By Stewart Robson
Last Updated: 1:55am BST 06/04/2008
Last Updated: 1:55am BST 06/04/2008
Following the first two evenly contested encounters in their series of three meetings, both the Arsenal and Liverpool managers will be thinking about making minor adjustments to give themselves the advantage in the second leg of their Champions League tie on Tuesday night.
The first leg gave us a far better indication of the strengths and weaknesses of both sides than the starting line-ups in yesterday's Premier League match. Wenger would have been encouraged to see that Liverpool's defensive line lacked cohesion. With Jamie Carragher playing at right-back, the centre-back partnership of Martin Skrtel and Sami Hyypia (who, at 34, has just agreed a contract extension until 2009) failed to gel. Too many times the distance between them, in width or depth, became too big. Although they got away with it, they would have been punished if Arsenal's passing been more precise.
Skrtel, in particular, was dragged into midfield areas, leaving Hyypia exposed. With neither having great pace, the space between them must be kept to a minimum. Whereas Carragher and Hyypia know exactly what each other is doing, Wednesday's partnership didn't have the same communication or telepathic understanding. Yesterday's pairing of Skrtel and Carragher looked better balanced with Steve Finnan at right-back.
Wenger had obviously seen something before these games that suggested that Liverpool were vulnerable to inswinging set-plays. In the first game, he deployed three players to stand on the goal-line to stop Jose Reina coming for the ball and then got them to move out towards the six-yard box as the ball was delivered with pace. While Liverpool's zonal marking should be able to deal with this, their inability to attack the ball has resulted in Emmanuel Adebayor scoring unchallenged in the first game and Nicklas Bendtner doing likewise yesterday. Reina's refusal to come for crosses leaves Liverpool very vulnerable.
Wenger, for his part, will need to decide how to deal with Steven Gerrard's threat. In the first leg, he made little effort to defend as Arsenal built up play but jogged into space so that he could be found as soon as Liverpool regained possession. His role allowed Arsenal's midfield to control the game, but it made him dangerous on the counter-attack as it did when he was sent on yesterday. At Anfield I believe he will move into wider areas so that Mathieu Flamini will not be able to stifle him.
Rafa Benitez will be hoping that Wenger continues to play Philippe Senderos and William Gallas as his centre-halves. Although they coped well with Fernando Torres in the first leg, the Spaniard was isolated for much of the game and will be a different proposition at Anfield. Neither Senderos nor Gallas is quick and, should Gerrard get time on the ball, his understanding with Torres is such that any positional indiscretion will be exploited.
I believe the pace of Kolo Toure will be invaluable to Arsenal and should be used in the centre of defence rather than at right-back. By playing him at full-back, it suggests Wenger has little faith in two of his other players. Emmanuel Eboue was considered a full-back until this season and, with Bacary Sagna injured, he should be the natural replacement - but not in Wenger's mind. Or does he not have faith in Theo Walcott starting important games in the position that Eboue would vacate if he returned to right-back? Neither player impressed yesterday.
Regardless of the 1-1 scoreline in the Champions League tie, I believe both sides will continue to play their natural games. Arsenal will attempt to control possession with their movement and passing ability while Liverpool will remain compact and hope that the quartet of Torres, Gerrard, Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt are capable of creating chances with their pace and desire.
Champions league statistics:
Liverpool have hit the most long passes in this year's Champions League, 698.
Arsenal have been caught offside the most times, 33.
Liverpool have scored the most goals, 22.
Of the eight teams left Arsenal have attempted the fewest shots, 95.
Liverpool have won their last three Champions League home games, scoring 14 goals
Arsenal have kept nine clean sheets in their last 13 away games.
But they have failed to score in four of their last seven CL games.
However, they did win at Anfield in both English domestic cup competitions last season.
The first leg gave us a far better indication of the strengths and weaknesses of both sides than the starting line-ups in yesterday's Premier League match. Wenger would have been encouraged to see that Liverpool's defensive line lacked cohesion. With Jamie Carragher playing at right-back, the centre-back partnership of Martin Skrtel and Sami Hyypia (who, at 34, has just agreed a contract extension until 2009) failed to gel. Too many times the distance between them, in width or depth, became too big. Although they got away with it, they would have been punished if Arsenal's passing been more precise.
Skrtel, in particular, was dragged into midfield areas, leaving Hyypia exposed. With neither having great pace, the space between them must be kept to a minimum. Whereas Carragher and Hyypia know exactly what each other is doing, Wednesday's partnership didn't have the same communication or telepathic understanding. Yesterday's pairing of Skrtel and Carragher looked better balanced with Steve Finnan at right-back.
Wenger had obviously seen something before these games that suggested that Liverpool were vulnerable to inswinging set-plays. In the first game, he deployed three players to stand on the goal-line to stop Jose Reina coming for the ball and then got them to move out towards the six-yard box as the ball was delivered with pace. While Liverpool's zonal marking should be able to deal with this, their inability to attack the ball has resulted in Emmanuel Adebayor scoring unchallenged in the first game and Nicklas Bendtner doing likewise yesterday. Reina's refusal to come for crosses leaves Liverpool very vulnerable.
Wenger, for his part, will need to decide how to deal with Steven Gerrard's threat. In the first leg, he made little effort to defend as Arsenal built up play but jogged into space so that he could be found as soon as Liverpool regained possession. His role allowed Arsenal's midfield to control the game, but it made him dangerous on the counter-attack as it did when he was sent on yesterday. At Anfield I believe he will move into wider areas so that Mathieu Flamini will not be able to stifle him.
Rafa Benitez will be hoping that Wenger continues to play Philippe Senderos and William Gallas as his centre-halves. Although they coped well with Fernando Torres in the first leg, the Spaniard was isolated for much of the game and will be a different proposition at Anfield. Neither Senderos nor Gallas is quick and, should Gerrard get time on the ball, his understanding with Torres is such that any positional indiscretion will be exploited.
I believe the pace of Kolo Toure will be invaluable to Arsenal and should be used in the centre of defence rather than at right-back. By playing him at full-back, it suggests Wenger has little faith in two of his other players. Emmanuel Eboue was considered a full-back until this season and, with Bacary Sagna injured, he should be the natural replacement - but not in Wenger's mind. Or does he not have faith in Theo Walcott starting important games in the position that Eboue would vacate if he returned to right-back? Neither player impressed yesterday.
Regardless of the 1-1 scoreline in the Champions League tie, I believe both sides will continue to play their natural games. Arsenal will attempt to control possession with their movement and passing ability while Liverpool will remain compact and hope that the quartet of Torres, Gerrard, Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt are capable of creating chances with their pace and desire.
Champions league statistics:
Liverpool have hit the most long passes in this year's Champions League, 698.
Arsenal have been caught offside the most times, 33.
Liverpool have scored the most goals, 22.
Of the eight teams left Arsenal have attempted the fewest shots, 95.
Liverpool have won their last three Champions League home games, scoring 14 goals
Arsenal have kept nine clean sheets in their last 13 away games.
But they have failed to score in four of their last seven CL games.
However, they did win at Anfield in both English domestic cup competitions last season.
utusanLFC :
what's the last line got to do with this season? This season Arsenal didn't win at all ok...
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