https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gDOygNWv50I remembered this video when I watched us counter-attack after that corner. Look at the way we set up in the video (Posted by BabuYagu on RAWK). This is from right after the corner was taken. We've got the 5 players defending the 6 yard box, 3 players blocking the runs and 2 players on the edge of the box ready for the counter-attack.
Defended the corner well and the two quick lads finished the counter-attack. You can see the exact positioning of everyone there. Have we actually improved on defending corners? My memory is probably letting me down here, but I think we've only conceded the one from a corner this season at Watford after Wijnaldum missed the first post clearance? We seem to be struggling a bit more defending free kicks when there is space in behind us which Mignolet has to actually cover most of.
I reckon that is the first time we've heard Klopp openly talk about playing in a different style i.e. Sitting deeper, playing on the counter, 4-4-2. It makes perfect sense given that our side is packed with pace and we've got defensive issues. More of the same please Jürgen. We've got the personnel to play a variety of different styles/tactics.
It was a very interesting game from a tactical viewpoint. Or at least it was for us. Wasn't able to watch the game with the concentration I usually do, so I watched it again and saw some interesting things. Don't think I've ever seen us play with so much rotation going on with the front four and in midfield. We were constantly switching positions, changing our shape etc. Defensively we indeed looked like a 4-4-2:
It was very clear how much we changed positions. Mane would often find himself in midfield (any of the positions), Firmino too.
Our offensive formation was slighly different and we played with a square shape in the middle to get through West-Ham's lines:
You can clearly see it here: the base in midfield with Can and Wijnaldum, two of the front four (any of them, they switched all the times) in front of them and the other two pushed a bit wider. Here it's Mane and Salah who have come inside from the wings, Alex and Firmino are the front two.
A minute later, again, we're in possesion, square shape with the base in midfield, but on this occasion it's Mane and Alex who have come inside and Salah and Firmino are the front two.
The four of them constantly changed positions, dropping into midfield, going wide, ... West-Ham couldn't live with their constant movement.
Many ppl think 4-4-2 is 'ourdated' but our current champions used it effectively to win the league. The other plus point is the same players we have in a 4-4-2 could easily switch back to a 4-2-3-1
We use this tactic against teams that sit deep and then it works, we did something similar against Huddersfield. I don't think we can play this sort of 4-4-2 against better teams, we'd get overrun in midfield, something we experienced for a small spell in the second half against the Hammers.