2-0 Everton, 2-0 Villarreal, Liverpool used the same score to break two iron barrel formations. Lampard and Emery's buses did hold back the Reds for a while, but Klopp's side also had their strongest moves!
The Iron Barrel Formation, the Derby, the Champions League Semi-Finals
FA Cup vs. Manchester City, Liverpool and each other attacked each other; the double red club won 4-0 against Manchester United, which was a one-sided tragedy; the Premier League's Merseyside derby, the champions league semi-final, Liverpool encountered stubborn resistance.
The specific way is the iron barrel array. Against Everton, the opponent's possession rate was only 18%! Although there were 9 shots on goal in the whole game, only 1 shot was on target, and more energy was focused on defense and then launched a counterattack.
Look at how far back their average position is and how far ahead liverpool are? Almost all the people came to the opposing half, with only centre-back Van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson missing the centre line.
Against Villarreal, the Champions League dark horse was even more "excessive": 27% of the ball in the whole game, slightly more than the Toffee, but there was only one shot on goal in 90 minutes, almost only defending.
Compared to Everton, Villarreal's average position is slightly higher, but it is also concentrated on his own half-time defensive posture, Liverpool have 8 players deep into the opposing half, Van Dijk and Conat are near the middle circle, leaving only the Brazilian goalkeeper crouching in his own box, doing nothing.
How do I knock on the Iron Barrel Array? Liverpool have a lethal move
As we all know, how to break through the iron barrel array is a worldwide problem that any team faces. Liverpool were helpless for a time, not scoring in either first half, but were able to break the deadlock in the second half 50-60 minutes.
By what? Europe's strongest wing attack. Not only is it the strongest, but it is also rich in routines. There are simple and rough but extremely precise full-moon curved knives at full-backs, there are inside cuts and interspersed by wingers, there are crosses from midfielders pulling to the wing, and so on.
The first goal in the match against Everton was right winger Salah Neche, who crossed with centre-forward Origi and left-back Robertson hit the back post and headed the ball.
The second goal was Henderson's 45-degree cross from the right, Díaz barbed and Origi followed up with a header into the net. Right-back Alexander-Arnold's cross is certainly incredibly accurate, and the footwork and quality of the Hen team are definitely not too much.
Against Villarreal, it was Salah's straight, Henderson's cross from the right that directly caused the opposing player's oolong and successfully broke the ice for Liverpool.
The second goal is another routine of the wing attack, Henderson is responsible for pulling the edge, Arnold and Salah both come to the ribs, the latter withdraws to catch the ball, take away the defender, and the winger-turned-Mane takes the opportunity to insert himself into the space. Two direct passes, one shot, the ball into the net.
Compared with the simple and rough cross, this combination is more delicate and smooth, through the adduction of the wing players, the formation of a numerical advantage in the ribs, and then relying on super personal ability, enough to tear through the opponent's defense line.
The three giants who entered the champions league semi-finals have their own characteristics at the offensive end, Manchester City's overall attack is flowing, Real Madrid's Benzema and Vinicius have outstanding personal ability, but the strongest side attack, it must be said that Liverpool, and the combination of the side and the middle is one of the most effective means to break the iron barrel formation, which also reflects Klopp's team's super ability to solve the opponent's defense, to know that this season is coming to an end, they have only scored 4 games in various competitions, which is enough to prove!