Everton 0-0 Liverpool: 5 tactics from Marco Silva that stopped Jurgen Klopp's men

Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League
Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League

Before the Merseyside derby on Sunday, Liverpool were 2 points behind Manchester City in second place in the Premier League table. They needed a win, and only a win would put them above the reigning Champions at the top of the pile. As such, the game against Everton had a different edge and perhaps Jurgen Klopp was desperate not to falter at the home of Liverpool's fiercest rivals.

Everton had problems of their own - they were 10th in the table and were sliding dangerously down. They had lost 3 of the last 4 games, but a midweek win over Cardiff City had restored a little confidence in Marco Silva's side. Both sides had a lot to fight for on the night, and this made the Merseyside Derby a pretty interesting affair.

The game started on a bright note and both sides had chances over the course of the 90 minutes to secure all three points. However, the chances were not converted and the game ended 0-0.

Even in the draw, Everton would be pleased to have dented their arch rival's title hopes. Here are 5 tactics from Marco Silva that helped his team stop Liverpool.


#5 Fast, fluid attacking play

Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League
Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League

Liverpool have built a reputation this season of being ruthless in attack. Their speed and precision when going forward inflict fear into the hearts of even the best defense. The fear generated by Klopp’s men makes it hard for most teams to stand up to them.

As such, Silva could have been forgiven had he opted to play out a draw. But the manager showed amazing ambition and spirit to take the game to the away side and on any other day could have even come away with something better at the end of 90 minutes.

Silva used the speed of his forward players – Bernard, Walcott and Calvert-Lewin, to unleash a brand of speedy football that caught Liverpool off guard. Sigurdsson, playing in the No. 10 role, was the architect of the home team's attacking play. The Everton manager used the age-old trick of fighting fire with fire and his decision was vital as Everton kept the Liverpool defense under constant pressure and prevented the away side from playing out from the back.

Van Dijk found little chance to spray passes from deep, as Calvert-Lewin kept him occupied. Every time he went forward, Fabinho had to keep an eye out for the space he was leaving for Sigurdsson. In the end, the attacking tactics unsettled the away side and helped Everton stop Liverpool.

#4 Keeping Liverpool's midfield in check

Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League
Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League

Marco Silva gave his midfielders one clear directive – Liverpool had to be denied any chance of taking control of the middle of the park. Jurgen Klopp’s men usually dictate from the midfield and decide the tempo of the game. It is from here that the Liverpool midfielders spray out the long passes and switch possession to the wings.

Right from the start of the game, Everton increased the numbers in the midfield. Fabinho was denied any time on the ball to take control of proceedings, while Wijnaldum had a quiet game too. Henderson did carve out a couple of passes for the away side, but they were few and far between. As such, Liverpool failed to win the midfield battle on the night.

Klopp tried to change things by bringing in Milner, but it had little effect as Everton refused to budge. By stopping the Liverpool midfield, Everton gained a valuable draw against their arch-rivals.

#3 Shutting out Mohamed Salah

Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League
Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League

The most dangerous player in the Premier League has the ability to break down any defense in the league on his own. Salah is full of running, can pick out a pass, and also has excellent ball control. To top it up, his finishing is also a strong part of his game and as such, stopping him is not an easy task. However, to stop Liverpool, it is essential to stop Salah.

Marco Silva deployed Digne to stop Salah and the Frenchman was at the top of his game throughout the 90 minutes. He refused to leave the Egyptian’s side and denied him any room to unleash his qualities on the ball. Salah did arrive in goal scoring positions on a couple of occasions in the game, only to be denied by Pickford or a combination of the defenders.

By shutting out Salah on the night, Everton crippled Liverpool and gained an upper hand in the game.

#2 Keeping Liverpool's fullbacks quiet

Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League
Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League

Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold are full backs who play as wingbacks. They drive forward with hunger and desire and their crossing abilities are top notch. Both players are full of running and are blessed with speed, which means it takes a lot to stop them. Liverpool breathe through their two marauding fullbacks and this had not skipped the attention of the Everton team.

Everton set out their back four in a very compact formation. Both Coleman and Digne stayed rooted to their positions and did not venture forward too often. As such, the home team denied the opposition any room to unleash their fullbacks and it was a tactic that worked really well.

Every time the two of them went forward, Everton’s wingers – Bernard and Walcott - threatened to break away, which kept the Liverpool team on their toes. As such, both Robertson and Alexander-Arnold had a relatively quiet game, which helped Everton stop Liverpool.

#1 Pressing football

Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League
Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League

Marco Silva asked a lot from his team when he set them up to press from kick off. As such, whenever Liverpool had the ball, the home team closed them down. The away side were denied any time to pick their passes and were always under pressure to move the ball even faster than they are used to. This unsettled Liverpool and disrupted their normal play.

From the back four to the front men, every player battled for the ball. They pounced on every loose ball and fought for every 50/50 chance. There was a bite in Everton’s game that Liverpool had not expected and Klopp’s men failed to react or adapt to Silva’s tactics.

The German made a couple of changes to his team in the second half, however, none of them worked. Everton were expected to tire by the end of the game and Liverpool were waiting to take advantage then. However, the chance never arrived as Everton gave their all on the field in a bid to stop their arch-rivals and come away successful.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram