Much of this game was a battle between Liverpool’s compact 4-5-1 pressing shape and Roberto De Zerbi’s possession set up. Brighton advanced well over the wings at times but overall there was something of a stalemate after both sides had scored in the first half. It seemed that 1-1 would be the final scoreline until […]
The fourth round of the FA Cup began with an absolute cracker of a match, as Premier League leaders Arsenal took on second-placed Manchester City. These two teams have two big fixtures against each other lined up, so while this was a knockout match, it also felt like a dress rehearsal for the upcoming main […]
Manchester United took the lead through some individual brilliance from Marcus Rashford, but their inability to control Arsenal’s wide threats meant that they eventually conceded twice before Lisandro Martínez drew them level. In the last twenty minutes, Arsenal piled on the attacking pressure and were eventually rewarded through Eddie Nketiah’s winner. Tactical analysis and match […]
Two excellent managers of two big clubs find themselves in an unusual predicament. Where one aims to conjure back up the essence of his greatness, the other is trying to impart his ideas in a demanding setting. Both of their collectives showed flashes, but frustration reigned supreme. Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere. […]
Two elite managers are leading teams struggling to play in their image. The outcome of their meeting at the Etihad was another exciting encounter that gave both questions to answer. Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere. Clubs do not win titles in January but can lose before the final bout has begun if […]
Arsenal clinched another victory and this time the three points would have felt huge. This was a complete performance not only from a tactical standpoint but also in terms of their ability to adapt to different situations thrown at them. An own goal from Hugo Lloris was followed by a thunderous strike by Martin Ødegaard […]
Questionable officiating has hogged most of the headlines from this clash, but this derby was a taut duel worthy of the occasion. City forged forward paths, but Erik ten Hag has a statement victory to his name that raises hopes of what his outfit can achieve over the rest of the season. Tactical analysis and […]
Aston Villa continued their charge up the Premier League table under Unai Emery with a win over Leeds United. The visitors certainly put in an improved performance relative to their recent run of results, but it should be noted that the tactical pattern of the match suited them as Villa were happier to keep more […]
Pep Guardiola was once again able to adapt his team to unlock Chelsea’s defense here, as a structural shift helped Manchester City dismantle Chelsea over the wings. City capitalized in the first half to go three goals up, leaving them a comfortable second half despite Chelsea’s slight tactical improvements. Tactical analysis and match report by Josh […]
The third round of the FA Cup began with a big tie between Manchester United and Everton. The scoreline may suggest that this was a relatively routine win for the hosts, but they made life tougher for themselves than it needed to be. In the end, though, they had too much quality for their opponents […]