How Slot’s Tactical Setup Helped Liverpool Secure Win Over Chelsea at Anfield | OneFootball

Liverpool Edge Chelsea in Tactical Battle at Anfield

There are some days when you wish you had prepared a little better for the weather. Yesterday was one of those. With the wind howling through Merseyside, I realised that my trusty thick coat, loaned to my sister in March, had been sold on Vinted. So, there I was, wrapped in multiple layers – two vests, a t-shirt, a jumper, a hoodie and a raincoat. Not ideal, but worth it for a match like this. Liverpool’s hard-fought 2-1 win over Chelsea was Arne Slot’s biggest test so far, and he passed with flying colours.

Slot’s Tactical Setup

Liverpool, sitting at the top of the Premier League table, faced off against Chelsea in what turned out to be a tense and tactical affair. Slot, known for his structured style, set his team up in a 4-2-4 formation when defending, pushing Szoboszlai forward alongside Núñez and Jota. With Mac Allister benched for health reasons, it was Jones and Gravenberch who filled the double-pivot role, working tirelessly to shield the defence and disrupt Chelsea’s attacking rhythm.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defensive work rate was outstanding. Tasked with nullifying Jadon Sancho, he put in a tremendous shift (as the visual analysis from Mark Matrai shows). This season, Trent’s defensive maturity has been notable, something the coaching staff can certainly take credit for.

Jones’ Defensive Masterclass

Curtis Jones, in his first match as a father, was equally impressive. His job was to keep Cole Palmer quiet, and he executed this role perfectly. Even when Palmer looked like getting through, Jones showed remarkable tenacity – at one point blocking Palmer’s shot with a last-ditch recovery tackle after an initial slip. This defensive resilience was a cornerstone of Liverpool’s success on the day.

Jones’ heat-map reflects his immense ground coverage, being an obstacle in Palmer’s way throughout the game, particularly in the left half-space, while also providing crucial interventions in the penalty box.

Núñez’s Impact and Salah’s Precision

Darwin Núñez made a massive impact after coming on for the injured Jota. His defensive work rate, highlighted by his relentless pressing and interceptions, shifted the momentum. At one point, he pounced on Jackson’s misplaced pass to Caicedo, sprinting to nick the ball and set up Salah, who was a key outlet in the match. Salah’s ability to hold up the ball and his accurate long-range passes gave Liverpool the chance to relieve pressure and create counter-attacks.

One memorable moment saw Núñez use the outside of his left foot to curl a pass into Gakpo, who exploited the space behind Chelsea’s defence. The interplay between Szoboszlai, Jones, and Núñez was pivotal in these counter-attacks.

Núñez’s defensive contribution shouldn’t be overlooked either, as he consistently closed down opposition players and intercepted passes to break up Chelsea’s rhythm.

Mo Salah’s performance was a masterclass in progressive passing. His assist to Curtis Jones, whose second-wave run was exceptional, was sublime. Out of 12 progressive passes, Salah completed 8 successfully. His contribution was not just in the final third, but also in orchestrating Liverpool’s attacks from deeper areas.

Kelleher, too, had a solid performance, as his pass map illustrates. Using Salah as an outlet was a clear tactical move, and the goalkeeper executed his short passing game flawlessly. It’s comforting for Liverpool fans to know they have two goalkeepers capable of playing out from the back with such composure.

Salah and Jones: Key To The Win

Liverpool’s Expected Threat (xT) heatmap, shared by xfb Analytics, shows the concentration of their attacking threat on the right wing and left half-space, areas where both Salah and Jones were most influential. Their ability to execute Slot’s tactics was integral to Liverpool’s victory. Slot, who has led Liverpool to 10 wins in 11 matches, can be proud of his team’s adaptability, as they remain at the top of the Premier League table.