Klopp sussed this bollox two seasons ago.
He knows half the defenders and goalkeepers in the EPL can't pass a ball or play proper football. He instigates a high press, robs the ball and Salah scores.
Not rocket science is it?
When VAR was brought in we hoped or we were told it would provide a check on biased decisions being given in favour of “big clubs”. Manchester United have now been awarded 13 penalties this season which is I think almost one-sixth of the total awarded in the PL this season. Yes United play attacking football but level playing field? I think not.
We have discussed playing out from the back on other themes but anyone watching the Brighton v Liverpool game will know why you need to know when and against who you play this tactic. Absolutely gifted Liverpool a two goal start.
Klopp sussed this bollox two seasons ago.
He knows half the defenders and goalkeepers in the EPL can't pass a ball or play proper football. He instigates a high press, robs the ball and Salah scores.
Not rocket science is it?
I well remember a smart arsed journo asking SD post Burnley away victory, why we did not play it out from the back and we always seemed to knock it long (nudge, nudge, wink, wink)? Quick as a flash Sean retorted, "It's not very often you see a team score a goal from their own defensive third and why do we want to invite pressure on our own defenders?"
Media man went away to sulk and consider his career options!
It is something which can add to your passing statistics and the media can rave about the fact that you made 3 billion passes in the match, regardless of the fact that 2 billion were in your own third of the field!
Look at the last match against West Ham, who play the 'West Ham' way!
West Ham 429 passes with a pass accuracy of 74% with 172 passes in the final third of the field and they played 72 long balls.
Burnley 396 passes with a pass accuracy of 76.3% with 114 passes in the final third and we played 60 long balls ---and we are the long ball specialists.
Final result 1-0 to us -----oh dear, how sad, never mind!
And we are "anti-football"?
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It's a while since I heard Sean talking about this, some time last season I think, and his thinking was basically 'if you play it out from the back and lose it in your third of the pitch, you're in trouble, if you play it long and lose it in their third of the pitch, no great problem.' Sounds perfectly logical to me.