Objective: Retaining numbers up at the back during the attacking phase and then defending with 4 players against 3 during negative transition, when using the 3-4-3 formation.

1. © Copyright by Athanasios Terzis 2015
ANALYSIS: ARSENAL 3rd
GOAL
AGAINST LIVERPOOL
By Athanasios Terzis
Analysis:
Bellerin wins possession while Liverpool retains three men at the back against three
Arsenal players. Ramsey receives the pass from Bellerin and turns towards Liverpool
goal as Sakho defends the space rather than moving forward to put pressure on him.
Sanchez and Giroud make diagonal movements. Ramsey passes to Sanchez while
Can tracks his run and Toure commits a tackle to block him. Sanchez makes an
effective first touch towards the inside and dribbles past Toure. Then takes a shot and
scores.

2. © Copyright by Athanasios Terzis 2015
Assessment: In this situation the main tactical elements is the failure of Liverpool to
retain superiority in numbers at the back during negative transition. Additionally in a
situation of equality in numbers (3 v 3) Toure tries to commit a tackle rather than trying
to play for time against Sanchez in order for his team mates to recover in effective
defensive positions and create numbers up.
DRILL FOR THIS SITUATION
LIVERPOOL F.C. RETAINING NUMBERS UP DURING
BOTH THE ATTACKING PHASE AND NEGATIVE
TRANSITION

3. © Copyright by Athanasios Terzis 2015
Objective
Retaining numbers up at the back during the attacking phase and then
defending with 4 players against 3 during negative transition, when using the
3-4-3 formation.
Description
The playing area is divided into four parts. There is a low area divided into two
parts (dark blue and red) in order to determine the strong and the weak side
of the field. There is also a light blue area in which the grey team should
always retain numbers up. Finally when the reds have possession they play
both in the light blue area and the yellow one. The drill starts when one of the
coaches brings a ball into play by passing to one of the four grey midfielders.
The four grey midfielders placed on the blue cones move the ball from side to
side while at the same time they try always to maintain numbers up inside the
light blue area. This is carried out by the weak side’s wing back who should
drop back when appropriate. E.g. in the diagram above, as soon as the ball is
passed to the red area’s central midfielder (No21), the weak side’s wing back
No14 drops back. Simultaneously No18 moves forward. When the wing backs
receive they move forward and dribble around the cone. Then they pass back
to the central midfielder and the ball is moved towards the other side. As soon
as one of the four grey midfielders passes the ball to one of the coaches the
last one passes immediately to one of the red players inside the light blue
area in order to carry out a counterattack (inside the light blue and the yellow
area). The greys try to defend effectively, win possession and pass to one of
the coaches. In case the wing back hasn’t dropped back yet and there is a 3 v
3 situation, the 3 defenders play for time in order for him to recover.

4. © Copyright by Athanasios Terzis 2015
Restrictions: The grey midfielders can enter the light blue area after the
coach’s pass to the red player.
Coaching Points
 Synchronized movements
 Reading the tactical situation