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This is how you beat Sunderland!

Paul Rogers

13th Apr 2002 - Latest News

Liverpoolfc.tv have teamed up with ProZone to identify Sunderland's defensive frailties by analysing how they conceded three goals against Arsenal

Liverpool have teamed up with ProZone to offer supporters the chance to analyse the way Liverpool and our opponents play.

ProZone technology allows you the chance to look at the game in a different way and here you can check out how Sunderland's defence leaked three goals in a recent match.

You can watch the mini-movies as many times as you like but be sure to click on the offside line option to see when our players are onside and offside.

After launching the Premiership Predictor (Click here to try it out>>) a month ago, this is another new feature that we have brought to the site. At the moment we are offering it free as a trial but next season we may be making it only available to e-Season Ticket holders, to further boost the value for money aspect of the e-Season Ticket. Anyway, check it out and let us know what you think of it.

Vieira goal against Sunderland

1. Vieira's (4) 'DRIVING' run from midfield is left completely unmarked by Sunderland as he ghosts through their midfield after initiating the move.

2. Thierry (14) shows great movement to drag across Craddock (17) and create space for Vieira to run into, combined with Wiltord's (11) pace down the Left flank.

3. Ljungberg (8) cuts in across the shoulder of Williams (18),

Vieira (4) pounces on the loose ball after some Woeful defending from Paul Thirwell (21) to slot home a cool finish in front of goal.

4. Sunderland defence are very static

Defensive Frailties

1. Gray (3) gets dragged out to close down Wiltord with no immediate cover.

2. As Bjorklund pushes across to cover Wiltord's (11) run, Craddock (17) gets sucked in to man-mark Henry (14).

3. Reyna never really gets close enough to his man (4) Vieira when trying to track him, which penultimately ends in Vieira scoring.

4. Poor defending from Thirlwell in terms of dealing with the cross gives Vieira the chance that he needs.

POINTS TO NOTE

1. Sunderlandget caught defending high up with Arsenal effectively playing 4 in attack.

2. Poor cover to the players closing down.

3. Man marking in the box very suspect.

Click here to watch the ProZone analysis of the goal>>

Bergkamp's goal against Sunderland

1. Cole (3), Ljungburg (8) and Thierry (14) work hard to close down and regain possession.

2. Freddie (8) starts his run extremely early from deep to get around the back of Reyna (4) and receive Wiltord's (11) pass on the left.

3. Craddock (17) is pulled out of position, which splits the two centre backs and creates space.

4. Thierry (14) shows his pace and Dennis (10) makes a clever run across the line of the Sunderland back 4 to peel off of the shoulder of Bjorklund (12), being marked by 2 Sunderland players whilst Thierry is left unmarked!

5. Gray (3) fails to track Wiltord (11) into the box, leaving Dennis (10) and Sylvain (11) to fight over who is going to have the tap in!

Defensive Frailties

1. Possession is given away too easily in the midfield inviting Arsenal to counter at pace!

2. McCann (8) fails to protect his back 4 as Reyna (4) is again stretched to cover Ljungberg's (8) run down the left flank.

3. As Craddock (17) is pulled out of position the sunderland back 4 seem very unbalanced as Thierry (14) is allowed to go unmarked at the back post, with Thirlwell failing to close him down.

4. Both Gray (3) and Bjorklund (12) allow their men, Wiltord(11) and Bergkamp (10) to attack the back post unmarked. Resulting in the goal.

POINTS TO NOTE

1. Losing possession in dangerous positions.

2. Back 4 being unbalanced.

3. Faliure to Track men into the box!

Click here to watch the ProZone analysis of the goal>>

Wiltord's goal against Sunderland

1. Edu (17) and Luzhny (22) combine well to take Thirwell (21) out of play with an overlapping run.

2. Sunderland are slow to push out as they defend Luzhny's cross.

3. Arsenal take full advantage of this by switching play quickly through midfield, finding Bergkamp (10) in space on the left.

4. Foolishly McAteer (16) allows Dennis (10) inside onto his favoured right foot allowing him the time and space to execute the 'KILLER' pass to Wiltord (11)

5. Gray (3) fails to mark Wiltord closely enough as he drifts away from him to help the ball into the back of Sorensen's net!

Defensive Frailties

1. Sunderland as a defensive unit are slow to push on as they defend Luzhny's cross.

2. This gives Edu and Vieira the time to switch play and find Bergkamp with space on the left side.

(YET ANOTHER ARSENAL PLAYER WITH SPACE AND TIME IN WIDE POSITIONS)

3. Poor defending from McAteer (16) allows Bergkamp (10) inside onto his favoured right foot. This gives him the opportunity to split the Sunderland defence with another decisive, killer pass.

4. Gray (3) gifts Wiltord (3) the couple of yards he needs by not marking him close enough and fails to recover to make the tackle. GOAL!

POINTS TO NOTE

1. Allow wide players too much time and space before closing down.

2. Fail to push up quick enough when they defend.

3. Showing a player inside onto his favoured foot!

4. Again, man marking inside the box.

Click here to watch the ProZone analaysis of the goal>>