Loads of consideration has been paid to the brand new ‘Dynamic Kick-off’ rules in American soccer’s NFL within the early days of its 2024 season however even within the fluid realm of the Premier League, how a staff begins play is an increasingly-rehearsed course of.
And regardless of the continued evolution in intricate ways, even the best of Johan Cruyff’s disciples appear eager to return the sport to its roots by hoofing the ball up the pitch from kick-off. Every of final season’s last prime six within the Premier League have carried out so sooner or later of their first three matches of 2024-25. Nonetheless, they’ve additionally offered selection within the methods they line their gamers up, and the way shortly they get the ball ahead.
Beneath, The Athletic analyses the kick-off routines utilized by Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea (to start out both a recreation or the second half of 1) throughout the primary three weeks of the season forward of the Premier League’s return this weekend.
Manchester Metropolis
As you’d anticipate from a Pep Guardiola staff, Metropolis’s kick-off routines have been makes an attempt to retain management by way of brief passes and loads of off-ball motion.
Forward of their first kick-off of the season away at Chelsea, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva each lined up near the ball, with Savinho out broad on the left and Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku shut to one another on the appropriate. Rico Lewis was the only defensive member of the staff to the left with their different defenders forming the ultimate line behind Mateo Kovacic on the sting of the centre circle.
De Bruyne handed the ball again to goalkeeper Ederson, who went lengthy in the direction of Haaland on the appropriate. He flicked it on, however Chelsea ’keeper Robert Sanchez got here off his line to gather the ball near the sting of the field earlier than Doku might attain it. By the point Sanchez caught the ball, Metropolis had seven gamers near his penalty field to kickstart the press.
At dwelling in opposition to Ipswich City the next weekend, Guardiola opted for a distinct strategy when Metropolis kicked off the second half (they had been main 3-1 by then). De Bruyne and Bernardo nonetheless stayed near the ball, however Haaland joined Savinho out broad on the appropriate whereas Doku was positioned additional inside on the opposite flank. Lewis, on the appropriate, lined up alongside Kovacic, who stood close to the sting of the circle once more, whereas the again three had been positioned deeper than that they had been at Stamford Bridge.
Metropolis started the second half with a 14-pass transfer by which they discovered each Savinho and Doku at completely different factors, with seven gamers in complete getting a contact. When Ipswich lastly cleared the ball for a throw-in, Metropolis had De Bruyne and Bernardo in pockets the place they may trigger harm and each wingers excessive and broad with restricted quick stress.
At West Ham, Metropolis selected the same strategy to the Ipswich one earlier than the opening kick-off however with Jack Grealish alone on the left whereas Haaland and Doku went broad on the appropriate. Their again three had been a lot nearer collectively that point and leaned extra in the direction of the left, indicating they’d channel their first assault of the match to the appropriate.
De Bruyne once more handed all the best way again to Ederson, who formed up for a protracted move however then went brief to left-back Josko Gvardiol, who returned it to him. Metropolis then drew West Ham in the direction of the left with De Bruyne dropping deep, as he did in opposition to Ipswich, earlier than enjoying it out to their proper and discovering Lewis in acres of area. When Lewis obtained the ball, he was forward of six West Ham and 5 Metropolis outfield gamers, giving the champions an opportunity to trigger some early harm.
Arsenal
Arsenal have had a set sample in place throughout their three league video games to date, passing the ball again to goalkeeper David Raya from kick-off and surging in the direction of the flanks in numbers whereas leaving central areas open. Raya is then tasked with hitting one of many wings; he went in the direction of the left in opposition to Wolves and Brighton, and to the appropriate in opposition to Aston Villa.
Within the Wolves recreation, Arsenal had a entrance 5 streaming ahead even earlier than Thomas Partey knocked the ball again in the direction of Raya. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard made inward runs on the appropriate anticipating a protracted ball to the left, the place Declan Rice is most central with Gabriel Martinelli holding the width and Kai Havertz between them, whereas Oleksandr Zinchenko stayed again. Arsenal’s defenders stayed in a excessive last line to make sure they may transfer additional up as soon as Raya, who got here nicely exterior his field, launched the ball ahead.
By the point Raya readied himself to kick, William Saliba was the lone defender within the last line with Gabriel and Ben White, who additionally made their method ahead.
Wolves stepped ahead to attempt to win the ball simply past the midway line, nevertheless it got here again to Zinchenko. He performed it ahead to Martinelli, however the Brazilian’s subsequent move in the direction of the center was cleared.
Wolves recovered possession shortly however as Arsenal already had males ahead, they pressed them to drive a protracted move and gained the ball again by the 34-second mark.
Away to Villa, Arsenal used a distinct tactic by opting to go to the appropriate flank as an alternative. Havertz moved over to the appropriate to cost ahead with Saka, whereas Odegaard stayed extra central. Rice and Martinelli made extra conservative runs on the left whereas the again 4 stayed excessive in step with the sting of the centre circle.
When Partey’s move bought to Raya, Saliba was the furthest behind as soon as once more whereas all of the runners moved in the direction of the appropriate. Raya’s lengthy ball was nodded on by Havertz, who occupied the identical space as Saka, permitting Villa left-back Lucas Digne to get a head begin and marshal the ball out for a aim kick. The transfer mirrors Metropolis’s strategy in opposition to Chelsea the earlier weekend.
Lastly, in opposition to Brighton, Arsenal went to the left once more, with Havertz as soon as extra drifting over to the opposite aspect. This time, they saved two centre-backs in entrance of Raya, anticipating the next Brighton press, with Saliba even blocking opposition striker Danny Welbeck. Raya’s move was met by Jan Paul van Hecke, who headed it out for a throw-in.
By then, 9 Arsenal gamers had been within the Brighton half, permitting the house aspect to determine early territorial dominance.
Successful the preliminary header doesn’t appear to be Arsenal’s focus from these routines, notably contemplating the 5ft 8in (178cm) Leandro Trossard was their left-winger in opposition to Brighton, although Havertz’s 6ft 4in top does assist, because it did in opposition to Villa. The goal is for them to get as a lot of their gamers ahead as potential, pinning the opposition again fairly than prioritising management.
Liverpool
Liverpool huddle earlier than kick-off at Manchester United on September 1 (Paul Ellis/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
Arne Slot’s early months as Liverpool head coach have seen him obtain reward for establishing an identification that blends one of the best qualities of Jurgen Klopp’s 2023-24 squad along with his personal touches.
Liverpool have continued to make use of a excessive line and that has been evident from their kick-off setups, which is analogous to Arsenal’s.
On the opening weekend in opposition to Ipswich, Dominik Szoboszlai was tasked with kicking off the competition, with 4 team-mates additionally near the midway line.
In contrast to Metropolis and Arsenal, who’ve gamers ranging from broad positions, Liverpool had been a lot narrower. Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Alexis Mac Allister lined up on the left whereas Mohamed Salah took up the only spot on the appropriate. Behind them, Trent Alexander-Arnold inverted to type a midfield line with Ryan Gravenberch, with Liverpool’s remaining defenders forming the ultimate line simply past the centre circle. Each the primary and last strains compressed area by lining up subsequent to one another.
Beneath, Szoboszlai handed to goalkeeper Alisson, who went lengthy in the direction of the left. Like Haaland and Havertz from the examples above, the ball was directed in the direction of Jota, who was within the half-space fairly than broad, which helped him discover Diaz additional out. The Colombian obtained help from Andy Robertson and the latter’s first-time cross was cleared.
Slot went one step additional in his official Anfield bow in opposition to Brentford the next week. To kick off the sport’s second half, the entrance 4 remained the identical however the midfield two grew to become a trio with Robertson inverting to place himself immediately behind Jota on the left. Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk shaped the ultimate line proper subsequent to the centre circle.
This time round, Alisson’s lengthy move was met by Brentford defender Nathan Collins, who was then fouled when he went up for a return header after the ball was despatched ahead once more by Robertson. When the foul occurred, each Liverpool outfield participant was in Brentford’s half. With the play drawn in the direction of the left, Szoboszlai, Alexander-Arnold and Salah had been in area on the appropriate.
Then, in opposition to Manchester United, deemed the primary massive take a look at of Slot’s tenure, the Dutchman unleashed what regarded like an much more daring strategy to start out the second half, regardless of holding a 2-0 lead at Previous Trafford. The entrance line of 4 was backed up by a second line of 4 with Gravenberch, Van Dijk and Robertson on the left and Alexander-Arnold within the half-space on the appropriate. Konate was furthest again however nonetheless greater than he had been in opposition to Ipswich or Brentford.
Nonetheless, as Alisson readied himself to launch one upfield, Van Dijk and Robertson dropped again at the same time as their different team-mates made their method ahead. Alisson’s move was met by Jota, who (after a few ricochets) bought previous United right-back Noussair Mazraoui to the byline. Liverpool had been unable to get sufficient males into the field, although, and Jota’s last move sailed out for a throw-in on the opposite aspect of the pitch. They did, nonetheless, have sufficient gamers in United’s defensive third to disrupt their restart from the following throw-in.
Liverpool’s strategy from kick-offs, whereas mirroring Arsenal’s on the floor, has the positional interchanges we see from Metropolis.
Jota and Diaz are each able to switching between the left-winger and centre-forward positions and this strategy additionally permits Salah to start halves with decrease depth and preserve his vitality.
Aston Villa
Villa are the primary staff on this listing to start out matches off with a ahead and use a midfield recipient from kick-off, with an emphasis on management and baiting the opposition’s press.
Away in opposition to West Ham on the opening weekend, Morgan Rogers began the second half for Villa with Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey lining up shut to one another on the left and John McGinn tucking inside on the appropriate. Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana stood proper subsequent to one another inside the centre circle, whereas Villa’s again 4 shaped their last line a number of yards additional again, fanning out to cowl the center of the pitch and each flanks.
Beneath, Rogers handed the ball to Tielemans, who went again to Pau Torres. As West Ham dedicated males ahead, Villa performed it out broad to right-back Matty Money, who beat his man however then gave the ball away, earlier than Villa gained a throw-in in their very own half.
Unai Emery’s aspect had been rather more conservative once they took on Arsenal at dwelling the next weekend.
This time, Watkins moved to the appropriate, leaving Bailey as the only runner on the left. Tielemans pushed nearer to Rogers whereas Onana retained his place close to the sting of the centre circle. The hole between Onana and the again 4 was a lot bigger, whereas the full-backs pushed barely additional forward of their centre-backs.
Villa handed again to goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who, with the staff’s general form, would have been anticipated to go in the direction of the left wing. Nonetheless, Havertz cleverly presses him on that aspect to drive Martinez to move to the appropriate wing, the place Jurrien Timber wins the preliminary duel however then offers the ball away. From there, Villa labored it again to their defenders earlier than ultimately surrendering possession as Arsenal stress resulted in Torres passing to an offside Bailey.
Towards Leicester Metropolis of their third match of the season, Emery unleashed one other pre-kick-off formation.
This time, Watkins returned to the left alongside McGinn, whereas Onana moved additional up the pitch to hitch Bailey on the appropriate, so forming a entrance 4. Tielemans stood simply a few ft away from Rogers to obtain the preliminary ball, whereas Digne inverted to line up a number of yards behind McGinn and Watkins, leaving loads of area in midfield.
Rogers handed to Tielemans as anticipated, and he performed the ball additional again to the defence. Torres tried to dribble out of hazard however couldn’t and Leicester cleared it again to their defence earlier than establishing a transfer that pegged Villa again, indicating the danger this strategy holds when Emery’s aspect fail to wriggle out of stress.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham’s kick-off setup contrasts with all of the groups above when it comes to width.
Within the instance under from their opening fixture in opposition to Leicester, Spurs, like Villa, kicked off utilizing a ahead in Dominic Solanke, however stationed Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson extraordinarily broad on the left and proper respectively, with James Maddison beginning near Solanke.
Their second line leaned in the direction of the left; Rodrigo Bentancur was on the sting of the centre circle in midfield with Pedro Porro in the appropriate half-space and Pape Sarr in between them. Future Udogie was barely behind within the left half-space, leaving simply centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven to type the ultimate line nearer to their penalty space than to their team-mates. Romero and Van de Ven then fanned out, hinting that Spurs would begin with brief passes, which was what they did.
Solanke handed the ball to Bentancur, who performed a one-two with Sarr earlier than discovering Van de Ven. Spurs labored the ball to Maddison, dropping deep on the left flank (much like De Bruyne for Metropolis), and he tried to seek out Udogie, whose poke ahead was too far forward for Solanke to succeed in.
With Solanke out injured in opposition to Everton, Spurs introduced Wilson Odobert into their line-up, whereas Dejan Kulusevski additionally began.
As Son, because the centre-forward, ready for kick-off, he had two choices near him in Maddison and Kulusevski, whereas Johnson and Odobert held the width as soon as once more. The second line was shaped by Porro drifting into central midfield, the returning Yves Bissouma on the fringe of the centre circle and Udogie a lot wider on the left. Romero and Van de Ven shaped the ultimate line however had been greater up the pitch than in opposition to Leicester, a sign they anticipated much less stress from the outset than in Leicester.
Son discovered Bissouma with the primary move and the midfielder went lengthy, in the direction of Odobert on the left. Odobert gained the second ball and fed Maddison, however Spurs ended up going again to their defence, nonetheless staying inside Everton’s half because the guests sat deep.
In the newest match, in opposition to Newcastle, Spurs used one more kick-off form as they started the second half 1-0 down.
As Son ready to make the opening move, Johnson once more positioned himself broad on the appropriate, however Udogie was now the widest participant on the opposite flank with Odobert dropping inside, whereas Kulusevski was deeper than the place he was positioned within the Everton match. Porro additionally pushed as much as man the appropriate aspect of the second line, with Maddison in a deeper place down the center and Bissouma on the left. The hole between midfield and their two-man defensive position was smaller as Spurs aimed to push ahead from the beginning of the half searching for an equaliser.
On this event, Son performed it to Kulusevski, who lofted a ball in the direction of Udogie on the left — as Bissouma did for Odobert in opposition to Everton. The move was too heavy and Newcastle gained it again, however as Spurs pushed males ahead, they regained possession shortly. The ensuing sequence noticed Kulusevski’s shot from contained in the field deflected.
Spurs’ system underneath coach Ange Postecoglou has usually trusted high-risk, high-energy soccer and their kick-offs are a superb illustration of that. Their setup permits them to stream males ahead and, extra importantly, compress the broad areas to drive groups down the center, the place they’ll win the ball again by making use of stress.
Chelsea
Chelsea’s kick-off strategy underneath new head coach Enzo Maresca is kind of completely different from their strategy with Mauricio Pochettino within the dugout final season.
As an alternative of Conor Gallagher, offered to Atletico Madrid in the summertime, or one other midfielder, Nicolas Jackson has been handed kick-off duties by Maresca. Chelsea have used a mixture of Spurs’ and Metropolis’s approaches, stationing their left-winger out broad whereas permitting Cole Palmer on the appropriate to remain nearer to Jackson.
Towards Metropolis on the opening weekend, Enzo Fernandez gave Jackson a brief preliminary choice on the left, with Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia on the sting of the centre circle. Chelsea’s again 4 stayed nearer to their field with Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella inverting from the appropriate and left, respectively.
To begin the second half, trailing 1-0, Jackson handed to Cucurella, who tried to go lengthy in the direction of Christopher Nkunku broad on the left, however the move was too heavy, and Metropolis noticed it by way of to Ederson with minimal stress. Given the standard of the opposition, Chelsea didn’t press too excessive, granting Metropolis’s again three the area and time to get right into a passing rhythm.
Chelsea’s strategy appeared to be a response to enjoying a superior aspect within the four-in-a-row champions, nonetheless, as they modified their setup away in opposition to Wolves the next weekend.
The inclusion of Noni Madueke and Lavia’s absence by way of harm meant, along with having Palmer near Jackson, Maresca might station each wingers — Mykhailo Mudryk on the left and Madueke on the appropriate — out broad. Gusto joined the midfield to type a trio with Fernandez and Caicedo, which meant the right-back space was utterly empty, with Cucurella inverting and pushing forward and the centre-backs staying shut to one another within the center.
This time, Jackson handed to proper centre-back Wesley Fofana, who instantly went lengthy in the direction of Madueke. The winger was open and flicked the ball on in the direction of Palmer, however Wolves skipper Mario Lemina bought there first. As Wolves then tried to maneuver ahead, Chelsea pressed excessive to drive the opposition to the left, attempting to tempt them right into a dangerous change which by no means got here.
The setup Maresca used in opposition to Crystal Palace within the third match may be the one he sticks with because the Chelsea squad get accustomed to his ways.
Chelsea, profitable 1-0, kicked off the second half with Fernandez, who had Jackson (left) and Palmer (proper) closest to him whereas Pedro Neto hugged the touchline on the left and Madueke was stationed broad proper. Gusto and Caicedo shaped a a lot deeper second line, with Cucurella wider than in earlier matches. The centre-backs had been additionally deeper than earlier than, staying nearer to their penalty space.
Fernandez handed the ball again to Sanchez, who, underneath no stress, lofted the ball in the direction of the left. Chelsea did not win the primary header and Fernandez’s second header in the direction of Neto was cleared out. When the ball went out of play, Chelsea had Palmer, their major artistic outlet, within the sort of place they’d need him, however their relaxation defence was barely susceptible with Caicedo transferring up the pitch.
House and time might have restricted us to a deep dive on solely final season’s prime six on this article however followers of Bournemouth, Brighton, Newcastle and Manchester United can analyse their staff’s kick-off strategy within the graphics under:
