It took a long time for Thomas Tuchel to emerge from Jurgen Klopp’s shadow.
The now Chelsea manager was named Klopp’s successor at Mainz 05 in 2009 and after five years at the helm moved to Borussia Dortmund, following exactly the trajectory of the Liverpool boss. It wasn’t until 2017 that Tuchel did anything in football that Klopp had not done already.
It is a highly unusual occurrence in football, particularly when one is not the direct disciple of the other, and indeed Tuchel’s early career perhaps suffered from the comparison. Although both managers deploy a high press and favour quick, vertical, distinctly-German football, there are crucial differences between them.
Tuchel is a flexible tactician whereas Klopp is more dogmatic. More importantly, Klopp is a people person whereas Tuchel has made a habit of rubbing people up the wrong way.
That is why Tuchel was never quite as loved at Mainz 05 despite arguably bettering Klopp’s achievements, and why Dortmund fans also did not take to him quite so strongly. The upshot is a burgeoning rivalry that, with its first match in England on Thursday, is defined by a slightly tense friendship; by a mutual respect but with scores to settle.
And the Premier League’s inaugural Tuchel versus Klopp comes at a particularly intriguing moment for both managers. Liverpool and Chelsea are separated by just one point in the table, and between them they have won just two of the last six Premier League games. It is possible that only one club will qualify for the Champions League this season.
Liverpool can learn from Manchester United’s display against Chelsea
It is just as intriguing from a tactical perspective, coming days after Manchester United provided a new template for how to counteract Tuchel’s 3-4-2-1 formation - and as creativity problems emerge for Chelsea just as Liverpool begin to solve theirs.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer instructed his players to press high and hard at Stamford Bridge, catching the hosts off guard and pinning the formation – so nicely layered, and evenly spread, when allowed to camp in the opposition half – into a clumsy 5-2-2-1 shape. A flat back five and two central midfielders were left trying to build out from the back, creating a stuttering and claustrophobic game that seemed to cluster in the central third of the pitch.
It turns out that confronting Chelsea’s 3-4-2-1 high up the pitch exposes some structural flaws, which suggests Klopp will tell his Liverpool players to do something similar. We could see a repeat of the congestion and awkward passing angles from the weekend, although if Liverpool do hold a high line then there is always the possibility their makeshift defence will be exposed by pace on the break. Certainly, Timo Werner and Callum Hudson-Odoi will look forward to the prospect of running in behind Ozan Kabak and Nathaniel Phillips.
Unfortunately, more likely this will be another frustrating 0-0 if Liverpool and Chelsea line up as expected. Their respective organisation in the press, and structural conservatism in defence, suggests a repeat of Chelsea’s draw with United, especially given that a point would be a valuable result for both managers. Back under 2.5 goals at 1/1.
Should Tuchel make Chelsea more attacking?
But there’s a twist. Tuchel cannot have been happy with how his side performed against Man Utd, and after failing to win either of his last two games he may feel it is time to unlock some creativity by shaking things up. A formation change seems unlikely given the threat Liverpool’s front three pose (Chelsea’s centre-backs can go three-on-three with the forwards, and their wing-backs can get tight to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, making a back five ideal) but the configurations in the final third need to change.
One possible solution is to pick a more creative player like Mason Mount as part of the midfield two, allowing for greater attacking variety higher up the pitch. For all Mount’s ability, he perhaps plays too much in front of the opposition defence to function as an inside forward, whereas in the middle of a 3-4-2-1 he could mimic Cesc Fabregas’s function in Antonio Conte’s Chelsea midfield.
But this is largely just wishful thinking. Sadly, Tuchel is far more likely to stick with a system that has provided much-needed stability to Chelsea, particularly considering Liverpool are slowly moving back towards their best form in the final third.
Reds finding attacking groove
In the win over Sheffield United, Klopp tweaked his approach slightly by moving Curtis Jones into an advanced position alongside Roberto Firmino, and indeed throughout the game Liverpool poured bodies into advanced positions more regularly than they have been. In years gone by the midfield three have been industrious, leaving creativity to the full-backs and forwards, but that is gradually changing – as Jones’s goal on Sunday showed.
An improved attack is the key to Liverpool ending their horrendous four-game losing streak at Anfield. If indeed they are emboldened by Klopp’s desire to get the midfielders further forward, and combine this with a high press that mimics how Man Utd pinned Chelsea, then the most likely outcome in midweek is a tense, combative, and compressed game of football that once again leaves neutrals frustrated by the lack of goalmouth action.
The draw therefore appeals at 5/2.
Odds correct at 1230 GMT (03/03/21)
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