You press liverpool and they try and pass out from the back - similar to us but looking for the long ball down the channels to their forwards. The difference is that as soon as it becomes remotely difficult they hoof it long and let their whippets run the ball down. Against Liverpool we keep trying to pass out of the press but (far too frequently) lose posession and concede shortly thereafter. The key to this is Fernandinho being out numbered and his passing options being limited to our centre halves who then quickly become outnumbered themselves. The key here is Frimino droping deep and a screen of midfielders blocking the passing routes forward to our attacking players. Our centre halves are similarly then closed down.
When we get out of the press they quickly retreat and form a defendive formation to stop us getting into their penalty area that is designed to stop the pass and we oblidgingly pass round it.
How to counteract this?
Like Liverpool when the pass becomes difficult lump it forward and chase the opposition down. Dont try a risky pass against Liverpool.
Deploy the double pivot giving an extra pass option in the centre and bring the wide players in from the flanks to the edges of their "boxes" and the passing channels open up past the defensive screen.
When they form their defensive box - don't just keep passing round it looking for the killer pass but also run at their defence and dribble! Foden and Bernardo are exceptional at doing this. They suck defenders towards them and destroy the opposition formation and yet retain posession to then cross or pass. I'm sure others can do it too. Bernardo's cameo in the January game showed this point to the max as it resulted in two late goals against Liverpool. It is a natural part of Foden's game too (for those of you who watched the U17 England games and his 20 mins against Swansea). I'm sure there are other players who can do it too.
