Rohit Kumaran

Liverpool v Spurs: A Tactical Breakdown Liverpool go into the game a goal behind, which is not an ideal situation.

Liverpool’s tactical approach vs. Spurs:

Bradley’s half-space runs, Nunez pinning CBs, improved buildup play, pressing adjustments, and key defensive moments.

A breakdown of how Slot’s Reds secured the win.

rohitkumaran.substack.com/p/liverpool-...

My first piece on my Substack is live!

A tactical analysis of Brentford vs Liverpool - breaking down Liverpool’s pressing, Brentford’s buildup, how central pinning played a key role in breaking down the low block, and more.

rohitkumaran.substack.com/p/brentford-...

This setup stretches Brentford’s shape, isolating Timber or enabling central combinations to progress the ball.

Arsenal force Brentford’s midfield into difficult decisions:

Compactness leaves Timber with space out wide.

Stepping out to press Merino opens gaps centrally.

Arsenal’s buildup has been heavily focused on the right:

Timber maintains width, Nwaneri operates in the half-space, and Odegaard supports from deeper areas.

Calafiori inverts alongside Partey, enabling Merino to drift higher on the right to create overloads.

My first piece for @breakingthelines.com, and the occasion couldn’t be bigger or better.

With Liverpool preparing to face Real Madrid in the CL clash on Wednesday, I dive into how the Reds can exploit Los Blancos’ vulnerabilities and create their blueprint for success.

Check it out!

I will check with @zachlowy.bsky.social and get back to you regarding this.

My first piece for @breakingthelines.com , and the occasion couldn’t be bigger or better.

With Liverpool preparing to face Real Madrid in the CL clash on Wednesday, I dive into how the Reds can exploit Los Blancos’ vulnerabilities and create their blueprint for success.

Check it out!

These are the people I'd recommend.
@borbelyimre.bsky.social
@lewisfn00.bsky.social
@fathallimohamed.bsky.social
@sawkurgod.bsky.social

Would also suggest my article on how Liverpool can exploit Real Madrid’s tactical weaknesses in the CL clash.

x.com/kumaran_rohi... twitter.com/kumaran_rohi...

That’s an interesting lineup, these are the ones I'd recommend.

@borbelyimre.bsky.social
@lewisfn00.bsky.social
@fathallimohamed.bsky.social
@sawkurgod.bsky.social

That’s an interesting lineup, these are the ones I'd recommend to you for tactical analysis.

@borbelyimre.bsky.social
@lewisfn00.bsky.social
@fathallimohamed.bsky.social

That’s an interesting lineup, these are the ones I'd recommend.

@borbelyimre.bsky.social
@lewisfn00.bsky.social
@fathallimohamed.bsky.social

Thanks a lot for the shoutout Fath, I really appreciate it!

Thanks a lot for the shoutout Lewis, I really appreciate it!

Thanks a lot for the shoutout Jimi, I really appreciate it!

I wrote a short thread on Romain Esse.
Definitely one to keep an eye on, might be the next breakout start from the championship.

7/ A Standout Talent

Romain Esse’s blend of technical ability, tactical awareness, and relentless work rate makes him one of the most exciting young talents in the league. Whether threading through balls, riding challenges, or pressing opponents, he has it all.

Palace/Leeds 🔜?

6/ Room to Grow

Esse occasionally holds onto the ball a bit too long when earlier passes could’ve been made, but this is a minor blemish in an otherwise mature game. With more experience, this will naturally improve as his decision-making continues to evolve.

5/ Finishing with Confidence

When chances arise, Esse shows an impressive calmness in front of goal. His finishing, combined with his ability to shield the ball under pressure and ride challenges, highlights his composure in high-pressure situations.

4/ Pressing and Duels

Defensively, Esse is relentless, a machine in pressing situations. His ability to engage in duels - thanks to his athleticism and physical work rate - adds a well-rounded edge to his game.

3/ Spatial Awareness & Playmaking

Esse’s awareness of his surroundings is excellent. He frequently picks out advanced runners with incisive through balls and plays clever passes in general build-up. His unselfish decision-making is evident in how he prioritizes team play.

2/ Technically Excellence

While not the fastest in outright sprints, Esse’s agility, close control, and creativity make him a nightmare for defenders. His footwork is clean and precise, allowing him to navigate tight spaces with ease, and his confidence on the ball is sky-high.

🧵Romain Esse - A Rising Star

Romain Esse (19), a 5′10″ left-footed right winger at Millwall, has been turning heads with his technical ability, intelligent movement, and work rate. A hybrid between a No. 10 and a winger, Esse’s style is both exciting and effective.

#Millwall

Ya, he would be a great addition especially against teams in a mid or low-block.

By switching the side of the overload, Mo will get loads of space to dribble into. This will massively improve his output.

Ideal conditions for Dom and Mo—maybe even Diaz!

Overloads on the left allows Dom to predominantly play in the left half-space, where he thrives even in-possession (reduces or eliminates angle bias).

Mo is a player who doesn’t often beat his man by dribbling; instead, he creates space for himself to create chances or shoot.

Slot has used overloads on the right to counter Mo’s declining 1v1 ability, such as in Mo’s goal against Arsenal and two against Sevilla.

This approach gives Diaz plenty of space for 1v1 opportunities.

If we switch the side of the overload, we have the perfect plan.

As Salah often stays higher up and doesn’t contribute as much defensively, Dom's running power from midfield is immense defensively and adds another dimension to the team, such as overlaps and underlaps.

In that case, what’s the best way to use him?

This also retains his transition threat and ball striking. Running transitions from the left half-space would open up his angles for passes and shots.

Slot, however, prefers him on the right because it helps cover Salah defensively.

So he isn’t as connective as he should be (apart from overlaps and underlaps to position himself facing forward).

Playing him on the left would increase his progressiveness in settled play (allowing him to cut into the center and connect with teammates).

Dom excels on the right in transition play; Leipzig relied heavily on this, which boosted his numbers (previous viz).

In settled play, however, he isn’t as effective in possession due to heavy touches and an inability to turn into the center onto his left foot.