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Playing the offside trap to perfection is one of the most satisfying tactics to execute as a defensive unit.
Defending might seem like it's all about physicality, but it really requires as much brain as brawn. The art of defending involves factoring in a multitude of variables and the best in the business are equipped to deal with threats of all kinds.
A strong and consistent defence has served as the backbone of great football teams. It is the base upon which the rest of the system is built. For a backline to be consistent, they need to be organized and systematic about the things they do.
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Players need to defend together to keep the opposition at bay, and the best defences will have players who share an almost telepathic connection with each other. One thing that defenders are always wary about is tracking those players who are always looking to make a run in behind them.
One way to bypass this is to play the attacker offside, but it requires the backline to move ahead of the striker in an organized manner with great timing. It requires a defence replete with players who know exactly what they're supposed to do as a unit.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the six teams that have caught their opponents offside the most number of times this season.
#6 Manchester United - 46 opponents caught offside
Manchester United have been at sixes and sevens all season. They've looked awful at the back at times but have managed to keep it together on occasion. Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane are a very formidable duo when they're on song.
Both players are physically dominant and are reasonably disciplined as well. They have succeeded at pulling the offside trap 46 times this season. Manchester United's defence has been less shaky since Ralf Rangnick took over and the Old Trafford faithful will hope that they get even better in the coming months.
#5 Leicester City - 47 opponents caught offside
Brendan Rodgers's Leicester City project seemed to be on the verge of taking off at the end of last season. They'd won the FA Cup and just lost out on a top-four berth. However, the Foxes' form has deteriorated this term.
Their defence has been leaky and they currently have the fifth worst defensive record in the Premier League.
Wesley Fofana's absence through injury has hurt them a lot, but the Foxes have executed the offside trap better than most teams this season. They have trapped their opponents offside 47 times this season.
#4 Southampton - 48 opponents caught offside
Ralph Hassenhuttl is a great coach and his teams are usually very organized and well drilled. After a poor start to the 2021-22 season, Southampton have recovered and are sitting 10th in the Premier League table right now.
The Saints have been well-organized at the back. The likes of Jan Bednarek, Lyanco and Mohammed Salisu have done a decent job at the heart of the defence. Their full-backs Romain Perraud and Kyle Walker-Peters deserve credit too.
#3 Brentford - 51 opponents caught offside
Brentford were somewhat of a surprise package in the opening stages of the 2021-22 season. Their high-intensity game proved to be difficult to deal with for many Premier League sides in the initial months.
Although Brentford's form has faded in recent months, the Bees have shown that they can take the game to the best teams in the land.
Thomas Frank has coached his men well and they defend as a unit and do so in an efficient and organized manner. Brentford's back three of Ethan Pinnock, Pontus Jansson and Kristoffer Ajer have fared well in their debut Premier League campaign.
Brentford have been able to trap opponents offside on 51 occasions this season so far.
#2 Manchester City - 61 opponents caught offside
Manchester City are so dominant and bullish going forward that the contributions of their solid backline often get overlooked. Don't get it twisted. Manchester City have world-class players in all their departments and not just midfield and attack.
Manchester City defender Ruben Dias was named the Premier League Player of the Season at the end of last season. He is usually partnered with Aymeric Laporte but City also have John Stones and Nathan Ake filling in occasionally.
In Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo, they have two extremely pacy and tactically intelligent full-backs as well. It is no surprise that City's defence is one of the most organized in the league. They have successfully laid the offside trap 61 times this season.
#1 Liverpool - 101 opponents caught offside
Liverpool are so significantly better than their Premier League peers at setting the offside trap that the difference in numbers is simply ridiculous. They've caught their opponents offside on 101 occasions in the 2021-22 season, which is 40 more than Manchester City.
Virgil van Dijk is arguably the best centre-back in the world right now. He and Joel Matip have done a great job for Liverpool in the defensive third. The Dutchman shares a great understanding with Matip and has also played well alongside new signing Ibrahima Konate.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson playing in advanced positions down the flanks, the possibility of the duo playing an opposition player onside is minimal. So it's largely down to how well Van Dijk commands his backline and he is simply one of the best at it.
