Ajax v Spurs: One big game, three big questions

Sarah Winterburn

Two big games, five big tactical questions…

 

1) Can Liverpool get the fast start they need without Salah and Firmino?
For Liverpool to stand a chance in this tie they need to start as quickly as they did in Barcelona, only this time benefit from not having every quick attacking move break down when the ball reaches the false nine; Georginio Wijnaldum did not work in that role, at all. Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah are out for Tuesday, which means Liverpool’s furious high press and one-touch football in the final third – a prominent feature for 20 minutes at the Nou Camp – will only lead to a couple of early goals if Divock Origi or Daniel Sturridge can link with unusual speed.

The main reason it (nearly) worked last week was because Barca’s flat 4-4-2 does not successfully close off the half-spaces – the column of the pitch that falls between centre-back and full-back. Sadio Mane and Salah primarily operate here, and with Philippe Coutinho, Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic all too high up the pitch Liverpool easily found space once they pinched the ball and began to counter. It is highly unlikely Origi or Sturridge, who both looked slow and aimless against Newcastle on Saturday, can mimic Salah’s movement.

Liverpool have to race out of the blocks, and that means all three forwards at the top of their game and a bold team selection from Jurgen Klopp. Jordan Henderson should start from his new advanced midfield role, the Liverpool captain’s urgency and willingness to join the front three a vital component part this week.

 

2) Will Fabinho and TAA get tighter to Messi and Alba?
But of course the harder Liverpool push for three goals the more space they will leave for Barcelona to kill the tie. How Klopp plans to deal with Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba will define this match as much as anything the hosts can do at the other end.

Messi is an unstoppable genius, his performance in the second half last week a prime example of how he occupies a separate tactical plane to the rest of us; he spends as much time as he needs working out the exact defensive flaws of his opponent, then subtly changes his positioning to take advantage. Last Wednesday, he shifted into the space behind Fabinho, noticing the widening gap between Liverpool’s anchor man and the centre-backs.

Klopp’s best option may be to man-mark the Argentine although, to be honest, we at Football365 have absolutely no idea what Liverpool should do. Messi is an unstoppable genius.

Alba, however, can be nullified. Liverpool will have to start Trent Alexander-Arnold for his crossing, but that means a potential weakness down that side as Alba overlaps. The young right-back must make sure he isn’t pulled towards his centre-back by Coutinho’s movement, but instead gets tight to Alba to avoid the sort of deadly crossing that led to Barcelona’s opener last week.

 

3) Will Pochettino start with a diamond 4-4-2 after first-leg mistake?
Mauricio Pochettino’s 3-5-2 formation was the main reason Ajax swarmed their hosts for the first half-hour last week, an injury to Jan Vertonghen forcing Spurs into a tactical switch that helped solidify central midfield. Before the move to a diamond 4-4-2 – a system narrow enough to crowd out Ajax’s favoured zone of attacking – there were large green spaces surrounding Victor Wanyama in which Donny van de Beek, Lasse Schone and Dusan Tadic could operate.

But Ajax were suddenly squeezed out by the system change, which surely means Pochettino will start with this formation on Wednesday. Moussa Sissoko’s return suggests the visitors can shut Ajax down and create an even contest in Amsterdam, funnelling their hosts into the channels to gradually raise the tension inside the stadium.

 

4) Will Ajax nerves give Son and Lucas a chance on the counter?
Ajax’s victories at Juventus and Real Madrid can be partially explained by the fact their first-leg performances both lulled the opposition into a false sense of security and left Ajax with nothing to lose. It’s a whole different dynamic for this young side on Wednesday, when they will be battling to hold onto a lead in front of their own fans. It may well be a nervy game, and one in which Spurs feel unburdened by pressure.

This psychological imbalance, coupled with Spurs’ ability to shut down central midfield, could lead to periods of fairly aimless Ajax possession mixed with sloppy passes in the middle – which creates an opportunity for Son Heung-Min (our player to watch) and Lucas Moura to pounce on the counter-attack. It should be noted that Ajax have conceded seven goals in their last five home matches in all competitions and kept their first clean sheet of the knockout rounds in last week’s win.

Son’s return should mean Ajax don’t record a second. Fernando Llorente played well in the first leg but moves inevitably slow down when he is involved, which helps explain why Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli were so blunt. With Son and Lucas in tandem, there will be opportunities to get at the Ajax defence.

 

5) Or can Van de Beek and Neres expose Spurs’ problems at right-back?
Right-back is still a problem area for Tottenham, with Kieran Trippier’s form showing no signs of improvement as the season reaches its climax. His direct opponent this week is the brilliant David Neres, with Nicolas Tagliafico busting a gut to make himself available on the overlap. It is easy to envisage these two overwhelming poor Trippier, especially if Spurs’ diamond 4-4-2 is too preoccupied with the midfield to provide the right-back with support.

To make matters worse, Van de Beek will drift out to this side in support of Neres, as he did so dangerously in Ajax’s blistering opening 30 minutes last week. Should Ajax overcome any early tension, how Spurs defend their right-back zone will probably define the contest.

 

Alex Keble

F365 Features Five Big Questions