Liverpool vs. Real Madrid: Counters, Crosses Encouraged vs. Suspect Blancos Line
Real Madrid visit Anfield this evening as they take on Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League. When fans reference those "nights under the lights" returning, it's these tussles they mean.
Liverpool find themselves in need of a result here, as the loss to Basel wrecked their forecasted path of four wins and two losses taking them to latter stages in one piece.
Let's take a tactical glance at how this one is shaping up.
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Liverpool Setup
Brendan Rodgers has backed Mario Balotelli, insisting it's simply a "matter of time" before he adjusts to life in Liverpool red and begins firing, per BBC Sport.
He'll play against Madrid, but that's more to do with the fact it really is the only option. Rodgers can make a change for the better, though, in switching from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3.
The biggest boost to the Reds' effort will be the respective returns of Javi Manquillo and Alberto Moreno, who stand far superior full-backs to Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique.
A 4-4-2 diamond is an option with Philippe Coutinho in the No. 10 role and Raheem Sterling up front, but Rodgers may be reluctant—it is a sizable risk.
Real Madrid Setup
It's still very difficult to second-guess Carlo Ancelotti, and he threw a curveball out at the weekend by playing a 4-4-2 against Levante.
It was a loose 4-4-2 that verged on a 4-3-3 at times, granted, but Cristiano Ronaldo had his way with Les Granotes' back line and midfield from a more central position.
We'll project another 4-4-2 shape for the match at Anfield, and that would make particular sense after watching Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren squirm man-to-man against Queens Park Rangers.
Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale and Fabio Coentrao will all miss the game, and Ancelotti will be looking to Ronaldo to carry the torch: "He is in great form and it's impossible to do better than he's doing," the Italian told RealMadrid.com ahead of the game. "He focuses really well for the big games and he has to keep going as he is."
4-3-3: Soak and Counter
Liverpool have made themselves a force under Rodgers by playing free-flowing, attacking football with movement, punch and penetration. Falling behind against them has become a big concern, as they're so well-suited to counter-attack, too, and can hurt you—as QPR found out this weekend.
The first goal in this contest is vital, but whichever way it goes, Rodgers should be happy to concede the ball and counter Madrid as the man-to-man matches in space fall in his favour.
Lovren and Skrtel need help in front of them; if Ronaldo and Karim Benzema get between Steven Gerrard and the defensive line frequently, it'll be a long night of Simon Mignolet picking the ball out the back of his net and little else.
Liverpool's midfield three need to play so deep they swamp out the space, go for turnovers and then feed Jordan Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling and Co. searing forward.
Madrid will likely hold with only Toni Kroos, and magnificent as he is, in space he's no match for Sterling. The pure counter-attacking goals scored at Loftus Road this weekend could make a return here for the Reds.
Crossing Encouraged
We talk about it a lot, but until Ancelotti fixes it, it's a problem. Crossing against Real Madrid is hugely encouraged for opposing teams, as Los Blancos still look painfully inept at picking up runs and meeting the ball first.
Initially, it could have perhaps been a coincidence—was every team simply crossing superbly when facing Real Madrid?—but it's gone on too long, and every centre-back struggles with it.
The Reds don't really cross much, but it could be wise to change tact here. Balotelli's feet aren't working, clearly, but his head may not be beyond repair. Be it Pepe, Nacho or Raphael Varane, he stands a good chance of beating any of them to a well-placed cross.
In the Champions League, some of the Reds' best work has come from the wide areas, with Manquillo and Moreno in particular serving up chances well.
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