Liverpool 4-1 Cardiff City: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis, Premier League 2018-19

#4 Cardiff's ultra-defensive tactics only delayed the inevitable

It looked like Neil Warnock didn't even try to beat Liverpool

Even though they conceded as early as the tenth minute, there was barely any endeavour from Cardiff to trouble the Liverpool rearguard throughout the game. The approach Neil Warnock was exemplified by the fact that the Bluebirds had one touch inside the Liverpool penalty area - that was for their goal.

They had 15% possession in the first half, and attempted 77 passes with a 45% accuracy rate. That is as diabolical as it is comical.

But to Cardiff's credit, they did well in limiting Liverpool. Their full-backs got narrow and cut the space between themselves and the centre-backs. The wingers also worked manfully and played virtually as full-backs. With both Aron Gunnarsson and Victor Camarasa tucked in their own third of the field, they nullified space for Liverpool to thrive in.

But without any endeavour, they were never going to trouble Liverpool after the Reds had scored early in the game. Cardiff did come out and show endeavour after Mane opened his account and scored the Reds' second.

They did have an out-ball as well in the form of Calum Paterson, but they didn't use him well. The big Scot would've got a lot of joy if the long balls were pumped to him while he was isolated against Trent Alexander-Arnold or Alberto Moreno. Instead, most times, he was running into a brick wall in the form of Virgil van Dijk or Dejan Lovren.

Warnock did concede before the game that it was almost impossible for them to beat Liverpool at Anfield, but in the end, it really felt like Cardiff didn't even try to beat Liverpool.