Talking Tactics: Liverpool’s game plan exposes Tom Cleverley’s limitations

Liverpool beat Manchester United 1-0 in their recent meeting at Anfield. Although the game was pretty even and was ultimately decided by a set piece, Brendan Rodgers’ tactics clearly managed to expose the limitations of the Manchester United central midfield pairing.

Manchester United started with a midfield two of Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley, flanked by inverted wingers in the form of Ryan Giggs and Ashley Young. Carrick’s role (Passer) was to shield the defense and distribute the ball to the wingers and Cleverley (ball carrier).

Cleverley, on the other hand, who relies on a quick short-passing high-tempo game was exposed by a lack of movement ahead of him. With the absence of a Kagawa or Rooney-esque figure in the number 10 role, Cleverley was always forced to look wide as he had no one to play quick one-twos with.

Defending: Much to learn for Young Tom

Cleverley is a hard working midfielder and is always on the move but is not tactically disciplined while defending.

1: Coutinho clearly gave him a run for his money as Cleverley failed to get close enough to the Liverpool playmaker in the first half.

On realizing his mistake he gets too close to his man and gets easily turned by Coutinho who is now free to run at Vidic and Ferdinand.

The move results to Coutinho having a shot on goal. Liverpool were clearly the dominant side in the early stages of the game as they outnumbered the Manchester United midfield duo in the center of the park.

2: It wasn’t the only time that the Brazilian escaped from Cleverley’s clutches in the first half. Coutinho once again receives the ball in between Cleverley and Carrick and runs at the Manchester United defense.

This time, Cleverley brings down Coutinho with a rash challenge that earns him a yellow card and gives Liverpool a free-kick in a very dangerous position.

3: As the clock ticked down, Sturridge too took advantage of Cleverley’s lack of defensive know-how and brought himself in between the ball and the midfielder and won himself a free-kick, much to the frustration of Cleverley.

Liverpool’s early pressing: Hunt Tom down in Packs

Liverpool were clearly up for the game from the word go. They hurried and hassled the Manchester United players giving them no time on the ball.

1: Rio Ferdinand chests the ball and gives it to Tom. The ball is not at a proper height and hence Tom takes an extra second to control it.

But before he can bring the ball down and find Carrick with a pass, he is pressurized by three Liverpool players.

Aspas nicks the ball away from Cleverley and Liverpool manage to start an attack and put United on the back-foot.

Attacking: Liverpool drop deep but lack of movement and support exposes Tom’s limitations.

Liverpool came out in the second half with a different mindset. They dropped deep and blocked spaces very well. The Manchester United midfielders had time and space on the ball but they were unable to penetrate the Liverpool backline due to their rigid formation and a lack of movement. Cleverley’s lack of a Scholes-esque passing range was exposed as he was time and again forced to go wide.

1: Cleverley receives the ball inside his own half. Giggs and Van Persie make bursting forward runs ahead of the midfielder.

But they are marked well by Liverpool and Cleverley is unable to find either of them and meanwhile is quickly closed down by two Liverpool players.

Cleverley is unable to pick out either of Van Persie or Giggs who are now marked out and Coutinho drops back and prevents him from finding Carrick. Cleverley now turns and passes the ball back to Valencia and a chance to put pressure on the Liverpool defense fades away.

Cleverley is clearly frustrated by the lack of movement or support and throws his arms in the air. Sturridge meanwhile closes Valencia down. Liverpool clearly knowing when to sit back and when to apply pressure on the United’s players.

2: Gerrard’s positioning takes Giggs out of the game and Coutinho drops deep and keeps an eye on Carrick. A short sideways pass to Valencia seems to only option Cleverley has.

3: Cleverley picks the ball in midfield and starts running into the space ahead of him. Liverpool players are dropping deep and marking the United attackers rather than closing down Cleverley.

Once Cleverley is into the Liverpool half he finds his options narrowed down. The positioning of the Liverpool midfielders takes Van Persie, Welbeck and Giggs out of the game. Again Cleverley is forced to go wide and find Valencia.

4: This may seem like a repetition but this was clearly Liverpool’s tactic in the second half and it clearly exposed Cleverley’s limitations as a midfielder.

In the below image Cleverley again finds himself in plenty of space inside the Liverpool half.

All the Liverpool players are inside their own half and have closed down the spaces, which makes Cleverley take the safe option and go wide again.

Verdict:

As it can be seen, most of the time Cleverley looked wide right and took the safer option. His heat-map clearly justifies him spending most of the time closer to Valencia on the right hand side. His action areas show that he was given time on the ball inside his own half and was allowed to bring it forward but he ultimately lacked ideas and didn’t have the vision to unlock the stubborn Liverpool defense. His stats of one key pass and no through balls justify Liverpool’s game plan in the second half.

Tom Cleverley is a decent ball carrier and an all-round midfielder but he has to improve certain aspects of his game in order to become world class and make the center midfield spot his own. He has until January to prove his worth. Else, Moyes will be forced to make a move in the transfer market.

Stats taken from – squawka.com