Liverpool vs Atalanta

KO: 8pm

Anfield

BT Sport

25th of November 2020

Looking ahead to tonight’s Champions League clash against Atalanta; I thought I would take the opportunity to review and write an opinion piece, on the Reds defence in terms of options and possible tactical thoughts.

A victory or draw tonight would see the Reds progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League. A tonic for Jurgen Klopp, giving him options for the teams he could field for the two remaining group matches against Ajax and FC Midtjylland as dead rubbers before Christmas.

However, I do expect a different Atalanta for this evening’s game, from the one we saw in Liverpool’s 5-0 victory at the Bergamo Park earlier this month.

Klopp will need a strong team selection tonight, with the latest centre pairing of Fabinho and Matip crucial to securing a clean sheet for Liverpool. So with that in mind, I wanted to take the opportunity to assess how well are Liverpool coping without the towering presence of Virgil Van Dijk?

It’s been over a month since Van Dijk suffered ACL ligament damage in the highly controversial 2-2 Merseyside derby.

Van Dijk has since undergone successful surgery and very recently commenced light training, so against the odds Liverpool fans may see the Dutchman return this season after all.

But either way, Liverpool has had and will have to cope without the defender over an extended period of 2020/21 season.

No one can question the magnitude of the loss to the team; his superiority in Liverpool’s backline and his leadership on and off the pitch make him tough to replace.

But I believe Liverpool have coped well without the Dutchman since his injury, and Liverpool’s results prove my point!

The Red’s have kept four clean sheets in seven matches since Van Dijk’s absence; winning a total of six matches and drawing one!

Not a bad set of results, given that Van Dijk hasn’t been the only enforced change Klopp has had to make to Liverpool’s backline. Since his ACL injury, Liverpool’s injury list has grown! Joe Gomez is likely to be sidelined until the end of the season, Matip and Fabinho found themselves on the treatment table, Trent is out, and rumours persist that Robertson is playing with a hamstring tweak, not ideal for such an athletic and hardworking player.

This litany of injuries would raise doubts if the Reds could maintain the high line adopted by Klopp and a key element of the high press, that Liverpool is renowned for.

Any doubts proved unfounded against a Leicester team, who possesses counter-attacking flair and pace. The Matip/Fabinio combination squeezed Leicester reducing them to long balls or trying to play through a congested midfield.

Both routes provided them with odd half chances, whilst allowing Liverpool to retain the high press and seek the intricate pass and movement that has undone other would-be challengers.

The message coming through seems to be that the Reds enjoy a foundation of squad players, refined by Klopp and managed by a group of on-field leaders who prove that togetherness is often as powerful, as a fully fit first choice 11.

So let’s hope for a great defensive display by Liverpool tonight; I’m sure Virgil will be cheering on the reds!

Lets confirm our place into the last 16!

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