A Detailed Tactical and Technical Breakdown
Liverpool 1–0 Arsenal — Dominik Szoboszlai’s 83rd‑minute long-range free‑kick proved the decisive moment in a tight, tactical contest at Anfield.
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| Szoboszlai’s Stunner Decides a Cautious Anfield Chess Match |
Key facts
Final score: Liverpool 1, Arsenal 0 (Szoboszlai 83').
Line‑ups (starting XI highlights): Liverpool deployed Alisson; Szoboszlai at right‑back, Konaté, van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch and Mac Allister in midfield; Wirtz behind Salah, Gakpo and Ekitike up front. Arsenal started Raya; Timber, Saliba (subbed early), Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Merino in midfield; Madueke, Martinelli, Gyökeres in attack.
Possession / shots (match snapshot): broadly even possession with Liverpool marginally ahead in some trackers; Liverpool had more shots on target late (sources vary).
Overall strategic picture
Context: Both teams came in unbeaten and set up cautiously — the game felt like a chess match rather than open football. Arsenal tried to control possession and attack down the wings; Liverpool under Arne Slot accepted a more conservative, phase‑based approach, using positional rotations and situational pressing.
Formations and phase behaviour
Liverpool’s base shape: nominal 4 at the back with a central double‑pivot (Gravenberch / Mac Allister) and Wirtz in a free‑roaming #10 role; full‑backs (Szoboszlai at right, Kerkez at left) provided width but Szoboszlai’s use at right‑back was hybrid — he often stepped into midfield in possession, creating a 3–2 build for progression. That hybrid right‑back role directly influenced the match dynamics and ultimately the set‑piece that won it.
Arsenal’s base shape: a 4–3–3 / 4–2–3–1 blend with Rice and Zubimendi / Merino covering midfield, and Madueke / Martinelli providing width. Arteta prioritised structure and ball retention, seeking to stretch Liverpool and create 1v1s on the flanks. An early injury to Saliba forced a defensive reshuffle that limited Arsenal’s usual fluidity.
In‑possession (what worked / what didn’t)
Arsenal: good control of the ball, moved Liverpool laterally and looked to overload wide areas. They had decent territory and several half‑chances but lacked a killer pass or a reliable finishing sequence in the box. Their possession generally invited Liverpool to sit and invite errors rather than to be overwhelmed.
Liverpool: more direct and pragmatic after the break. Slot’s side shifted between patient build‑up and explosive vertical passes — Wirtz and Salah were focal points for quick combinations. The midfield tweaks (substitutions and small role changes) increased Liverpool’s dynamism and robbed Arsenal of the tempo they had earlier.
Out‑of‑possession and pressing
Arsenal sought to press in the opponent’s half to deny Liverpool time on the ball, particularly forcing full‑backs into uncomfortable positions. When Arsenal pressed high they created turnovers and promising situations; when Liverpool adjusted their midfield angles (especially after Szoboszlai’s deeper involvement), Liverpool could bypass the press more effectively.
Transitional moments and the decisive play
The match was decided from a dead‑ball rather than open play — Szoboszlai’s 30+‑yard free‑kick. Two technical points about the strike and the lead‑up:
The foul that produced the free‑kick arrived from a midzone tussle (Curtis Jones was the fouled player in some reports), giving Liverpool a central opportunity at ~30m.
Szoboszlai struck with power and precision; reports and post‑match comments suggest he targeted the goalkeeper’s movement behind the wall and used a flight/rip that Rafa Raya found difficult to read. The goal was a “magic moment” that removed the need to break Arsenal down from open play.
Individual technical/tactical ratings (selected players)
Dominik Szoboszlai — match‑winner and tactically invaluable: used both as a hybrid right‑back and an advanced playmaker; his set‑piece quality solved the game.
Florian Wirtz — creative fulcrum: provided the link between midfield and Salah/Gakpo; Liverpool looked more dangerous when he found pockets between the lines.
Noni Madueke (Arsenal) — positive in Saka’s absence: direct, caused problems down the flank and was a lively outlet.
David Raya — kept Arsenal in it with several saves but was beaten by a world‑class strike; he later remarked how unpredictable flight made the strike hard to stop.
Tactical strengths & weaknesses shown by the game
Liverpool strengths: set‑piece quality and adaptable midfield structure; ability to change tempo via substitutions and role adjustments. Weakness: early game disjointedness and vulnerability to sustained wing play.
Arsenal strengths: good possession structure, wing overloads and recovery/pressing work. Weaknesses: finishing in the box, disruption from early injury (Saliba), and inability to convert territorial advantage into goals.
What the managers will take away
Arne Slot: pleased that Liverpool found a late solution and defended a narrow lead, but will want a better first half intensity and fewer periods where Arsenal controlled the tempo. The Szoboszlai experiment at right‑back looked justified in this match.
Mikel Arteta: bigger concern is injuries and the failure to turn control into goals. Arteta will want more incisive movement inside the box and better exploitation of Liverpool’s moments of low press. The early Saliba issue will be investigated.
Short tactical takeaways (bite‑sized)
Dead‑balls decide tight games — set‑piece preparation and specialist takers are premium assets.
Hybrid full‑backs (Szoboszlai at RB) can create midfield overloads — but they also leave questions about defensive balance.
Possession without a plan for the final third is vulnerable to single moments of quality (a recurring modern football truth).
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Analysis