It's official. Liverpool are in the faces of their opponents like never before.
Liverpool and Manchester City led the way last season, pressing and harrying their opposition deep inside their own halves.
But the Reds have taken it to a whole new level this term. An analysis of how each Premier League team has pressured their opponents this season reveals:
- Liverpool are the Kings of the Press, pressing higher than any other team in the top flight and they are one of the best at recovering the ball
- Tottenham Hotspur are surprisingly second in terms of pressing high up the field, but the least likely to get the ball back
- Manchester City are the most likely to regain the ball when they press and put the most pressure on the opponents in midfield
- Leeds United put more pressure on opponents all over the pitch than any other team through their man-to-man pressing system
- Manchester United are putting less pressure on the ball in midfield so far this season and doing more of the defensive work in and around their penalty area
Liverpool’s approach is epitomised by their use of the high press - a tactical device to win the ball back high up the pitch to both stifle the other team, and to give their side a great chance to score.