Premier League Round 12: City's Tactical Brilliance Against Chelsea's Individual Efforts, Liverpool's Impatience Costs Again

Round 12 of the Premier League continued on the evening of November 12th, Beijing time, with Chelsea facing off against Manchester City and Liverpool taking on Brentford. Chelsea's previous match saw them exploiting Tottenham's high line with frequent offside traps, showcasing their individual abilities to the fullest. However, City's mature tactical system, featuring players like Raheem Sterling, is unlikely to be easily disrupted.

A week ago, Mauricio Pochettino returned to Tottenham's home ground for the first time in four years, a place where he had many fond memories. That was perhaps the most anticipated match between Tottenham and Chelsea in recent Premier League history. The game started with Dejan Kulusevski giving Tottenham the lead with a deflected shot in just the 6th minute. However, things were far from simple. Both teams found it easy to move through the midfield, which increased the direct threats on goal. As expected, both sides' attacks were dangerous, and by the 40th minute of the first half, VAR had disallowed three goals, yet this did not dampen their attacking fervor. Tottenham seemed poised for a big win against Chelsea, which led to some mindset issues. Unexpected red cards for Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie changed the game's dynamics entirely. Despite Chelsea's attacking struggles, their individual skills remained sharp. Against an undermanned and defensively weak Tottenham, Chelsea repeatedly broke through the offside trap, culminating in a hat-trick for Nicolas Jackson.

Post-match, fans humorously remarked on the ease of Jackson's hat-trick, noting the many wasted opportunities. Indeed, Jackson's performance reminded many of Gonzalo Higuaín's hat-trick for Argentina against South Korea in the 2010 World Cup, with most goals coming from simple finishes near the goal. Can such a hat-trick boost Jackson's confidence?

With Tottenham losing again this round, Manchester City had the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table. Unlike Arsenal last season, Tottenham's fall from the race came early, suggesting that by Christmas and New Year, the Premier League might once again see City pulling away. Fans familiar with Pep Guardiola know that City often aim to win against weaker teams with minimal effort. However, last round, they did not spare Bournemouth. Leading 3-0 at halftime and with Erling Haaland substituted at halftime, City still managed to score three more goals in the second half. Belgian winger Jérémy Doku was in scorching form, contributing four assists and one goal, allowing City to secure a comfortable victory. City then went on to beat Young Boys in the Champions League, securing their knockout stage qualification with two games to spare. Guardiola's brilliance lies in his effective rotation, maintaining his key players' form with limited playing time.

Since the 2021 Champions League final, Chelsea have lost all six encounters with City across all competitions. The current Chelsea side lacks a coherent tactical system, relying more on individual performances, which is insignificant against an experienced City team. City is expected to win comfortably at Stamford Bridge, possibly with a 1-0 scoreline.

Liverpool's struggles continued. Midweek in the Europa League, they aimed to beat Toulouse away and secure early qualification, hoping to shake off the shadow of their previous Premier League draw against Luton Town. However, Jürgen Klopp's rotation did not work well this time. Trailing 0-1 at halftime, Klopp immediately brought on key players like Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai at the start of the second half, signaling his urgency to secure qualification and fully focus on the Premier League. Unfortunately, the outcome was similar to the first half, with Liverpool narrowly losing 2-3. Perhaps Klopp should have given the rotation squad more time. The hurried introduction of first-team players had a counterproductive effect.

Brentford, who were concerned about relegation in early October, have won three consecutive matches, climbing into the top half of the table and expanding their lead over the relegation zone to ten points. During this winning streak, Brentford's most significant improvement has been in their attack, scoring eight goals in these three games, compared to just ten goals in the previous eight rounds. This season, Brentford's strategy has been to use a more attacking 4-3-3 formation at home and a conservative 5-3-2 away. This approach is expected to continue against Liverpool at Anfield. Since their promotion to the Premier League, Brentford have lost both away games against Liverpool. Currently in excellent form, Brentford hope to capitalize on Liverpool's dip in form and secure points. A 2-2 draw is a likely outcome.

The match between Chelsea and City highlighted the clear contrast in approaches. Chelsea's reliance on individual brilliance was no match for City's well-oiled tactical machine. City's ability to manage games with strategic rotations and maximize efficiency was evident. Guardiola's approach ensured that key players remained in peak condition, ready for crucial fixtures, while still securing comfortable wins in less challenging matches.

In contrast, Liverpool's approach under Klopp seemed fraught with urgency and impatience. The decision to field key players early in the second half against Toulouse indicated a lack of trust in the rotation squad. This urgency disrupted the team's rhythm and ultimately led to an unfavorable result. Brentford, sensing an opportunity, aimed to exploit Liverpool's vulnerabilities, especially given their recent form surge.

Overall, Round 12 of the Premier League showcased the differing strategies of the top teams. City continued to demonstrate their tactical superiority and depth, while Liverpool's impatience and Chelsea's reliance on individual efforts exposed their respective weaknesses. As the season progresses, these contrasting approaches will play a significant role in shaping the title race and the battle for European spots.