UK Edition
Sean Dyche claims Burnley's long-ball approach was 'good game planning' against fragile Liverpool
Increasingly, the most impressive defensive performances at Anfield are in the media room post-match.
Whether it is Jurgen Klopp arguing his side were denied a victory through luck, or Burnley manager Sean Dyche explaining tactics already validated with a 1-1 draw, self-justification is everywhere.
It seems football is less about the visual and emotional experience and more about the spinning of numbers, so 35 shots on goal offer evidence of complete dominance which was never reflected in clear chances. Meanwhile, the less fashionable manager trots out lines about contrasting wage bills and transfer values – as if it is miraculous a club of Burnley’s size has already taken five points from Stamford Bridge, Wembley and Anfield.
It was not surprising a much-changed Liverpool side lacked the fluency that destroyed Arsenal here a few weeks ago, nor a well-organised Burnley team targeting the chronic anxiety on and off the pitch on Merseyside took advantage.
Dyche’s formula is effective and justified. A manager is entitled to do what he likes to get results, just as any viewer is entitled to state a preference for one style over another.
Burnley’s manager evidently feels snobbery has drifted too far, in this case sensing a combination of churlish and patronising remarks applauding the success of his plan to hit long, diagonal balls to Chris Wood – the strategy that created Scott Arfield’s first half goal.
“Glenn Hoddle would never have played in modern football because people would say, ‘Glenn you can only pass it 10-yards mate, you are not allowed to play long balls’,” said Dyche.
“It’s true. I grew up marvelling at Glenn Hoddle. Marvelling at him landing that ball with either foot all over the pitch. Short, long. He was more renowned for his long passes, opening things up. I don’t mean he would never have played but you would never have seen the best of him in the current game because we can only play the little passes. What I am saying is don’t be afraid to play a long pass. These players here, even our players, they are Premier League players and if you honestly think they can't land a ball 40-yards onto somebody’s chest, they can. So why would I take away the ability to do that? I was a centre half and I believe I know what is effective to win in a football match.”
Dyche indicated it would have been foolish not to order defenders to direct long balls at Liverpool’s defence. Given each aerial ball is viewed with the trepidation of a South Korean general monitoring satellite images from the north, he has a point.
“We deliberately got the ball and got it as far down their throat as we could because we felt it would be effective,” said Dyche.
“The general feeling around here is that they haven’t found a way of dealing with set pieces. We have to look at that – that’s our job. It would be naïve not to. So every time we got a set piece it went into their box but that is good game planning.”
Klopp believes the constant haranguing of his defence has created a self-fulfilling prophecy. Aside from Arfield’s goal – swiftly equalised by Mohamed Salah – the back four was not the real problem here.
We have now entered the stage of Klopp’s reign – as occurred under Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez – where domestic and European duty necessitates weekly changes. As expectations rise, and the ache for a title challenge becomes ever more excruciating, any dropped point is perceived catastrophic.
We knew this would be a year of rotation at Anfield, but it is not just the players caught in a loop. It just seems the cycle of despondency after every Liverpool setback turns quicker and earlier every year.