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da bet nacional： This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Having watched Liverpool’s UEFA Super Cup win over Chelsea on Wednesday evening, one thing was strikingly evident – the Reds’ backline was starting extremely high up the pitch.
Whether this is something that Jurgen Klopp has coached into his team during pre-season, or merely a coincidence, it has resulted in Liverpool having to face 40 shots already this term – eight against Manchester City, 12 against Norwich and 20 against Chelsea, including extra-time.
What can Southampton do?
Ralph Hasenhuttl should’ve been watching the Reds’ game in Istanbul and thinking about what players he has at his disposal who can run in behind and penetrate vacant space, and two names spring to mind instantly.
Nathan Redmond and £15m summer signing Che Adams possess bundles of pace, and are rapid enough and smart enough to time their runs and bear down on Adrian’s goal without anyone catching up with them anytime soon.
What Hasenhuttl must instruct the pair to do is simple – stand high up the pitch on the shoulder of the last Liverpool defender, and look to eat up the grass between them and the goal once a ball has been played over the top.
Will it hurt Liverpool?
If done correctly, yes.
Chelsea managed to cause Klopp’s side all sorts of problems and had plenty of chances to win the game before it went to penalties, but for some poor finishing and some equally poorly-timed runs – Mason Mount netted with an excellent finish after running in behind, only to see the offside flag foil him.
With all due respect to Mount, the Blues academy graduate doesn’t possess anywhere near the amount of pace that Redmond and Adams have in their armoury, so the gameplan writes itself for Hasenhuttl when the Super Cup winners travel to St Mary’s this Saturday.
It could very easily be a recipe for success.
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