EBL (@EBL2017)

Andoni Iraola still has a lot of question marks around him, but the Sunderland game showcased tactical qualities Liverpool haven't seen in a LONG TIME. Below, in this in-depth thread, I break down how Iraola set Liverpool up to a 🔝 standard on AND off the ball… THREAD! 🚨👇...

🚨 Enzo Maresca x Manchester City 🔹 Evolving in attack from a rigid 3-2-5 into a fluid 3-1-6, 🔹 The new-found zonal press against a back 4, 🔹 The offside trap when defending their box, 🔹 And how to maintain the level without Bernardo + Rodri. A tactical analysis thread 👇 ...

🚨 Back 5's are NOT the modern meta at the elite level. If you want to overachieve as an underdog? Sure. But if you want to control EVERY moment and DOMINATE at the highest level? It does NOT work. Football history with theoretical thinking intertwined tells us why. A thread. ...

Mexico's identity is clear. 3-1-6 high. Sometimes with Lira dropping into the first line and Reyes high. Or, most commonly, Reyes with in the first line and Lira in the #6 with Fidalgo higher. Alvarado holds the width on the right, Gallardo pushes up from left back with Quiñones tucked inside. ...

Mexico's identity is clear. 3-1-6 high. Sometimes with Lira dropping into the first line and Reyes high. Or, most commonly, Reyes with in the first line and Lira in the #6 with Fidalgo higher. Alvarado holds the width on the right, Gallardo pushes up from left back with Quiñones tucked inside. ...

South Korea 🇰🇷 3-2-5 high. Happy to play direct against man-to-man pressure despite lacking an aerial outlet. They can do it with success because Seung-Gyu Kim can kick the ball a mile. They also build in an Emery-esque 4-2-2-2 as they pack the middle to win the second balls....

Czech Republic play to their strengths. Land of the giants. Direct play, load the box where possible, long throws, etc. When they get the ball down, they do so in a 3-2-5, but that is not a common theme....

Michael Carrick's Manchester United: 🔻 4-2-4 build-up 🔻 3-2-5 high 🔻 Fullbacks + wingers on different lines with #6's dropping either into the back 3 or outside the lines 🔻 Diamond press This is the general approach he used at Middlesbrough as well (although he does tweak). ...