Breaking the Block: Why Liverpool Need a One-v-One Specialist
From tactical stagnation to recruitment strategy, the Reds’ struggles trace back to a missing attacking profile.
It’s been a long and frustrating season for Liverpool. There are plenty of factors as to why things have gone so awry.
Among the contributing factors is the lack of players in the squad capable of taking on their opponents in one vs one situations.
Right now, apart from a very young Rio Ngumoha, Liverpool don’t necessarily possess an attacker with the ability to take defenders on, deceive them and complete dribbles on a consistent and regular basis.
Cody Gakpo has become very predictable; Mo Salah has lost some of his prowess and beyond them there simply isn’t anyone else.
Slot didn’t go insofar as to admit that the Reds missed Luis Diaz in his press conference leading up to the Sunderland game, but they undoubtedly have.
Why Liverpool Are Struggling Against Low Blocks
A one vs one specialist isn’t just an eye-catching player who gets the fans on the edge of their seats; he’s also a key tool in unlocking low-block defences.
Breaking down deep-lying defensive lines is something Liverpool have struggled doing this season. The key to breaking down a set-up like that is to somehow cajole and entice the opponent and draw them out of the low-block.
Having a one vs one specialist who will naturally draw more defenders around him and who will be capable of beating one, two or even three defenders at a time, thus taking them out of the game, is one way to create openings when coming up against a low-block.
