The opposition finds it difficult to breathe when a Jürgen Klopp team is at its best. They are rendered lifeless by the high press’s suffocating character, leaving them open to a quick counterattack.
According to a quote made famous by Klopp, “No playmaker in the world can be as good as a good counter-pressing situation,” and his Liverpool club has amply demonstrated this. The Reds scored seven goals from high turnovers in the Premier League season 2021–2022, which Opta defines as an open play possession sequence that starts 40 meters or less from the goal of the opponent.
The high press of Liverpool is no longer as effective as it once was due to the development of their front three. Prior to the final six games of the campaign, just two of the league’s goals from last season’s campaign came from high turnovers. Even though 2023/24 is still in its early stages, Tottenham Hotspur has already scored three goals after reclaiming control in advanced areas, leaving the Reds’ field empty. There is definitely room for growth from Klopp’s club, since 12 teams currently have at least one such goal on the scoreboard.
The 3-1 victory over LASK on Thursday night was the first indication that they were headed in the right direction. Darwin Nez won the ball at the right corner of the penalty area with only two minutes left in regulation and passed it to Mohamed Salah in the box. He advanced with it and sent it through Tobias Lawal’s knees for the goal.
Interestingly, all six of the Uruguayan’s assists for the Reds have been for his Egyptian teammate. It’s only the third occasion in the Premier League era—and the first time in more than 20 years—that one Liverpool player has provided six straight assists for another, as Opta’s Michael Reid highlighted on social media.
It was consequently a well-known combination for the current iteration of the side, not simply because it resulted in a goal. Last season, Salah and Nez combined for 16 Opta-defined clear-cut chances, or chances where you would anticipate the attacker to score, and they have already had five in 2023–24.
Although Harvey Elliott assisted him in a 3-1 victory over Southampton, only the latter player was directly involved in a high turnover goal last season, and even then, it was as the scorer rather than the provider. The already excellent combined creativity of Liverpool’s numbers nine and eleven will become even more potent if they can connect up by reclaiming possession in the defensive third of the opponent.
On Thursday, there was yet another ray of urgent optimism in Austria. Another costly error by Liverpool resulted in a shot, which was made by Ryan Gravenberch. Kostas Tsimikas, not Salah, unfortunately took the ensuing goal attempt, which naturally resulted in an off-target shot.
