Prior to yesterday's match at Anfield, few Premier League fans would have believed that the following statement would be proven correct - Liverpool's midfield three would outplay Manchester City's. On paper such a proclaimation seems absurd; While Manchester City are able to field De Jong, Yaya Toure, and either Nasri or David Silva in front of these two colossi, Liverpool currently run out an elderly Steven Gerrard, a local boy named Jonjo Shelvey (on for Lucas after five minutes), and a 22 year old waif-like anchor by the name of Joe Allen who just this summer transferred to Merseyside via Swansea City. Again, on paper this match-up is dominated by the men in pale-blue...
In practice however, the Liverpool-trio were dominant, in particular due to the brilliance of Allen. Joe Allen is not the sort of player who passes the 'Eye-Test', as in he doesn't look like he would be a particularly fast, strong, or dynamic footballer (much like Andres Iniesta in that respect). Yet the Welsh international is currently one of the most accurate passing midfielders on the planet, having completed roughly 90% of his passes last season for Swansea, and being on the same sort of pace this season through two matches with Liverpool. This kind of accurate, tidy passing has not generally been a trademark of English Football; historically, English club football has been notorious for its breakneak speed, counter-attacking game plans, and a focus on crosses into the box which meet either feet or heads (think: how Manchester United still play). It would seem, then, that a player like Joe Allen would be more suited for La Liga or perhaps Serie A, leagues which play at a slower tempo, where technical players are more valued and renowned for their passing abilities.
But as the heading of this post suggests, I would be fully willing to argue that the English Premier League is going through a bit of a renaissance, wherein passing football is now in vogue. Again looking at Liverpool, new manager Brendan Rogers has brought in his free-flowing, passing philosophy and supplemented this way of thinking by bringing in Joe Allen, and just today Nuri Sahin from Real Madrid. His preferred way of play is what was able to give Liverpool such a good chance to defeat City this weekend; if Liverpool had gone with a midfield intented to stifle and out-muscle City's central three, they would have been played off the pitch. Instead, Liverpool played their own, albeit far inferior version of Barcelona's tiki-taka with Allen pulling the strings. Manchester City simply couldn't get to grips with such accurate, delicate play. In all honesty, a draw for them was quite a lucky result.
Yet Liverpool have taken this style of play rather than invented it from the ground up, even in a British respect. Rogers had previously instilled this manner-of-play at Swansea City over the previous two campaigns, and the Swans have continued to indulge in such beautiful play (read: joga bonito) with new manager Michael Laudrup at the helm. Laudrup was perhaps the finest passing midfielder of the 1990's, so it is only befitting that he should now be in charge of the club that has been deemed, 'The Barcelona of Wales'. That Swansea have won their first two games by an aggregate 8-0 scoreline tells a bit about how successful they have been of late. Chelsea, as previously bespoken on this blog, have brought in Eden Hazard and Oscar to compliment Juan Mata in a midfield that now moves the ball on the floor as brilliantly as any other club on the planet outside of Catalonia. And what is most important to note, for all of the teams here mentioned, is that they have all improved due to a renewed focused on ball movement, crisp passing, and ball retention. Even the aforementioned stalwards of counter-attacking play Manchester United have brought in Shinji Kagawa to play alongside Anderson and Cleverly, a midfield which may at times lack combativeness, but can certainly play a pass or two.
In short, Premier League clubs have taken cues from abroad and English sides now appear to be willing to sign managers keen on having their teams play the ball along the floor. What a novel idea, football being played more with feet, an idea that may even benefit England's national team in the long-run.
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