Chelsea vs. Liverpool - CL quarterfinal discussion thread

"Elsewhere we worked hard to stop their weapons, (Steven) Gerrard and Torres, and the passing triangle they use with the right-back, (Alvaro) Arbeloa.

"Michael Essien was the key for us in midfield. He did not only follow Gerrard everywhere, but was able to be the starting point to many of our attacks.

"We also felt we could have some success attacking at corners with the way they use their zonal marking. We managed some real benefits from that."

kas wrote:Hiddink:

"Elsewhere we worked hard to stop their weapons, (Steven) Gerrard and Torres, and the passing triangle they use with the right-back, (Alvaro) Arbeloa.

"Michael Essien was the key for us in midfield. He did not only follow Gerrard everywhere, but was able to be the starting point to many of our attacks.

"We also felt we could have some success attacking at corners with the way they use their zonal marking. We managed some real benefits from that."

I'd love to know what exactly teams do to take advantage of this supposed weakness of zonal marking. Everyone criticises it, but doesn't actually explain why it doesn't work - is it just the simple matter of overloading a given 'zone' with 2 or 3 of your attacking players?

Hlebagone wrote:
For the First Goal, Ivanovish started his run a long way away from where he scored, allowing him to attack the ball more. I know that's whats done normally as well but it can be effective against this system...

Dwarf wrote:

Hlebagone wrote:
For the First Goal, Ivanovish started his run a long way away from where he scored, allowing him to attack the ball more. I know that's whats done normally as well but it can be effective against this system...

Zonal marking also isn't a code name for stand there and do nothing just hoping the ball only becomes headable when it reaches you. If Skrtel had chosen to take the ball at pace once he knew the ball would only become headable in his zone first he'd have stopped Ivanovic scoring, instead he's a sitting duck for any on running attacker.

The second's simply Stokes philosophy at work, if you have enough 6"2 options your opposition aren't going to have enough players to cover all with equally capeable jumpers, you send most of the main options to the front post area and leave one option on the far post, if the ball ever reaches him he'll have an easy mis match. You have to remember Ivanovic would be 4th/5th choice worry come set piece time, that isn't luxury most clubs have.

Mariano! wrote:
Whilst I agree on the sentiments of Zonal marking (I don't think it's any better/worse myself), you've rightly pointed out that Chelsea are a very big side, but then so are Liverpool, so it would be difficult to get said mismatch.

Dwarf wrote:

Mariano! wrote:
Whilst I agree on the sentiments of Zonal marking (I don't think it's any better/worse myself), you've rightly pointed out that Chelsea are a very big side, but then so are Liverpool, so it would be difficult to get said mismatch.

Carragher 5"10 (Smallest first choice big 4 defender)

S4P wrote:A touch of class from luis and glenn.

kas wrote:A Chelsea-Barcelona semifinal looks very likely right now, but that thought scares me to death. 2 main reasons:

1. If there's any manager who knows our 4-3-3 inside out, it'll be Hiddink - not only is he good tactically, he's Dutch. In fact, he probably knows the system better than Guardiola does!!!

2. Drogba vs. Marquez
Really need Abidal fit so Puyol can play at CB and at least reduce the threat...it won't eliminate it completely, but will certainly be better than Marquez and Pique trying to defend against Drogba.

Allez les rouges wrote:

kas wrote:A Chelsea-Barcelona semifinal looks very likely right now, but that thought scares me to death. 2 main reasons:

1. If there's any manager who knows our 4-3-3 inside out, it'll be Hiddink - not only is he good tactically, he's Dutch. In fact, he probably knows the system better than Guardiola does!!!

2. Drogba vs. Marquez
Really need Abidal fit so Puyol can play at CB and at least reduce the threat...it won't eliminate it completely, but will certainly be better than Marquez and Pique trying to defend against Drogba.

Marquez is suspended I think

Black Magic wrote:Theres a reason why he was granted permanent residency in Korea and Australia, Korean-Aussie Guus.

Allez les rouges wrote:

kas wrote:A Chelsea-Barcelona semifinal looks very likely right now, but that thought scares me to death. 2 main reasons:

1. If there's any manager who knows our 4-3-3 inside out, it'll be Hiddink - not only is he good tactically, he's Dutch. In fact, he probably knows the system better than Guardiola does!!!

2. Drogba vs. Marquez
Really need Abidal fit so Puyol can play at CB and at least reduce the threat...it won't eliminate it completely, but will certainly be better than Marquez and Pique trying to defend against Drogba.

Marquez is suspended I think

De Guzman wrote:On Guardiola v Hiddink: both know their 4-3-3 inside out, that will not be the difference. Key will be that Hiddink will know beforehand how Barcelona will play, while Pep will have to guess what Hiddink will dish him.

S4P wrote:How was Gerrard only half-fit?

Six wrote:I don't get why people are going on about Essien man marking a half-fit Gerrard as if it was important. Sure he couldn't inspire a comeback at 3-1 down, but who cares? The game was lost in other areas. Lucas left Alonso to do all the defensive work, which was suicidal. Our defenders were sloppy, gave the ball away way too much. The defending at set pieces was half-hearted. The whole team seemed to suffer from a mental block and were cruising after the first goal.

Chelsea were more up for it than us, they have probably been thinking about this game for weeks. Even if we were level on points i think they would still want the CL more than the EPL, especially players like Drogba. They did a 'Liverpool' to us.