Astonishing footballer. He’s the biggest reason we obliterate opponents in situations like Burnley and Newcastle. 2 deep low blocks, but instead of losing/drawing those games, we smash through those buses. Arsenal did the same thing actually. That’s the last 3 PL games, where we’ve faced those deep low blocks.
It’s a tactic we’ll see more of this season I think, as last season 2 of our biggest attacking weapons were Robertson and Trent. The deep blocks in the box against our attackers is designed to keep the space in the deadliest areas controlled, conceding the wide areas to our better wingers in Trent and Robertson.
But then we can play through the middle. Salah and Mane play narrower, and because of the above, I think will do more. It means it’s imperative we have someone in that number 9.5 position to be able to link up with close, quick, one touch passes. And how many times has it happened so far this season? He opens the gates for Mane and Salah to do their thing, it’s one of the best things to watch in world football at the moment - how he does it.
Yesterday’s 2 touch flick one-two with Salah took 7 Newcastle players out in close vicinity to the ball. 7. That’s before Salah’s got to beat the keeper by the way.
Salah and Mane’s quality in those situations is of course key - they’re all an equal part of a deadly trident. Mane’s own ability in those tight situations is exemplarary, along with Salah’s, already this season. Salah’s goals playing narrow through the low block from the right side have been a good example this season. He’s scored a few now (although yesterday’s was of course from the left side - still deadly!) Mane’s yesterday was almost impossible - how he got the ball under control and get that shot power and accuracy, in literally a split second, given the tight space in and in front of the box.
It’ll be a joy to watch them this season. They’re world class talents, have the attitudes to make it at the very top, something they’ve shown this last couple of seasons. But this season, they’re also Champions. They’ve won the biggest prize, and now they’ve got the confidence to *own* that level. It’s brilliant, because that is directly going to be translated onto the field. They’ll be more audacious. Which is a great thought, as it’ll be brilliant to watch them do it. All 3 of these are absolutely vital to this title challenge. Hope they stay fit and firing all season.
