How Liverpool’s Defence Held Firm to Secure Victory Over Girona: Tactical Analysis | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Hard-Fought Victory in Spain: Tactical Analysis of a One-Goal Win Over Girona

Liverpool continued their perfect run in the Champions League on Tuesday evening with a gritty 1-0 victory over Girona. Despite the win, the performance left much to be desired, a sentiment echoed by manager Arne Slot in his post-match comments. Still, with six wins out of six, the Reds stand as the only team in the competition with a flawless record.

This game had an unusual start time of 5:45 PM UK, which threw a spanner in my personal plans. Navigating through London’s rush hour meant I missed most of the first half and had to catch up this morning with a strong cup of coffee in hand. Here’s an in-depth look at how the match unfolded, supported by insightful analysis from Mark Matrai (@MatraiMark) and the tactical visuals from xfb Analytics.

Tactical Focus: Liverpool’s Left Half-Space Dominance

Liverpool’s Expected Threat (xT) heatmap reveals a clear emphasis on creating opportunities through the left half-space. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson frequently tucked in, particularly during the opening stages when Liverpool enjoyed sustained possession.

Virgil van Dijk, often the orchestrator from deep, enjoyed significant time on the ball as Girona’s deep defensive line granted him the freedom to dictate play. Díaz and Jones occupied pockets of space in these areas, aligning with the xT creation focus.

However, this possession-heavy approach lacked sharpness, perhaps reflecting the rust from their weather-enforced break over the weekend.

Liverpool’s Final Third Passing Patterns

The pass map into Girona’s penalty box highlights Liverpool’s inability to access the box through central areas, instead relying heavily on half-spaces and wing play.

Robertson and Alexander-Arnold were afforded ample time on the ball due to minimal opposition pressure, allowing them to deliver a high number of progressive passes. The progressive pass ranks reflect their contributions, whereas Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai struggled in this department, which contributed to Liverpool’s slower build-up play in attack.

Struggles in Open-Play Finishing

Despite dominating possession, Liverpool produced limited high-quality chances. The shot map illustrates how most efforts came from less dangerous areas, with Joe Gomez having the closest attempt—a header—still leaving him without a goal for Liverpool’s first team.

Mohamed Salah, Alexander-Arnold, and Darwin Núñez managed two open-play shots each, but none were converted. Salah’s penalty, calmly slotted into the bottom corner, proved decisive.

Interestingly, the xT rank by passing reinforces the importance of Liverpool’s full-backs and Van Dijk in the attacking phase. It also marked Harvey Elliott’s first significant appearance post-injury, operating in midfield. Slot’s decision to deploy him centrally instead of on the wing raises questions about his future role—can he adapt to this position despite his lack of physicality?

Girona’s Counterattacking Threat

Girona’s xT heatmap was a stark reminder of Liverpool’s previous defensive vulnerabilities. Much of the host’s danger originated down Liverpool’s right side, exposing Alexander-Arnold and the adjacent centre-back, a tactic that visibly frustrated Slot.

Even so, Liverpool managed to suppress Girona’s efforts in the heart of the penalty area, allowing only two meaningful shots. The shot map illustrates how Girona’s efforts were largely restricted to speculative attempts. Bryan Gil’s opportunity was Girona’s most significant, but Alisson Becker’s heroics once again underlined his immense value to this Liverpool side. The Brazilian’s quick reflexes and composure were critical in maintaining the clean sheet.

Girona’s Defensive Discipline

Defensively, Girona opted for a low block, evident in their defensive workrate zonemap. They focused on clearing danger and breaking quickly in transition rather than pressing high.

Offensively, the Spanish side relied on a few standout performers. Danjuma led their attack with five shots, while Alejandro Francés, Miguel Gutiérrez, and Oriol Romeu registered the most ball recoveries, as seen in the ball recovery rankings. Gutiérrez, in particular, impressed with his defensive contributions, fuelling speculation about a potential transfer. Liverpool may well consider him as an option for the future.

To underline Gutiérrez’s growing reputation, his 2024/2025 Champions League pizza chart showcases his strengths across multiple areas, including ball retention and final-third involvement.

Conclusion: A Win With Room for Improvement

Liverpool’s narrow victory in Spain may not have been their most polished performance, but it demonstrated resilience in difficult circumstances. Girona tested the Reds tactically and physically, yet Alisson’s brilliance and Salah’s reliability from the spot ensured the three points.

The successful carries rankings further highlight Van Dijk’s role in this match, with his calmness on the ball ensuring that Liverpool maintained control.

As I reflected on the match during my morning catch-up session, it was a reminder that even imperfect performances can yield perfect results. With qualification secured and momentum building, Liverpool’s European campaign looks increasingly promising.