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ANALYSIS BY: Domenic Pultrone

ANALYSIS FOR: Self Improvement

AWAY TEAM: LIVERPOOL

HOME TEAM: CRYSTAL PALACE

DATE: OCTOBER 29TH, 2016

STADIUM : SELHURST PARK

TYPE OF GAME: ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

NO. SPECTATORS: 25,628

SCORE HT: LIVERPOOL 3 – CRYSTAL PALACE 2

SCORE FT: LIVERPOOL 4 – CRYSTAL PALACE 2

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No LiverPool ( 1-4-3-3 ) 1 KARIUS 2 CLYNE 32 MATIP 6 LOVREN18 MORENO 20 LALLANA14 HENDERSON 23 CAN 19 MANE 11 FIRMINO 10 COUTINHO 17 KLAVAN 56 RANDALL 5 WIJNALDUM 21 LUCAS LEIVA 15 STURRIDGE 27 ORIGI 22 MIGNOLET

No Crystal Palace ( 1-4-2-3-1 ) 30 MANDANDA 2 WARD 5 TOMKINS 6 DANN 34 KELLY 18 MCARTHUR 16 LEDLEY 14 LEE CHUNG-YONG 7 CABAYE 11 ZAHA 17 BENTEKE 19 FRYERS 27 DELANEY 4 FLAMINI 10 TOWNSEND 42 PUNCHEON 9 CAMPBELL 13 HENNESSEY

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54 32

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11

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2 35

67 8

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4

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Starting Shape of both Teams:Liverpool : 1-4-3-3Crystal Palace : 1-4-2-3-1Liverpool’s Attacking Shape and Style of Play? 1-4-3( 1-2 )-3Liverpool mid unit occupy the central part of the pitch while the fullbacks Moreno & Clyne give the width and play high in the offensive 1/3 on the shoulders of CP’s fullbacks. The attacking unit play centrally and between the gaps of the defensive line to be played behind the backs of the defenders. There is postional rotation between Coutinho, Firmino and Mane in the offensive 1/3 which makes it diffcult to mark and draws CP’s players out of postions when defending. Liverpool like to play through the units , playing centrally to draw CP in the centre and then play wide to exploit the spaces and stretch the line of defense. Crystal Palace Attacking Shape and Style of Play? 1-4-2-3-1Crystal Palace look to play on the counter attack. Benteke remains high on the pitch as the target to launch the counter. The Counter attack hasn’t been effective do to CP’s wing backs defending to low in the defensive 1/3. Zaha & Lee Chang are playing low as fullbacks, so when possesion is won CP is unable to get out and counter launch because the only option is Benteke who is high up the pitch in isolation. Liverpool’s Defending Shape and Style? 1-4-( 1-2 ) -3Liverpool play a counter press style of defending. When possesion is lost immediate pressure is applied to win ball. Liverpool defend with a high line of press. The mid unit is well balanced having Henderson giving good cover behind Can and Lallana. Liverpool Mid is releatively compact to the line of defence. The Opposition’s Defending Shape and Style? 1-4-5-1Crystal Palace style is a Halfway line press and leave lots of space behind the line of defence. Mid unit play relatively compact to the line of defence which makes it difficult to play between the units and tries to bait Liverpool to play over the back line. Wing backs drop low as fullbacks to mark Liverpools fullbacks in the wide areas.Score at Half Time: Liverpool : 3 Crystal Palace : 2

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Liverpool’s Attacking Style of Play?Liverpool play a direct forward passing style of play. Firmino , Mane and Coutinho are in constant movement with postional rotation as a front three. This makes it difficult to be marked and drags defenders out of position in which creates gaps to be played through.Firmino plays high between the defenders to receive the pentrating passes behind the backs of the defenders. Mane and Coutinho also play high on the line of defense to get behind in the space behind the back line.

Crystal Palace Attacking Style of Play?Zaha and Lee are now playing as wing backs higher on the pitch in their defensive half to be the outlets for the counter Attack. Benteke remains high to be the target for the counter attack . Crystal Palace play a direct long ball counter attack and press to win the second ball effort.

Liverpool Defending Shape and Style?Liverpool shape when defending is 1-4-2-3-1, Henderson and Can play as the 2 CDM’s and mark the central part of the pitch and close the space between the back line and keep Mcarthur and Cabaye closely marked. Liverpool remain compact and organized as a collective unit to avoid penetrating passes through the center.

Crystal Palace Defending Shape and Style?Crystal Palace are pressing high in the offensive half to win the ball. Playing 1-4-2-3-1 , when pressing high the mid unit of Cabaye, Ledley and Mcarthur are covering space and marking players which force Liverpool to play long and not build out the back. The defensive block is higher up the pitch.

Score at Full Time: Liverpool : 4Crystal Palace : 2

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54

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23

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How Liverpool Defended:Liverpool press aggressively to win possession of the ball. The mid unit is relative compact to the line of defense. When mid\defender is pressing ball carrier there is always good cover behind to avoid penetrating passes or runs. When defending Liverpool does not involve the attacking unit to defend in the defensive half for reason of quick transition to attack.

What was our Plan/Strategy?Liverpool is leading at the start of the second half so we see them drop the defensive line of pressure lower in their half and become compact behind the ball. This defensive block discourages penetrating passes in the central area. This block provides good zonal marking and difficult for Crystal palace players to play in between the units. This startegy forces Crystal Palace to play more aerial and long balls and not build an organized attack.

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Detailed Info required and How we Attacked:Liverpool play direct , lots of forward passes and forward runs into open spaces. Look to play quick 1-2 touch on the ball . Moreno and Clyne ( Fullbacks ) play high in the attacking 1/3 on the defenders ( Fullbacks ) shoulders. Firmino, Mane and Coutinho play centrally and high to play between the defenders Gaps. The attcking unit of three play with lots of rotation in postioning to drag defenders away and create spaces to play into.

Often times ball is played in the wide areas to stretch the Line of defence then played centrally for a quick pass\shot between the gaps .

Liverpool had many bodies forward on the attack which made it easier to counterpress when ball was lost to regain possession and attack quickly.

Crystal Palace played a mid high line of pressure and remain compact centrally to bait Liverpool to play over the top and not through the units.

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78

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1011

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Liverpool managed to score on 2 of the 3 corners kicks. CH’s Lovern 6’2 and Matip 6’4 were inside the penalty area and were very aggressive to put their bodies and head onto the crosses.

Liverpool had between 5 and 8 bodies in the box on the 3 occaisions.

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98

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35 6 7

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910

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Crystal Palace sends long aerial balls which are intended to target Benteke. Crystal Palace have many bodies high and in the central area where we find Benteke and try to win the 1st or 2nd ball .

On the Corner kick we again find many bodies ( 8 Crystal Palace ) in and around the box to win that first or second ball and have an attempt at goal.

Liverpool Defend set plays with 10 or 11 men. Compact the central part of the pitch and goal area.

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6 5 43 2

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256

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891011

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