like Soldado, who has been poor in his movement and wasteful with the limited number of chances created for him.

Conclusion

As I write this conclusion, Villas-Boas seems to be on the verge of getting sacked after Tottenham spent about £100m in the summer on new players. It seems you would want to give a manager that has brought in seven new players a bit of time to mould his team, but when one team scores as many goals against you from open play at home as you have, questions start to become more understandable.

Despite not mentioning him in the article much, Sterling played a very good, mature game and has been in good form over the last few matches having gotten his spot back in the starting XI. It maybe a bit early to pose this question, considering Liverpool have to play Manchester City and Arsenal away before January, but what does Rodgers do about Gerrard when the skipper is healthy after? Liverpool’s midfield performance was exceptional, with Rodgers calling it perhaps the most complete performance Liverpool have had since he’s been here. With that, it would seem that Gerrard would have to play his way back into the team rather than be handed a selection.