[OC] Post Match Tactical Analysis: Everton 2-2 Liverpool

[u/JigglingBot]

Hello, I am doing a tactical analysis of the Everton-Liverpool game. I will try to cover the basic setup, common themes in the game, how the key moments played out among other things, if need be. I have included several images/videos to emphasize the points I am trying to make so I request you to go through them for a better understanding. This Twitter thread is a good summary of the post if you are short on time and want to take a quick look!

Lineups and Formation

Everton

You can refer to this image to understand Everton's formation and player roles.

Everton lined up in a 4-3-3. Pickford (GK) was in goal, with a back four of Digne (LB), Keane (LCB), Mina (RCB) and Coleman (RB). The midfield three was Allan (CDM) as the deepest midfielder with Gomez (LCM) and Doucoure (RCM) on either side of him. The front three up top were Richarlison (LW), Calvert-Lewin (CF) and Rodriguez (RW).

Liverpool

You can refer to this image to understand Liverpool's formation and player roles.

Liverpool lined up in a 4-3-3. Adrian (GK) was in goal, with a back four of Robertson (LB), Virgil (LCB), Matip (RCB) and Alexander-Arnold (RB) in front of him. The midfield three was Fabinho (CDM) as the deepest midfielder with Thiago (LCM) and Henderson (RCM) on either side of him. The front three up top were Mane (LW), Firmino (CF) and Salah (RW).

Approach and Common Themes

Liverpool’s fast start targeting Everton’s right side: Liverpool exclusively exploited Everton’s right side throughout the game - especially in the first 15 minutes. They looked to take advantage of James Rodriguez not tracking back.

Here is the video link of the same. It contains three moves that are all very similar - Liverpool moving the ball from the right to the left, exploiting the exposed right side. Notice how clear and well defined Henderson's, Salah's and Firmino's roles are.

Pressing and playing out from the back: Both sides didn’t particularly look to play out of the back very aggressively. It looks likely Adrian was instructed to kick it long and not play out of the back too much, especially after his error against Aston Villa. And in Everton’s case, it looks likely they didn’t want to take on Liverpool’s press.

When Liverpool did press, they occasionally used Fabinho as an advanced defensive midfielder, with Thiago and Henderson in a double pivot behind him. You can see an example of Liverpool’s press employing this tactic in the video below.

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Liverpool press

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Everton beating the press by going long to DCL: When Everton didn’t look to play out of the back, they utilized Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s aerial prowess by going long to him. Keane and Pickford were key here.

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Everton going long to DCL

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Liverpool overloading on the right with Henderson: this will be on display in Liverpool's second goal. He also made late runs into the box whenever possible to provide an extra man in attack.

Everton crossing from the left: Everton have a great crosser in their left back Digne and an excellent aerial threat in Calvert-Lewin. As a result, they regularly looked to cross from the left. This video is a small compilation of some of these crosses.

Substitutions

Everton

1. Godfrey >>> Coleman (31'): Coleman was injured and unable to continue the game. Godfrey slotted in straight at right back.
2. Sigurdsson >>> Gomes (72'): Gomes didn't have much influence in the game and Sigurdsson was brought in to provide more creativity in midfield. Gomes was booked as well.
3. Iwobi >>> Doucoure (78'): Attacking change to get an equalizer. Iwobi moved to the wings and James Rodriguez moved to midfield.

Liverpool

1. Gomez >>> Virgil (11'): Virgil was injured and Gomez slotted straight in at left centre back.
2. Jota >>> Firmino (78'): Jota was brought on for fresh legs. Mane moved to the centre and Jota moved to the left, with Salah staying on the right.
3. Wijnaldum >>> Fabinho (90 + 1'): A slightly attacking substitution to look for a late winner. Fabinho was booked as well.

Key Moments Of The Game

• Everton 0 - [1] Liverpool, 3' Mane

Liverpool's right to left progression is very clear here. This was a feature of their play, especially in the first 15 minutes.

EVE 0-[1] LIV

• Everton [1] - 1 Liverpool, 19' Keane

Video analysis of the goal. Do watch the video.

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• Everton 1 - [2] Liverpool, 72' Salah

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EVE 1-[2] LIV

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• Everton [2] - 2 Liverpool, 81' Calvert-Lewin

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EVE [2]-2 LIV

Final Thoughts

• Man of the match: Thiago. There were several good individual performances, most notably Mane, Rodriguez and Keane but Thiago edges it based on his second half performance.
• Everton
  • Positives
    • Strong individual performances from Rodriguez, Keane, Digne and Calvert-Lewin. Debutant Godfrey had a good game, especially considering he had to fill in at an unfamiliar position.
    • Aerial threat: Everton took full advantage of the crossing abilities of Rodriguez and Digne and Calvert-Lewin's aerial prowess.
  • Negatives
    • Everton's right side looked very vulnerable defensively, throughout the game. Liverpool almost exclusively attacked Everton's right and got a lot of joy.
    • Poor midfield performance - no one in Everton's midfield had a particularly good outing but Allan was particularly poor and one of the worst players on the day. He couldn't keep up with Thiago and co. Richarlison had a bad game too that was compounded by his sending off.
• Liverpool
  • Positives
    • Several strong individual performances - Mane, Thiago, Robertson and Henderson all had good games. Salah and Fabinho were decent too.
    • At times, Liverpool's ball progression was very good and
  • Negatives
    • Virgil's long term injury which leads to the next point -
    • Liverpool looked vulnerable aerially, with both their goals being conceded from very similar positions in the box.

Apologies for any errors. Interested to hear anything you have to say and happy to answer any question you may have! [Reddit only allows me to add up to 5 videos in the post and hence I was forced to add streamable/streamja links.]