Tactical Analysis: How Arsenal’s High Press Challenged Liverpool’s Defensive Shape | OneFootball

Arsenal-Liverpool: Tactical Analysis of Intense Premier League Clash

The clocks going back had me waiting an extra hour on Sunday, with the nerves setting in and the skies darkening even before half-time. Watching Manchester United stumble to West Ham earlier was a welcome warm-up; my spirits were high as I settled in for Liverpool’s showdown with Arsenal at the Emirates. This wasn’t just another fixture – it was a chance for Liverpool to prove their mettle under Slot’s guidance against one of the Premier League’s top contenders.

Slot’s Game Plan and Arsenal’s Wing Dominance

With Alisson still on the injury list, Liverpool leaned on Caoimhin Kelleher in goal, while Curtis Jones filled in for Szoboszlai in midfield. Darwin Núñez led the line, eager to make his mark as Liverpool’s No. 9. Meanwhile, Arsenal showed clear intentions under Arteta: attack down the flanks and challenge Liverpool’s full-backs.

According to Imre Borbely (@borbely_imre on Twitter) and his expected threat (xT) heatmaps, Arsenal’s attack concentrated heavily on the left wing. Yet, despite the left-side bias, Bukayo Saka caused his own chaos on the right, keeping Andy Robertson on his toes. Arsenal’s main ploy was to create isolated 1v1s for Saka and Martinelli against Liverpool’s full-backs – and it worked. Saka’s break on the right, outpacing Robertson, culminated in a lethal finish, leaving Kelleher no chance. With Saka and Martinelli combining for four successful dribbles, Liverpool’s defence had a torrid time containing Arsenal’s wingmen.

Arsenal’s Relentless Press and Liverpool’s Defensive Adaptation

The effectiveness of Arsenal’s press was a major theme. With 80 recoveries – 18 in Liverpool’s half – Arsenal dictated the tempo, forcing Liverpool to adopt a more cautious approach. Kelleher, with limited options, resorted to long passes, a tactic we rarely see from Liverpool, with the team’s usual 9.3% rate of long balls soaring to 13% in this clash.

Slot’s 4-2-4 out-of-possession shape, morphing into a 4-2-3-1 when Núñez pressed further forward, was designed to stymie Arsenal’s central threats. Mac Allister and Gravenberch formed the midfield pivot to guard the middle, yet Arsenal still found openings. Their 3-2 build-up shape allowed them to bypass Liverpool’s press with ease, while Raya, stepping into the defensive line, advanced Arsenal’s full-backs upfield, creating additional width that kept Liverpool’s midfield on constant alert.

Liverpool’s Attack: Moment of Magic Amidst a Compact Arsenal Defence

Despite Arsenal’s tactical discipline, Liverpool managed to find a glimmer of opportunity through an exceptional sequence. Arsenal’s compact 4-4-2 defensive formation stifled Liverpool’s attacks for much of the game, with just nine shots, four on target, and a meagre 27 touches in Arsenal’s box. For a Liverpool fan watching, it felt like our front three had hit a brick wall.

Analysing Kelleher’s passes there is a clear pattern to see as he often tried to find his teammates with long balls to both wings and his accuracy was mostly on point.

But, as always, Liverpool found a way. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s equalising play was nothing short of genius. Given a rare moment to survey his options, Trent threaded a pinpoint pass through to Núñez, who cut in behind Arsenal’s defence with precision. In an instant, Núñez played Salah into space, who buried his shot with customary ease. This was one of Liverpool’s few moments of dynamic movement, with only eight successful passes into the penalty area – a telling stat from xfb Analytics that captures Arsenal’s defensive solidity.

Most of Liverpool’s successful forward passes stemmed from the right wing, while the left, helmed by Robertson and Díaz, saw much less involvement. In this tightly contested affair, it was those fleeting glimpses of brilliance that kept Liverpool competitive, showing the potential for a breakthrough even in the face of Arsenal’s stifling structure.

Looking Forward: Liverpool’s Resilience and Room for Growth

With nine games in, Liverpool’s second-place standing and a record of only five goals conceded signal a promising season ahead. The club’s Expected Goal Difference (xGD) per 90 minutes at 1.05, close behind Man City’s 1.07, underscores their defensive improvement under Slot. Arsenal away was arguably the stiffest test so far, and though it wasn’t a performance for the highlight reel, earning a point in this match says much about Liverpool’s resilience.

Photo: IMAGO

This result isn’t just a point on the board; it’s a reminder of the journey Slot and the squad are on. The Emirates is a tough ground, and for all the difficulties faced, the future looks bright. Slot will have his lessons to take away, but there’s a sense that he’s building something solid, a foundation upon which Liverpool can aim for a special season.

While the wait for kick-off was longer than usual, the buzz of anticipation was well worth it, even if the result wasn’t quite the three points we wanted. Under the darkened skies, Liverpool held firm, their spirit undiminished and their ambition intact.