There are generally three strategies to counter a high pressing team: go over it, through it, or around it.
The first strategy aims for a direct attack towards forwards, although this may result in losing possession during aerial challenges. The second involves quick passing combinations to bypass the opponent’s defensive block, but one misplaced pass can be costly. The third strategy requires shifting the opposition’s press to one side of the field before transferring the ball quickly to the open side, though this risks being cornered by pressing defenders.
The effectiveness of these strategies depends on the opponent’s pressing tactics and the players’ qualities. However, without precise execution, these concepts remain theoretical.
This became clear for Liverpool during the first half of their Premier League opener against promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday. Confronted with a strong high press, Liverpool struggled to advance the ball despite trying a variety of tactics. Their most effective option appeared to be delivering the ball directly to Mohamed Salah, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Diogo Jota creating space through their movement.
In one instance, Jota’s positioning pulled Ipswich’s right center-back, Luke Woolfenden, out of position, creating an opportunity for Salah and Luis Diaz to exploit the space. After Virgil van Dijk found Ryan Gravenberch, Jota’s movement disrupted Ipswich’s defensive shape, allowing Salah and Diaz to cut inside. However, Salah’s first touch let him down.
Liverpool’s lack of clarity in their approach against Ipswich’s pressing created challenges in the first half.
“They were all on top of us and very aggressive,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot stated post-match. “We couldn’t find the rhythm or the balls in behind.”
Slot delivered a motivating message during halftime, urging his players to focus on winning individual duels and playing balls into space due to Ipswich’s man-to-man marking. “We also showed them how if a team plays one-on-one all over the pitch, don’t keep playing the short ball. If you have those kinds of attackers, utilize them and then fight for it.”
The strategy was not solely about targeting Salah and Diaz; the movements of Szoboszlai and Jota were equally crucial. For Liverpool’s first goal in the 60th minute, Salah and Szoboszlai were closely marked. Gravenberch played a pass to Salah, who then set it back to Trent Alexander-Arnold. Meanwhile, Szoboszlai made a key movement; halting his run kept Greaves higher than the rest of the defense, allowing more space for Alexander-Arnold’s pass.
Salah found space to run behind the defense and assisted Jota, who scored. The movements of Szoboszlai and Jota effectively drew Ipswich’s center-backs away from their full-backs, complicating the home side’s offside strategy.
In another instance, Van Dijk picked out Salah’s run, leaving Ipswich’s defense vulnerable. Salah combined with Szoboszlai to score Liverpool’s second goal, taking advantage of defensive lapses.
Shortly afterward, Salah narrowly missed a third goal following another well-timed run against Ipswich’s defense. As the attack progressed down the left, Greaves abandoned his mark on Szoboszlai to cover central areas while Salah created a diagonal run into open space.
After initially not receiving a pass, Salah later found himself well-positioned from Szoboszlai, although his shot was saved.
“The way the other team defends is crucial; we must find our response,” Slot noted. “Ipswich took the risk to play one-on-one across the pitch, leaving three defenders to match our three attackers.”
Recognizing such moments is essential for effective play, as is the need for executing direct passes or exploiting spaces behind defenses, which Liverpool improved upon in the second half.
Ultimately, Liverpool’s ability to deliver passes behind Ipswich’s defense proved too much for their opponents, with timely runs from Diaz and Salah supported by Jota and Szoboszlai’s movement. Regardless of the tactics used, the vital element in countering high pressing is effective off-the-ball movement.