Brendan Rodgers recent tactical switch to a back three has seen them change dramatically and look more of the side that pushed Man city all the way in the Premier league title race last season.
Liverpool dominated Chelsea in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final on Tuesday evening, and were very unlucky only to come away with a 1-1 draw thanks to the heroics of Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois.
Rodgers said of the 3-4-2-1 system “It’s the way we want to work” and it has restored speed and strength to Liverpool’s attack and also stabilises their defence. Their fierce counter-attacks prevented Chelsea from playing the free flowing attacking football that has been their style so far this season.
Martin Skrtel is definitely one of the players benefiting most from Liverpool’s recent tactical switch and looks to be back to his best form. Alberto Moreno's runs in the Chelsea game were superb, he turned Ivanovic inside out a number of times. The team are also benefitting, their last defeat was ten games ago against the old enemy Man United at old Trafford.
It clearly shows the skill as a manager that Rodgers has picked up over the years, with the ability to study the side when their form was at a low ebb and adjusting here and there, adapting to the players available and finding a dynamic formation that has got them back to winning ways.
Liverpool’s performances have markedly improved and so have Skrtel’s individual displays, giving the solidity at the back on which to build their quick counter attacks. They once again look like a Brendan Rodgers team keeping possession of the ball and playing a flowing passing game with the ball always moving around. A style of play that was nurtured by Rodgers under Mourinho during his first spell at Chelsea.
Rodgers had studied coaching methods in Spain, travelling around learning different styles and systems when he was invited by José Mourinho to join Chelsea in 2004, firstly as youth manager and later as reserve manager. He picked up invaluable tips from the two-time Champions League winner.
Watching the game at Anfield on Tuesday night I very much got the impression that on the side lines the battle was between the master and his apprentice. Mourinho is one of the best managers in the world at present, but if Rodgers side can keep playing like they did against Chelsea, he will surely prove that he has finished his apprenticeship and is on the road to becoming a master.
Source: DSG
