Leeds United’s tactical transformation has raised questions about Liverpool’s ability to adapt as they prepare for a crucial match this weekend. With new manager Daniel Farke, Leeds have been quick to switch to a 3-4-2-1 as their primary shape. This strategy was successful for them in their recent 3-1 win against Chelsea. This strategic change led to a massive victory and exposed Liverpool’s recurring flaws to balls over the top of the defense.
In their most recent meeting, Leeds showed a huge swing in their passing focus. Against Chelsea they sent a greater proportion of their passes in the air than any other match this season. Notably, goalkeeper Robin Roefs played 31 of his 53 passes long, indicating a deliberate effort to bypass Chelsea’s midfield and exploit defensive weaknesses. This approach aligns with a growing trend among teams facing Liverpool, who have struggled to contain opponents that utilize long passing.
Leeds’ Long Pass Strategy
Leeds United’s use of long passes to attack the pitch has been a recurring tactical discussion in their last few matches. The same team played with enormous directness in their home game versus Sunderland at Anfield, completing 73 long passes on the day. That remarkable stat is courtesy of Opta. This tactic has been very effective against Liverpool. It’s true they’ve seen the highest percentage of long passes of any team this season.
Last season, Liverpool’s opponents played just 12.08 percent of their passes long. This one stat illustrates an incredibly obvious game plan that teams have adopted to defend against the Reds. Leeds really embraced this long-pass strategy. With this new approach they found themselves netting three times in the last two games against fellow Premier League giants Manchester City and Chelsea. For Liverpool’s back four, a whole new threat awaits with this newly discovered ability. Physical aerial duels and long ball situations have highlighted their missteps.
“They have been so much sharper and intense, Sunderland, summed up by that goal.” – Jamie Carragher
The change in Leeds’ approach has caught the attention of analysts and fans alike, prompting discussions about how well Liverpool can cope with this challenge. As Leeds prepares to host Liverpool on Saturday at 5:30 PM, a spotlight will be on how they leverage this tactic against a team struggling with long balls.
Liverpool’s Ongoing Challenges
Liverpool’s recent history against teams that play over the top tells an ominous tale. The Reds have continually faltered in games against teams playing long balls. They’ve lost three of four matchups against teams that attempt more than 70 long passes. Their win rate falls through the floor – down to 30.8 percent. This drop happens even in games where opponents send over 20 percent of their attempts deep.
Their absolute through-line was made abundantly clear in their recent 1-1 draw with Sunderland, defensive catastrophe. In the end, Liverpool encountered difficulty in dealing with the threat of long balls. It has led to France-based questions such as what’s going on with manager Arne Slot’s tactics. Are they good enough to meet the demands created by Leeds’ new, more aggressive attacking ideology?
Virgil van Dijk has raised his aerial duel success rate, increasing from 72 percent last season to 78 percent this one. Yet he does have a real battle in front of him. The defense, especially the back line, must open their eyes instantly to new long ball attacking threats. Yet these long throws have quickly turned into a major weapon for their opponents.
A Tactical Showdown
As the final clash draws closer, each team is poised for what should be a key turning point in their tournaments. Leeds United are determined to continue racking up the collective tactical success. At the same time, Liverpool are under intense pressure to address their defensive issues and start collecting crucial Premier League points.
The upcoming clash will air on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event, starting at 5 PM, with the kickoff scheduled for 5:30 PM. The excitement among fans and analysts is palpable. Everyone’s dying to see how Leeds will use their deadly long-pass tactic against a Liverpool side that’s known for having its back line torn apart by it.
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