Here is my tactical preview of the opposition
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New Manager, New EvertonRoberto Martinez is employing a 4-2-3-1 type system at Everton this season as his predecessor largely did. However, the new manager is encouraging a possession-based ethos in order to provide a greater level of control in matches. Unsurprisingly though, there have been some teething problems with certain games filled with hollow passing such as the recent 0-0 draw at Palace. As the season progresses, Martinez will be looking to ensure that there is a purpose behind the passing by injecting it with tempo and movement that were evidenced in their better performances so far such as the 1st half against Newcastle.
Everton's set upThe defence in the graphic below have played every minute of every game so its reasonable to assume we will see this again. In midfield, Ross Barkley is the player that has missed out recently. With Martinez going with McCarthy & Barry as the holding players, he has moved Osman into the advanced midfield position at the expense of Barkley. Out wide, the manager has linked Pienaar up with Baines on the left with Mirallas starting on the right and obviously Lukaku upfront.
Their general style has seen Martinez encouraging Pienaar & Mirallas to pick their moments to come inside off the flanks and encourage both full-backs to get forward to provide the width. It’s a simple strategy that by bringing them infield, the team have more options to keep it in central areas to encourage a more possession based game that Martinez is looking to instill yet still gets the best out Baines & Coleman given their attacking tendencies.
The pivot in midfield generally sees McCarthy use his energy to get forward more and do the chasing & closing down in midfield with Barry covering the space a bit deeper and reading the danger. This season, McCarthy averages the most tackles per game for the team whilst Barry averages the most interceptions per game. As shown i the average positions above McCarthy (16) has had a higher position than Barry (18). With Barry sitting as the deeper of the two being the one to start attacks and being the outlet ball by backing up the play, he is the player that gets on the ball most for Everton and has averaged the 5th highest amount of passes per game this season in the league.
As for upfront, Lukaku plays as a lone striker but has had his better days with Barkley behind him. In recent games, Martinez has made a more conservative selection in Osman there who has failed to link up the midfield and attack resulting in Lukaku coming a bit deeper to try get involved with the play. The recent bluntness is not only down to this selection issue but a drop in Mirallas' form recently. I think this is the key selection issue for Everton in the derby - will Martinez go conservative with the experience of Osman or will Barkley come back in and provide more drive in attack ?
Change in StyleLast season Everton averaged 52.9% possession (9th highest) with a pass completion rate of 79.4% (11th highest) and averaged 369 short passes per game (11th highest). After 11 games this season, they have averaged 58.1% possession (4th) with a pass completion rate of 83.8% (6th) and average 453 short passes per game (6th) which is 23% more short passes than last season. It is well documented that Martinez has looked to change Everton's style with the manager recently saying;
"If you want to have big results it has to be a big change. But I would never tell my players to launch the ball forward".However, it would be foolish to believe that Everton are married to a short passing game under Martinez irrespective of the improving possession stats and recent comments. After all, with a tall and powerful striker in Lukaku, playing clever balls over the top can help turn a team around or simply hit his chest and look to play from his lay-offs. Two examples of this are the games against City away and Newcastle at home when the ball went from back to front. These were not pressure relieving aimless punts, rather the balls were played with relatively little pressure on the ball. Therefore, it would be unwise to expect Everton not to consider mixing it up with longer passes looking for Lukaku. That said, it is certainly something that Liverpool should be looking to force Everton into by pressing them in deeper areas especially with 2 debutants in Barry & McCarthy.
Fig 1. Lukaku goal at City started by a long pass
Fig 2. Long balls played by Everton at Villa
Possession based gameThere will be certain aspects of Everton's transition under Martinez that Liverpool fans will be able to relate to. In the last 2 games at least, it would appear that Everton are going through a phase of retaining possession without being able to apply a cutting edge to open teams up. By retaining possession in midfield and moving the play from side to side, it can draw players out of position and open space for the likes of Barkley & Mirallas that have the willingness to travel up the pitch with the ball and the ability to beat defenders. Mark Noble suffered earlier in the season when he fouled each of them when they were on runs and picked up yellow cards for each foul and got sent off.
Recently, both Liverpool & Everton played 2 of the weaker teams in the league and each had a staggering amount of possession - approx 70%. Below is a look at the main pass combinations in those games. With Everton, there was alot of football played amongst their defenders and their defensive midfielders which is alot of football being played in non-threatening areas. However, Liverpool's main combinations involved getting Henderson & Johnson to link up down the right and also Gerrard & Lucas looking to get Coutinho on the ball.
Continuing the theme of passing trends here are a look at the most recent 2 games of each side - both played a top London club and both played a relegation threatened London club;
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LFC v Fulham & EFC v Palace: Liverpool played 26% more forward passes than Everton and had a better pass completion rate (87% v 81%)-
LFC v Arsenal & EFC v Spurs: Liverpool played 21% more forward passes than Everton and had a better pass completion rate (77% v 70%)These comparisons are almost like looking at Liverpool early last season (more lateral passing) and the team this season (more vertical passing). As such, part of Everton's play this season is almost like looking at the reds under Brendan Rodgers in the first part of last season. With Everton having 70% possession against a relegation threatened team (Palace) and drawing 0-0, its not an original story for a team and something reds can relate to from previous seasons.
The rest of the preview is herewww.theinsideright.com