Jamie Carragher On “Interesting” Chelsea Tactical Duel | OneFootball

Liverpool vs Chelsea Tactical Breakdown: Carragher’s Insight on Sky Sports

In the latest Sky Sports Premier League discussion, Jamie Carragher provided a detailed analysis of the Liverpool vs Chelsea match, focusing on the tactical nuances that influenced the game. The conversation featured critical commentary on how both teams approached the match, specifically examining the role of key players like Malo Gusto and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Gusto’s Surprising Role in Defence

Carragher began his analysis by highlighting a significant surprise from Chelsea’s setup—Malo Gusto starting at left-back. He noted: “He comes into the game at left-back… and I’m thinking he’s playing there to look after Salah.” The expectation was that Gusto would contain Liverpool’s Mo Salah, who typically cuts in on his left foot, but the actual role Gusto played was far more intricate.

Jamie explained how Gusto’s positioning mirrored what we often see in modern full-backs: “We’re picking players because of what they can do with the ball.” Carragher drew attention to how Gusto, instead of just marking Salah, often tucked inside, allowing Chelsea to create numerical superiority in central areas. This clever tactic left Liverpool struggling to adapt, especially in the first half.

Chelsea’s Dominance in the First Half

The first half saw Chelsea executing their game plan effectively, leaving Liverpool’s midfield exposed. Carragher observed that “the big problem for Liverpool, especially in the first half, was this basically box via triangle.” The tight triangles between Chelsea’s midfielders allowed them to dominate possession and exploit space on the wings.

Carragher praised the role of Romeo Lavia, who was instrumental in Chelsea’s midfield during the first half: “I thought Lavia was excellent,” though he admitted being surprised by Lavia’s substitution in the second half. Chelsea’s midfield dominance allowed wide players like Jadon Sancho to repeatedly stretch Liverpool’s defence, with Carragher noting, “Sancho and Madueke were stretching Liverpool.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Duel

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role was another focal point of Carragher’s critique. The Liverpool right-back had a interesting match-up, particularly against Sancho, as Carragher described: “This battle was really interesting, Sancho vs Trent… Sancho was getting a lot of the ball.” Trent was forced to track back frequently, which disrupted his rhythm and left him unable to influence the game from an attacking perspective, in the first half.

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Interestingly, Carragher pointed out how Chelsea’s man-marking system played a role in nullifying Trent’s usual playmaking ability: “They man-marked him with the winger,” Carragher said, referencing how Sancho’s man-marking effectively kept Trent quiet on the ball.

Neto’s Impact in the Second Half

As the match progressed, Chelsea made tactical changes, with Neto replacing Sancho at halftime. Carragher identified this as a crucial moment, particularly for how it affected Alexander-Arnold: “Neto’s job was still to man-mark Alexander-Arnold.” Despite this, Liverpool found moments of success in the second half when they managed to drag Chelsea’s midfield out of position.

Carragher pointed out one key sequence where Liverpool finally outnumbered Chelsea in midfield: “This is the first time we’ve seen Liverpool outnumber Chelsea in midfield… Van Dijk’s great ball into Salah.” This moment of brilliance from van Dijk and Salah, combined with Trent’s movement, led to a goal that shifted the momentum back in Liverpool’s favour.

Conclusion

Jamie Carragher’s analysis painted a picture of two tactically astute teams, with Chelsea’s innovative man-marking system causing major headaches for Liverpool. Gusto’s unexpected role at left-back and Sancho’s disciplined man-marking of Alexander-Arnold were significant factors in the match. Though Liverpool struggled in the first half, their persistence paid off as they adjusted to Chelsea’s strategy in the second half, ultimately finding more joy in midfield.