Jurgen Klopp is ready to unleash Liverpool’s best playmaker on the Premier League

Liverpool might have lost their friendly against Lyon but they showed they’re ready for the rest of 2022/23

It’s essential not to read too much into the result of any football friendly. This is particularly true at the Dubai Super Cup, where the rules of the competition offer the chance for a team to effectively win or lose a match twice.

This is what happened to Liverpool on Sunday. They were beaten 3-1 by Lyon in normal time then lost the post-game penalty shootout 5-3 for good measure. While this outcome can be ignored with regards to the Reds’ hopes for 2022/23, the method by which Jurgen Klopp’s side scored their goal needs to return to being a regular feature.

The Liverpool manager offers memorable soundbites at almost every press conference he gives. Perhaps the most important line he has ever uttered occurred when he stated that “no playmaker in the world can be as good as a good counter-pressing situation,” though. The Reds proved the point in style against Lyon.

Fabio Carvalho applied the finishing touch, finding the net within the opening 40 seconds. But he also played a key part in the build-up. The goal was so perfectly ‘Klopp’ that it’s worthy of an in-depth review.

With Lyon in possession just inside their half, swarming Liverpool players forced them to move backwards. Defensive midfielder Thiago Mendes was put under extreme pressure by Harvey Elliott, so he played the ball to Sinaly Diomande. Elliott continued towards him, but he was joined in pursuit by a sprinting Carvalho. Like all the best predators, the Reds were hunting in packs.

With his angles hugely restricted, the Lyon centre-back was only able to pass directly to Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian played the ball to Mohamed Salah, and though Castello Lukeba got a touch, it then reached Carvalho to score. It was excellent work from the former Fulham youngster, as having helped his side win possession, he then ran into space to ensure they could create a chance.

With Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota injured, Carvalho should get more chances to play on the left of Liverpool’s attack. The goal suggests he can contribute there, and he spoke about the importance of regaining possession in dangerous areas after the match.

“We want to get back to pressing how the team pressed last year, which was very useful in games and we created a lot of chances from it,” Carvalho said. “We haven’t quite been at the level pressing-wise this year and it’s something we’ve been working on and will keep working on. Hopefully we’ll be back to our best.”

Data from Opta Analyst backs up Carvalho’s assertion that Liverpool’s counter-press has decreased in efficiency since last season. After 14 matches of 2021/22 the Reds had amassed 154 high turnovers, which are defined as open play sequences which begin no more than 40m from the opposition goal. They generated 28 shots from these – one for every 5.5 turnovers, at a rate of two per game – and three of them led to goals (against Watford, Manchester United and Arsenal).

Each one of those figures is worse in this campaign. Liverpool have forced 123 turnovers in the final 40m of the pitch, and as their possession average has dropped 0.8 per cent since last season, they’ve had more opportunities to recover the ball. They’ve made 7.2 turnovers for each of the 17 shots they’ve produced (1.2 per game) and it wasn’t until their last pre-World Cup game, against Southampton, that they finally got their first goal of the campaign in this fashion.

It’s no surprise they’ve suffered a dip. Sadio Mane has left, Jota has barely featured due to injury and Darwin Nunez is still finding his feet with the side. Add in the formation variations that have occurred and a less effective press was inevitable. But the opening goal of the friendly with Lyon suggests that it is back, which will greatly encourage Klopp ahead of the remaining six months of the campaign.