Liverpool sealed their spot in the quarter-final so of the Champions League thanks to a 4-0 home win over Galatasaray.
Arne Slot’s side were rampant throughout, hitting the target with 16 of their 32 shots, posting 5.02 Expected Goals and creating eight big chances.
They restricted Galatasaray to just four shots worth 0.18 xG, with no big chances. The Reds also boasted 62% possession.
In this article, we’ll cover
Slot’s aggressive tactics
Slot set up his Liverpool side to be aggressive from the start. The Dutchman looked to send both full-backs forward to provide width, allowing his narrow unit of attackers to interchange and combine.
The midfield quartet of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz played in close proximity as a narrow diamond midfield.
This shape allowed Liverpool to overload Galatasaray’s midfield unit 4v3. They often had three of the four midfielders between the lines once Mac Allister moved forward to create a tension against the Galatasaray double pivot.
Szoboszlai and Wirtz were also able to drift wide and create 2v2 side connections with their relative full-back.
The fluidity and movement of Liverpool’s attacking unit with Mo Salah and Hugo Ekitike making dynamic movements to support the narrow unit behind them made them extremely difficult to pick up, proving to be a nightmare for the Galatasaray defence.
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Salah’s night
It was a special night for Salah. The Egypian scored his 50th Champions League goal, making it 4-0 with a trademark curled finish into the top left corner. Salah has how been directly involved in 71 goals in just 97 appearances in the competition for Liverpool, Chelsea and Basel.
Salah played in more of an inside forward role and found himself closer to goal, as opposed to being stuck out on the touchline. He managed seven shots at Anfield, with six hitting the target.
Due to the fluid nature of Liverpool’s midfield behind him, Salah was able to make dynamic runs in central areas to penetrate in behind. He constantly got into dangerous areas, boasting 13 touches inside the opposition box.
Salah’s goal against Galatasaray was just his 10th across all competitions this season, in 34 appearances. But the Egyptian will be hoping to help his side end the season strong, qualifying for the Champions League once more and perhaps even going all the way and winning it.
Set-piece mastery
Sticking with the main theme of the Premier League this season, Liverpool opened the scoring from a well-worked set-piece. The Reds took advantage of Galatasaray’s defensive setup, which left the edge of the box clear.
Liverpool clustered their biggest aerial threats around the penalty spot, with Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Gravenberch all huddled together ready for the delivery.
But as the group crept forwards, Mac Allister delivered the ball across the floor towards the edge of the box. Szoboszlai arrived unmarked and guide it towards goal with some venom on his weaker left foot.
Liverpool have scored 13 gols from set-pieces in the Premier League this season. Only Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Arsenal have netted more than the Reds.
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Diamond midfield
The shape of Liverpool’s midfield four changed throughout the game.
Mac Allister had the license to make fluid movements between the build-up unit and higher up between the lines. Szoboszlai and Wirtz, however, were much more active between the lines. They played as double No.10s and looked to combine within the central network of midfielders and two strikers.
The pair had 10 shots between then, with Szoboszlai scoring once from his six efforts — Wirtz was unable to find the net from his four efforts.
However, Wirtz thrived in this free role afforded to him. Ekitike played as the left forward drifting wide into the channel to combine with Milos Kerkez, allowing Wirtz to almost act as a false nine at times knitting things together with plenty of options either side.
The German created eight chances in the game, completing four take-ons and providing one assist. He acted as the primary creator for the team with every attack running through Wirtz.
Slot will be hoping the likes of Salah, Wirtz and Ekitike can continue to thrive in this system. It will be key to a successful end of the season, helping ease the tension around the club after a failed attempt at defending their Premier League crown.