How Arne Slot outsmarted Pep Guardiola: 4-1-4-1, Diaz’s press & double-marking Haaland

Liverpool outclassed title rivals Man City throughout Sunday’s 2-0 win at Anfield, in another marker of Arne Slot‘s outstanding tactical creativity. Here’s how he did it.

Slot has been effusive in his praise of Pep Guardiola throughout his career, labelling the City boss a major influence.

In his first test against his inspiration, Slot passed with flying colours.

Pep usually springs a surprise in the biggest games, and in this one it was his use of Matheus Nunes as a left winger.

Along with Rico Lewis on the right, he gave City an abundance of midfielders and a narrow shape designed to stop Liverpool dominating the centre of the pitch.

Slot, however, made a choice of his own that was highly effective. He set Liverpool up to press in a 4-1-4-1 shape when City built up.

In theory, City could put six players against Liverpool’s five-man pressing unit, giving them a numerical advantage.

However, the trade-off was that Liverpool had an extra player in defence, with both Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk tight on

Despite their advantage in the buildup, City struggled to keep the ball during an electric opening sequence.

Luis Diaz was instructed not to be baited into pressing the goalkeeper, instead waiting for the first pass to be played.

This meant Liverpool’s pressing unit could shift over to one side, putting the free City player as far away from the ball as possible.

This press was so intense, supported by a baying Anfield crowd, that City continually gave up the ball in these situations.

In this example, goalkeeper Stefan Ortega does find the spare man.

But the midfield closes him down so quickly that the ball is worked back instead of forwards, and eventually Ryan Gravenberch is able to anticipate the next pass to intercept…

…before setting up a chance.

Without a real out-ball beyond Haaland, who was double-marked, the only other option was for Ortega to play a clipped ball over the pressing unit and into the space where either Gravenberch or Alexis Mac Allister were alone in front of the back line.

However, the nature of this kind of pass means it has to be floated to drop behind the pressing unit.

This gave the likes of Van Dijk and Gomez ample opportunity to step out and claim it, with their partner still tight on Haaland behind them just in case.

As a result, Liverpool were able to dominate possession.

With City attempting to press high, Liverpool were matched up in one-on-one battles. Mo Salah was trusted to win his battle with Nathan Ake, being Liverpool’s most frequent outlet, while Kyle Walker was targeted by Cody Gakpo as the weak link in City’s defence.

That’s where the first goal came from.

In the aftermath of a set-piece, we saw Dominik Szoboszlai – who covered every blade of grass in the game – drop in at right-back.

This allowed Alexander-Arnold to pick up the ball on the opposite side of the pitch. Without a clear idea of who was marking him, City couldn’t get enough pressure on him.

They still pushed their defensive line up high, though, meaning he could play a perfect ball in behind for Salah to chase.

With the defence in retreat, Gakpo could simply ghost in behind the unaware Walker and turn in Salah’s cross at the back post.

After 15 minutes, Liverpool had 63 percent possession, created 1.20 xG to City’s 0.0, and had won six duels to City’s four. Guardiola could not afford to wait for half-time, so he immediately instructed Manuel Akanji to begin stepping into midfield.

The wisdom of keeping Van Dijk and Gomez doubled up on Haaland was on display here. Akanji at one point was able to step up and pick a pass that eluded Gomez…

…but as Haaland raced onto it, there was Van Dijk to shut him down.

With Haaland marked out of the game, Nunes became their best outlet. But too often, City weren’t quick enough to find him. Here, he is free in space and waving his arms (bottom left)…

…but the ball is worked via Ilkay Gundogan in the centre rather than directly to him, meaning Liverpool can get back into their shape…

…and, with his options limited, Nunes ends up losing the ball to Alexander-Arnold anyway.

At the break, City had made just one attempt on goal.