There has been a lot of focus on the new ‘Dynamic Kick-off’ rules in the NFL at the start of the 2024 season, but even in the Premier League, teams are paying more attention to how they begin play.
Teams like Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea have introduced various kick-off routines in the first three weeks of the season, showcasing different formations and strategies.
Manchester City
Manchester City, under Pep Guardiola, have focused on short passes and off-ball movement during their kick-off routines. They aim to retain control and create space for their players.
Against Chelsea, City lined up with De Bruyne passing back to the goalkeeper who played a long ball towards Haaland, creating opportunities for the team to press and start an attack.
City used different approaches in subsequent games, varying their formations and movements based on the situation and opposition.
Arsenal
Arsenal has consistently passed the ball back to the goalkeeper from kick-off, creating numerical advantages on the flanks and leaving central areas open. Their focus is on surging forward and pinning the opposition back.
Arsenal’s kick-off routines have shown tactical awareness and adaptability, with different setups for each game to exploit weaknesses in the opponent’s lineup.
Liverpool
Liverpool, led by Arne Slot, have maintained a high line in their kick-offs, similar to Arsenal’s approach. They use a narrow formation, compressing space and creating options for quick transitions.
Liverpool’s kick-off routines have included high pressing and positional interchanges to unsettle the opposition and create scoring opportunities.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa focuses on control and baiting the opposition’s press in their kick-off routines, utilizing a forward and midfield recipient combination. They aim to create passing lanes and open up spaces for attacks.
Villa’s kick-off strategies have seen changes in formations and movements, adapting to different opponents and game situations for maximum effectiveness.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur’s kick-off setup utilizes width and quick transitions, aiming to force the opposition down the middle and create pressing opportunities. They focus on streaming forward and disrupting the opposition’s structure.
Spurs have shown a mix of City’s and Villa’s approaches in their kick-offs, adjusting their formations and movements based on the game scenario to exploit weaknesses in the opponent’s defense.
Chelsea
Under the new head coach Enzo Maresca, Chelsea has adopted a unique kick-off approach, combining elements from different teams. They focus on creating passing options for the kickoff taker and utilizing width to stretch the opposition’s defense.
Chelsea’s kick-off routines have shown adaptability and variation in formations, with different setups for different games to counter the opponent’s strategies effectively.