Liverpool’s London Relief, A Tactical Analysis of a Night the Reds Simply Needed to Survive
A composed performance in London offers a brief pause in a dreadful run, as Liverpool overcome West Ham with tactical clarity and defensive control
Sunday afternoon in London should feel like an invitation for drama, defiance and a little swagger in red shirts. Yet for Liverpool, this fixture arrived with an air of tension that none of us have grown used to in recent years. Nine defeats in twelve competitive matches had smothered belief across the fanbase, and Arne Slot, the Premier League winning coach from last season, found himself standing in a storm few imagined in August. Liverpool came south needing clarity, control and above all, calm. They found enough of it to escape with a 2-0 win over a West Ham United side sinking fast.
There was relief in the scoreline, but the performance told a more cautious story. This match raised a question that followed Liverpool all the way back north. Was this a step forward or simply an encounter against a team in complete disarray.
Credit for the analysis and all tactical visuals belongs to Mark Matrai, @MatraiMark on Twitter, and xfb Analytics.
Defensive Solidity Under the Lights in London
The numbers paint a picture of a match won through discipline rather than dynamism. Liverpool allowed only 0.19 expected goals, faced five shots, conceded just three deep completed passes and forced West Ham into attempts from an average of more than twenty four metres. It was a defensive display rooted in structure and a little old fashioned grit, qualities that have been in short supply during this dreadful run of form.
Joe Gomez contributed significantly, especially in suppressing artificial transitions. His reading of danger has improved with every appearance, although the concern around managing his physical workload continues to hover over the coaching staff. Even so, he helped Liverpool claim second balls, something that had deserted them far too often in recent weeks.