But I didn’t like the whole pressing system - everyone was a beat too late

The aging curve suggests that this summer would be the right time in his case. Many people believe Alexis has rebuilt himself physically, but I have my doubts. The improvement in the team’s overall structure is influencing how people perceive him, as the team now defends more cohesively. However, in moments of transition, when he needs to cover several metres and win a footrace, something that will happen frequently in Iraola’s vertical and direct style of football, Mac Allister is still falling short. His intelligence and the support of his teammates will help mask these shortcomings, but when something disrupts the structure and he has to solve the problem on his own, it simply doesn’t work. We need to replace him with an athletic, space-covering midfielder #LFC

Two identical systems, yet such noticeable differences (and problems) emerge when movements are even slightly mistimed in relation to the opposition. Even the smallest delay can escalate the danger, which compounds with every passing second #LFC

Fluid circulation with a one-sided overload (asymmetry) provides the platform for players like Rio, who manipulate and destabilise opponents through various types of vertical and horizontal runs. Rio initially moves out wide before dynamically cutting inside, eliminating his marker and reducing the advantage to an isolated 1v1 duel. This also creates a “gate” between the CB and LB, which he can exploit to penetrate the penalty area freely. However, the entire sequence is initiated by Gravenberch, who reads Rio’s non-verbal cues and recognises his intentions through his movement. The relationships between these players are almost imperceptible. It is this momentum that generates temporal advantages, denying the opponent time to analyse the situation and instead forcing an immediate reaction #LFC

The pass to Muñoz was exactly what Brentford wanted. We could only circulate the ball around their defensive shape. They would then engage the winger, creating defensive numerical advantages, typically 3v2 or 2v1. Their shape was so well calibrated that they used their cover shadows to block passing lanes. There were more situations in which our wingers lacked support from the full-backs than situations in which they received it. Look at the radius around Muñoz - the potential for an overlapping run through the half-space was enormous. Bringing in an additional player either isolates the 1v1 duel or allows us to exploit the inside channel to enter the box by playing the ball into that space. It was similar on the other side. This forced us into passive circulation that produced no real results, with just 21 entries into the attacking third compared to Brentford’s 39 - although these figures refer to the first half

Four seconds, a progressive pass, and absolutely no initiative to alter the structure through asymmetrical full-back movements into more advanced areas, in sync with the ball’s progression. On several occasions on Saturday, I noticed that the wingers were left isolated, forced to take on two or three opposition players themselves, despite there being fairly good opportunities for the full-backs to make overlapping runs. This often left Liverpool numerically disadvantaged in key areas, allowing Brentford to defend comfortably by maintaining their numerical superiority. There was no tension created, no attempt to draw defenders out of position, and no expansion of our attacking options. This passive approach to full-back play needs to be eliminated as soon as possible, because it kills potentially dangerous attacking patterns #LFC

One of the best collective combination sequences from yesterday’s game. Player positioning is crucial, as it dictates how the opposition has to position themselves. The triangle formed by Nyoni, Alexis and Virgil pins Thiago and opens up space for Jacquet, while Munoz and Araujo occupy the winger, full-back and left centre-back. Any movement from those three would create potential problems for the opposition. Brentford seemed convinced that play would be directed towards the right, which was probably exactly what they wanted, deliberately leaving more space for Araujo. Isak takes a step towards the ball, lining himself up with Wirtz, making it difficult for the defenders to identify which of the two will receive the pass. Then, in a perfectly synchronised movement, Wirtz comes short to receive the ball while Isak runs in behind the defensive line. This creates the ideal third-man combination pattern, before the move ends with a cutback that Alexis almost capitalises on with his run from deep. Everything is perfectly balanced, with several players actively involved in the sequence. Wirtz’s performances are heavily influenced by the context his teammates create around him. When the right conditions are in place, he thrives in these moments #LFC

Playing in tight spaces In the initial phase, as we can see, Jacquet spreads his arms, asking one of his teammates to offer him a passing option as Thiago’s pressure continues to increase. A free pocket of space had opened up in the right half-space, but none of the players initially dropped into it to provide an option. Eventually, Muñoz moved into that space and received the ball from Jacquet. He then had several options to combine in tight spaces, linking up with Wirtz, Mac Allister or Araújo. The problem, however, was that Mac Allister was quickly tightly marked by his opponent, while Muñoz lacks the natural inclination to play forward from a closed body position. His hip mobility and body mechanics make it difficult for him to execute these types of movements effectively. As a result, he plays the ball back to Jacquet. By this point, Brentford’s players have narrowed the space on the right, compressing the area and limiting Liverpool’s options. With the pressure on Jacquet continuing to increase, he attempts a risky pass to break through Brentford’s defensive block. In this instance, the pass is intercepted, resulting in a turnover and allowing Brentford to launch a transition attack

Brentford also employed a 1-4-4-2 mid-block with a focus on covering passing options. This was understandable, given the significant physical demands of man-to-man pressing. Once again, their priority was to close off the central channels. Liverpool attempted to create space in the pockets for Wirtz by splitting their structure into two components. When an opportunity to access that space finally emerged, Alexis stepped into the passing lane between Virgil and Wirtz, disrupting the ball’s progression and ultimately thwarting the entire plan