Arsenal vs Liverpool: 4 key tactical requirements vs Klopp’s side

3. Finding the Right Pressing Trigger

Until it all came tumbling down in the first leg following Xhaka’s red card, Arsenal were mostly under the cosh.

But there was a brief spell just before the sending off where the team began to find their bearings. Some of the pressing found fluency and the right triggers prompted the desired responses. The most standout one of all was forcing the ball on Virgil van Dijk’s left foot.

The Dutchman is the best central defender in the world. He has been for a few years now. Capable of doing everything you’d want from a centre-back as well as other elements far beyond his remit, one of his stronger suits is the strength of his distribution.

Known for their swashbuckling and unrelenting pressing system, Liverpool do attempt a substantial amount of long balls as they seek vary their build-up and go back to front with speed. Alexander-Arnold has attempted more than any other player in the league this season (goalkeepers included) while Van Dijk sits fourth in the list of outfield players. Those numbers are obviously impacted by how much possession Liverpool have.

If there is any way to reduce van Dijk’s threat slightly it is by forcing him onto his left, even if he still boasts exceptional ability with both feet. It’s the same with Alexander-Arnold, with the pair sitting on 87% and 88% usage on their preferred foot. Takehiro Tomiyasu is at 68%, for contrast.

Arsenal adopted the approach of pressing on certain triggers that would move Liverpool’s best passers onto their ‘weaker’ feet, and meticulous planning of the same sort would force long balls on to the heads of an aerially less dominant forward line of Jota, Firmino and Minamino.

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