Leicester vs. Liverpool: Tactical Preview of Premier League Game
The Premier League fixture list is starting to get tight, and just as others prepare for a winter break, English clubs ramp up the preparation for extra games.
Leicester City host Liverpool on Tuesday, so let's take a tactical look at how this one could play out.
Leicester News
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Leicester have a few long-term absentees in Dean Hammond (calf) and Matt Upson (foot), but David Nugent is in with a shot after returning to fitness, per The Daily Mail.
If Nugent can't start, Leonardo Ulloa will likely partner Jamie Vardy again in a 4-4-2, as Nigel Pearson keeps it simple and refuses, largely, to stray from his template.
Esteban Cambiasso has been a surprising goalscoring force of late, so he should continue in midfield and attempt to give his side a boost. Home fans will be hoping for a repeat of that famous 5-3 victory over Manchester United back in September.
Liverpool News
Liverpool will need to rotate too, with an exceptionally short week likely to affect a host of players. Steven Gerrard will probably come back in to the 4-2-3-1 shape that squeezed past Stoke City this weekend, while Dejan Lovren could play too.
Per The Daily Mail, Mamadou Sakho is back in training but not in contention, while Brendan Rodgers faces a dilemma as to where to play Gerrard—in the No. 10 role or deeper as has been his forte in the last year?
Full-back rotation is normal, but Glen Johnson likely bought himself approximately four years worth of favour with that brave, headed goal against the Potters to win the game.
Mario Balotelli is out and Fabio Borini is buried on the depth chart. Rickie Lambert will start up front.
Key Tactical Point 1: Leciester City Are Kings of Direct
The Foxes' barren spell in front of goal ended just three minutes into their game against Queens Park Rangers this week. Esteban Cambiasso scored, overall, what is now a typical Leicester City goal.
Nigel Pearson hasn't really changed his system much despite going so long without a positive result, and that familiarity paid small dividends against QPR. He still orders the ball out to his flat, wide midfielders immediately when counter-attacking and asks his wingers to drive forward with the ball at their feet.
On Saturday, that was Riyad Mahrez and Jeffrey Schlupp pushing on and staying wide, opening the channels inside for the midfielders and strikers to fill. Liverpool need to be careful of this and as a result must field the correct personnel in holding midfield to deal with it.
Leicester's first goal at Loftus Road was very familiar; with Schlupp so direct and quick attracting two or three men, Leonardo Ulloa slipped inside, received the pass and created the goal.
Key Tactical Point 2: Choose Your Midfield and Full-Backs Carefully, Brendan
As much as you'd like to say Liverpool should not have to react to Leicester's game plan given the gulf in perceived quality between the two sides, Rodgers is not in a position where confidence can just take over on the pitch.
The Reds have been atrocious against direct teams this season—see: Aston Villa (0-1), West Ham (1-3), Crystal Palace (1-3)—and Leicester represent that same direct threat. Rodgers has the personnel to create a stronger defensive platform, he just needs to select the right players.
Alberto Moreno makes a lot of sense at left-back in an attempt to bottle up Mahrez, while Gerrard should play further forward to keep him away from those precious areas the Foxes fill inside on the counter (see image above). Lucas Leiva appears to be a short-term fix, while Emre Can is a strong, but unfortunately unlikely, play.
Working against the Reds here is that, despite a need for change at full-back, Stoke represented their first win plus clean sheet since August. Changing the back four may send the wrong message now.
