Welcome to The Blueprint. A weekly series where myself (pauciloquxnt) and FUTWIZ will be venturing into the world of real life tactics and how we can recreate them in FC 25. This week we’ll be looking at Jürgen Klopp’s UCL-winning Liverpool of 2018/19, hope you enjoy it!
Liverpool 2018/19 – Klopp’s Heavy Metal Football & Salah’s Brilliance
The 2018/19 season was a defining one for Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool. While they fell just short of the Premier League title, finishing second with 97 points, they lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy, securing their status as one of Europe’s elite teams.
At the heart of this success was Mohamed Salah. After a record-breaking debut season, Salah continued to be the driving force in Liverpool’s attack, scoring crucial goals and evolving into a more complete forward. His blend of pace, movement, and clinical finishing made him indispensable in Klopp’s high-intensity system.
Tactical Framework
Formation & Build-Up Play
Liverpool primarily operated in a 4-3-3 formation, but the fluidity in their attacking play allowed them to transition into different structures depending on the phase of play.
- Backline Stability: The defensive unit, marshalled by Virgil van Dijk, was key to Liverpool’s build-up. Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold provided width and progression from full-back, while Joel Matip and Van Dijk offered composure and strength.
- Midfield Press & Control: The trio of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, and Georginio Wijnaldum was crucial in controlling the tempo, pressing opposition players, and facilitating transitions. Fabinho operated as the deep-lying enforcer, allowing Henderson and Wijnaldum to push forward when needed.
- Fluid Attack: Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mané formed one of the most feared attacking trios in world football. Firmino dropped deep to link play, while Salah and Mané made diagonal runs in behind. Salah, in particular, acted as both a wide forward and a secondary striker, constantly drifting inside to exploit space.
Liverpool’s build-up was designed to be quick and direct, often bypassing the midfield with long diagonal balls from Van Dijk or switching play between the full-backs. Trent and Robertson were key in these transitions, stretching the pitch and delivering early crosses into the box.
Defensive Organisation & Pressing
Klopp’s gegenpressing philosophy remained central to Liverpool’s defensive setup. Rather than sitting deep, they focused on:
- High Press: Salah and Mané would press the opposition full-backs aggressively, cutting off passing lanes, while Firmino acted as the first line of pressure, disrupting build-up play.
- Counter-Pressing Triggers: As soon as Liverpool lost possession, the midfield and forward line would swarm the ball carrier, regaining possession quickly. Fabinho was instrumental in this, breaking up play and transitioning Liverpool back onto the attack.
- Compact Shape: While pressing high, Liverpool maintained a compact 4-3-3 shape, ensuring they weren’t left vulnerable to counter-attacks. The defensive line, led by Van Dijk, played a high offside trap, minimising space in behind.
Liverpool conceded just 22 goals in the Premier League, the best defensive record in the league, a testament to their pressing efficiency and defensive structure.
Attacking Play & Goal Threat
Liverpool’s attack was a devastating mix of speed, fluid movement, and verticality. While they could dominate possession, their real threat came from quick transitions and exploiting space.
- Wing Play & Overloads: The full-backs were effectively Liverpool’s playmakers, with Trent Alexander-Arnold (12 assists) and Andrew Robertson (11 assists) delivering pinpoint crosses. Salah benefited from this, often arriving at the back post for cutbacks or rebounds.
- Firmino’s False 9 Role: Roberto Firmino’s deep movements pulled defenders out of position, creating space for Salah to make runs in behind. This was crucial in games where Liverpool faced deep defensive blocks.
- Quick Transitions: As soon as Liverpool won the ball, Salah and Mané would make diagonal runs behind the opposition’s defence, with Henderson and Wijnaldum providing late support.
Liverpool scored 89 goals in the Premier League, with Salah contributing heavily in both goals and assists.
Mohamed Salah: The Relentless Forward
While Liverpool’s system was built on collective effort, Salah’s individual brilliance was undeniable. He finished the season as the joint top-scorer in the Premier League (22 goals, shared with Mané and Aubameyang) and played a vital role in their Champions League triumph.
Key Aspects of Salah’s Role
1. Wide Forward & Goal Threat
- Salah wasn’t a traditional winger—he operated as an inverted forward, starting wide but constantly cutting inside to shoot on his stronger left foot.
- His positioning allowed him to exploit spaces behind the defence, particularly when Firmino dragged defenders away.
- His 22 Premier League goals showcased his ability to score from both close-range finishes and long-range strikes.
2. Counter-Attacking Weapon
- Salah was Liverpool’s biggest threat in transition, with his acceleration and dribbling making him deadly on the counter.
- Liverpool’s second goal in the Champions League final vs Tottenham (scored by Origi) came from a similar transition, with Salah stretching the opposition and creating space.
3. Link-Up Play & Creativity
- While primarily a goal-scorer, Salah also contributed 8 assists in the league, showcasing his ability to link up with teammates.
- His one-touch interplay with Firmino and Mané was key in breaking down defences.
4. Defensive Work Rate
- Klopp demanded defensive commitment from all his attackers, and Salah was no exception. He pressed opposition full-backs, cutting off passing options and initiating Liverpool’s counter-pressing sequences.
Alisson & Fabinho: The Final Pieces in Liverpool’s Transformation
The arrivals of Alisson Becker and Fabinho in the summer of 2018 took Liverpool from an exciting but flawed attacking side to a complete, well-balanced unit capable of competing at the highest level. Before Alisson, Liverpool’s goalkeeper situation had been a major weakness, with errors from Loris Karius in the 2018 Champions League final exposing their defensive frailties. Alisson changed everything. His calmness under pressure, elite shot-stopping, and ability to play out from the back gave Liverpool newfound security. Not only did he win the Golden Glove with 21 clean sheets, but his distribution also became a crucial weapon. His quick, pinpoint passing allowed Liverpool to break opposition lines, best illustrated by his assist for Salah’s goal against Manchester United—a long, perfectly weighted pass that led directly to a goal.
Fabinho, meanwhile, provided the midfield anchor Liverpool had been missing since Javier Mascherano. Before his arrival, Klopp had often relied on Jordan Henderson as a No. 6, but Fabinho’s positional awareness, tackling ability, and press resistance elevated the entire midfield. His presence allowed Liverpool’s full-backs, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson, to push higher, knowing they had cover behind them. More importantly, he gave Liverpool control in tight games, something they had lacked in previous seasons. His ability to win duels (4.2 tackles + interceptions per 90) and progress the ball under pressure made Liverpool much harder to break down, reducing their goals conceded from 38 (2017/18) to just 22 (2018/19)—the best defensive record in the league.
Together, Alisson and Fabinho transformed Liverpool from a high-energy, counter-attacking team into one that could dominate possession without losing defensive solidity. Alisson ensured Liverpool could build from the back with confidence, while Fabinho’s midfield presence made them more structured, allowing Henderson and Wijnaldum to push higher and engage in Klopp’s pressing game. This balance was the foundation for their 97-point Premier League campaign and their Champions League triumph, proving that Liverpool were no longer just an exhilarating attacking force but a complete, world-class side.
Statistical Insights & Achievements
Liverpool’s incredible season was reflected in the statistics:
Achievements
- Champions League Winners – Beat Tottenham 2-0 in the final.
- 2nd in Premier League with 97 points – Highest-ever total for a runner-up.
- Best Defensive Record in the PL – Conceded just 22 goals.
Key Stats
- Mo Salah: 27 goals, 13 assists (all comps) – Shared the Golden Boot (22 PL goals).
- Virgil van Dijk: PFA Player of the Year – Won 193 aerial duels (most in the PL).
- Trent Alexander-Arnold: 12 PL assists – Most ever by a defender in a single season at the time.
- Alisson: 21 PL clean sheets – Won the Golden Glove.
Recreated for FC 25
Make sure to check out the full tactic on FUTWIZ
The Tactics
Build-Up Style is set to Counter. This is because we want to recreate the speed in transition that Klopp’s team had.
Line Height is set to 95. This is so we hold an ultra-high line and compress the pitch as much as possible to aid the relentless press we are looking to put on.
The GK is set to Sweeper Keeper with a Build-Up focus. This is to recreate the ball playing ability that Alisson had in this team, and also how vital his role in sweeping up any balls that came in behind the CBs.
The LB and RB are set to Attacking Wingback with a Balanced focus. Both Trent and Robbo were always pushing high, and delivering those low, whipped balls to the back post. Make sure they have Relentless, they’re gonna need it!
Both CBs are set to Defender with a Defend focus. While VVD was a Ball-Playing Defender in all aspects, the role in FC simply would sit them too high up the pitch and leave a huge gap. Therefore we stick to basics to get the positioning right.
The CDM is set to Holding with a Defend focus. Fabinho was like a bouncer for this Liverpool defence – and he wasn’t letting anyone in! The role and focus combination ensure they won’t stray too far from the CBs and do a great job in screening the defence.
Both CMs are set to Deep-Lying Playmaker with a Defend focus. This is to replicate the cover in the half spaces so they can protect the space that the Wingbacks vacate. They will still be available around the edge of the box for recycling possession, much like Henderson and Wijnaldum were in real life.
Both LW and RW are set to Inside Forward with an Attack focus. Both Salah and Mané were famous for making those darting diagonal runs into the box and shaping like a front two, with Firmino dropping just behind them. This role and focus replicates that to a T.
The ST is set to False 9 with a Build-Up focus. Roberto Firmino, the quintessential deep-lying forward. Dropping in to link the play up and cutting through-balls to the wingers, along with contributing with goals himself. There was only one role that would accurately represent this.
Tips and Tricks
- Always make sure to make the most of the width of the pitch! You will have overloads on both sides on every attack thanks to LB/RB on Attacking Wingback.
- Roles ++ everywhere you can are favoured due to the quick transitions both defensively and in attack.
- R1 triggers to bring the front 3 into build-up will be your best friend. Also look to bounce passes back into the midfield or out to the wing-backs from this, it will open up a LOT of space for you!
- Especially against the 4213 rats, you will find you have a free man in the box for the extra pass a lot. This is because they will have to drag a full-back over to the wing to cover your overload, then a CB to cover the second man, and well… you can see where this is going.
- Relentless is going to be a playstyle you want on all players if you can, there is a lot of running and transition so it will drain stamina. If you can’t get it on a player make sure to have a super sub to replace them!
Conclusion
Mohamed Salah’s 2018/19 season was pivotal in Liverpool’s resurgence as a dominant force in European football. While the team narrowly missed out on the Premier League, their Champions League triumph solidified Klopp’s philosophy and Salah’s importance.
His ability to blend goal-scoring, creativity, and relentless pressing made him the ideal forward for Klopp’s high-energy system. The Egyptian’s evolution into a more complete player ensured that Liverpool remained a consistent attacking threat, and his performances set the foundation for their Premier League triumph the following season.
Liverpool’s 2018/19 campaign was a season of near-perfection, with Salah as its focal point. His relentless drive and match-winning contributions ensured that Liverpool didn’t just compete with the best—they conquered Europe.
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