Bayer Leverkusen does not have a completely injury-free squad before Tuesday’s meeting with Liverpool at Anfield, but Xabi Alonso has the opportunity to field his supposedly strongest team. On Monday, he confirmed that Amine Adli, Jeanuel Belocian and Nordi Mukiele must stand over the settlement, but there are players who probably would not have been eligible for a place from the start anyway.
As you know, Liverpool are missing Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa, and fortunately have avoided new injuries in recent games. Ibrahima Konaté is fit again after being substituted at half-time with hand pain in the weekend’s game against Brighton.
When Alonso meets his old club, perhaps the biggest question is whether he will go for three or four players in the defensive line. In the sensational golden season, it was largely a three-back line that mattered, and then the first loss did not come until the very last game of the season, the Europa League final against Atalanta. This autumn, Alonso has varied more, and the defeat against RB Leipzig is the only loss so far in all competitions, but there have been a little too many draws to hang with Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
At the weekend, it was back to the most usual formation with three stoppers and the deadly wing-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo, but Leverkusen couldn’t break down Stuttgart, and it ended 0-0. In the previous Champions League match away to Brest, which also ended in a draw, Alonso used four players in the defensive line.
– Can be lost within 20 minutes
– It’s about our team, the players and what we have to do in every game. We have a large stable of players who feel they can contribute and they have to be ready, Alonso said when he met the press on Monday.
The following team started against Stuttgart at the weekend, in a 3-4-2-1 formation:
Hradecky – Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie – Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo – Mukiele, Wirtz – Boniface.
– We make our decision depending on the tactical approach we are going for. We try to prepare as best we can, and the principles will be the same no matter which system we play with. We must have movement and at the same time understand that it is not enough to play 70 good minutes here, because it can be lost within 20. So we must be prepared mentally and be ready for that to happen, says the man who has over 200 fights with the liverbird on his chest.
We have to go back to the 2004/05 season, when Alonso helped win the Champions League with Liverpool, to find the last time the teams met in a meaningful game. Then Liverpool won both matches in the round of 16 on the way to Istanbul.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Liverpool: The Injury Conundrum and Tactical Tango!
Well folks, it looks like Bayer Leverkusen is gearing up for a bit of a dance on the hallowed turf of Anfield as they prepare to kick things off against Liverpool. However, before we break out the champagne and confetti, let’s peek behind the curtain to see what’s cooking—or in this case, what’s not! It seems the Leverkusen lads are a bit like a dodgy used car; they don’t come with a fully functioning manual. Xabi Alonso might be able to field a competitive squad, but alas, Amine Adli, Jeanuel Belocian, and Nordi Mukiele are on the sidelines feeling like they’ve just missed the last train to… well, anywhere except the pitch!
Meanwhile, in Liverpool…
In the other corner, Liverpool is busy counting their own bruises. With Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott, and Federico Chiesa out of action, they’re hoping their injury list doesn’t start resembling an episode of ‘Casualty’. But fear not, because Ibrahima Konaté is back in the fold like the prodigal son returning after a debauched weekend! Talk about a mixed bag of injuries, it’s more up and down than a toddler on a roller coaster!
The Tactical Tease: Three or Four?
Now, let’s get to the juicy stuff—como se dice “tactics”, folks? It’s a riddle wrapped in a mystery, and dipped in a sauce of uncertainty! Alonso steps into the tactical spotlight, wondering if he should roll out a back three or pull out a cheeky four-man defense. You see, back in their golden year, a trusty three-back system led to glory, and you can bet all your onions that the Europa League final defeat still stings like a hangover on a Monday morning!
Stalemate Style: The Last Game
Last weekend, Alonso reverted to his familiar three-stopper approach against Stuttgart, but alas, the scoreline stood at a disastrous 0-0! It literally ended with more whimpers than roars—a draw against a team they should’ve dispatched like soggy biscuits. They also faced a draw against Brest in their pre-champions league jaunt. If draws were prizes, Leverkusen would be the reigning champions of a competition no one wants to win!
– Can Be Lost Within 20 Minutes!
Now here comes the kicker! Alonso nonchalantly quips that all it takes is 20 minutes of indecision or napping, and *poof*, the game could slip through their fingers like a well-greased pig. He rightly emphasizes the need for his lads to be mentally primed and ready. After all, they’re not on a walk in the park; they’ll be facing those raucous Liverpool fans who could wake the dead! Can you imagine trying to concentrate while the Anfield crowd is belting out ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone!’? It’s enough to make anyone reconsider their career choices!
A Nostalgic Twist
Let’s take a trip down memory lane: the last meaningful encounter between these clubs was back in the gripping 2004/05 season when Alonso donned the Liverpool colours and helped steer them to Champions League glory. Spoiler alert: it didn’t end well for Leverkusen back then either; Liverpool won that round of 16 match like an overzealous dad at a school sports day!
Bayer Leverkusen heads into their crucial clash with Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday with a squad that is not entirely free from injury concerns. While coach Xabi Alonso confirmed on Monday that key players Amine Adli, Jeanuel Belocian, and Nordi Mukiele will be sidelined for the fixture, he still has the chance to field a lineup that many consider his strongest. Notably, some players might not have been in contention for starting places even if they were fit.
Meanwhile, Liverpool faces a significant challenge of their own, missing prominent figures such as Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott, and Federico Chiesa. However, the team has managed to avoid any new injuries in their recent matches, providing a glimmer of hope for their squad depth. Ibrahima Konaté, who had to be substituted just before half-time last weekend due to hand discomfort against Brighton, is now back to full fitness and available for selection.
As Alonso prepares to go up against his former club, one of the key tactical narratives will be whether he opts for a three-man or four-man defensive line. During that memorable golden season when Alonso guided Leverkusen, a three-back system was predominantly used, and it wasn’t until the Europa League final against Atalanta that the team suffered their first loss of the campaign. This season, while Alonso has experimented more with formations, the only blotch on their record remains the defeat to RB Leipzig. The team has also drawn too many matches to keep pace with Bayern Munich in the tightly contested Bundesliga.
Over the weekend, Alonso reverted to his most frequent formation, deploying three central defenders supported by the attacking talents of wing-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo. However, despite their combined efforts, Leverkusen struggled to penetrate Stuttgart’s defense, resulting in a frustrating goalless draw. In their prior Champions League matchup against Brest, which also resulted in a stalemate, Alonso took the opportunity to utilize a four-defender setup.
– Can be lost within 20 minutes
– It’s about our team, the players and what we have to do in every game. We have a large stable of players who feel they can contribute and they have to be ready, Alonso said during his press conference on Monday, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and readiness among the squad.
– We make our decision depending on the tactical approach we are going for. We try to prepare as best we can, and the principles will be the same no matter which system we play with. We must have movement and at the same time understand that it is not enough to play 70 good minutes here, because it can be lost within 20. So we must be prepared mentally and be ready for that to happen, says the man who has over 200 fights with the liverbird on his chest, underlining the need for mental resilience against a formidable opponent.
Reflecting on the historical context, the last significant meeting between these two teams dates back to the 2004/05 season, when Alonso played an instrumental role in Liverpool’s Champions League triumph. In that memorable knockout stage encounter, Liverpool emerged victorious in both matches of the round of 16, paving their path to an iconic win in Istanbul.
P>As Leroy Sane continues to tear up the league, there’s a lot of pressure on Leverkusen to get their act together and regain some form that could solidify their title challenge. With such a strategic encounter on the cards, the team’s preparation and adaptability will be critical. Alonso’s ability to switch between formations could be the key as the coach looks to leverage his intimate knowledge of Liverpool’s strengths and weaknesses.
While they may have drawn more matches than they would like, Leverkusen possesses the talent to execute a strong counter-attacking game, especially with the pace and creativity from their wing-backs. If they can get their mobility sorted and the front line firing, they could present a challenge even for Liverpool’s robust defense. One thing’s for sure: the tactical chess match between Alonso and Liverpool’s managerial staff will be one to watch!
Leverkusen’s clash with Liverpool is set against a backdrop of injuries, tactical upheaval, and historical narratives. With Xabi Alonso’s familiarity with Anfield and Liverpool, fans can expect an intriguing tactical battle, as both teams strive for crucial points in their respective campaigns. Will Alonso’s tactics prove effective against his former club, or will Liverpool’s depth and home advantage shine through? Only time will tell!
