Analysis: Tottenham

Tottenham set up in a 4-4-2 formation, but that effectively shifted into a 4-2-2-2 system in possession. Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele sat as the deepest of the midfielders, while Christian Eriksen and Harry Winks played ahead of the pair and behind the two forwards Harry Kane and Lucas Moura. Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose would move forward from their full-back positions to provide the width.

Spurs tried to play early passes in behind for the runs of Kane and Moura in the first half – but little came from this approach, with Liverpool comfortable in sweeping up the danger. The hosts were highly ineffective in building from the back in the opening period too, as much of their possession was aimlessly circulated between Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. The ball was simply played into Dembele or Dier before being recycled to the centre-backs, who would then attempt a long pass to the forwards. This invariably led to an easy regaining of possession for the visitors.

The home side would occasionally drop Eriksen or Winks in to assist the build-up, but this didn’t improve the situation. It wasn’t until Erik Lamela replaced Dembele on the hour mark that Tottenham started to build attacks with increasing quality. Lamela played on the same line as Eriksen, and the two would drop in and try to combine around Liverpool’s second line in order to penetrate and move into the final third. Positioning Winks further back also helped Spurs to progress from the back while maintaining a high level of technical quality within the next line in order to continue the attack – this wasn’t as straightforward when Dembele and Dier were both on the pitch.

They operated in a 4-4-2 out of possession, which could also take on the form of a 4-3-1-2. The midfield would sometimes sit as a flat box of four, with the structure often dependent on the location of Eriksen. The Denmark international shifted between joining Kane and Moura on the top line of the press, operating slightly deeper to occupy Georginio Wijnaldum when Liverpool were building, and positioning himself in a central flat line of four.

Tottenham would try to swarm the ball in the middle third, particularly out towards the touchline, but this left them vulnerable to the switch of play. Liverpool fortunately didn’t take advantage of this – had they done so more regularly, the scoreline might have been significantly less flattering to the hosts.