Senne Lammens reveals Anfield plan: long balls and second balls to beat Liverpool’s man-to-man press

In a candid post-match breakdown, goalkeeper Senne Lammens explained why his side went long at Anfield to escape Liverpool’s man-to-man press. Acknowledging how hard it is to build from the back under that intensity, he said they targeted second balls despite lacking a classic target striker—and it paid off on the decisive goal. The remarks sparked lively discussion across fan spaces, with praise for the street-smart approach and questions over how Liverpool might tweak their press. The moment doubles as a case study in adapting game plans to the unique pressures of Anfield.

The remarks were delivered in a post-match mixed-zone setting after a high-intensity night at Anfield, where Liverpool’s aggressive press steered the rhythm of play. Lammens outlined the decision to bypass the first line with direct balls and attack second phases, a pragmatic response to the home side’s pressure and territorial dominance.

🚨🗣️ Senne Lammens on Liverpool: "We know how they press, man-v-man, so being realistic, coming into Anfield, it's quite difficult to build up with defenders. We made decision of long ball, do it with second ball, even though we didn't really have a target striker. How we scored

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

Lammens’ explanation is a textbook illustration of how visiting teams can neutralize Liverpool’s man-to-man press at Anfield. When the first pass into the center-backs or pivot is suffocated, the immediate alternative is direct play to stretch the pitch vertically, force aerial duels, and contest second balls higher up the field. Even without a classic target striker, the aim is to create chaos in the channels, pin full-backs, and separate Liverpool’s midfield from their back line. The real battle, as he notes, is not the first header but the second action—who arrives first, how compact the support is, and whether the wide midfielders squeeze in quickly enough to trap Liverpool facing their own goal.

For Liverpool, this exposes the trade-off inherent in aggressive man-orientations: if the first duel is lost or the ball lands uncontested, the back line can be attacked at speed with limited cover. The counter-measures are well known: improve ‘rest defense’ (staggering center-backs with a holding midfielder), invite fewer 1v1s in wide zones, and adjust the pressing height to reduce the distance to second balls. Anfield’s energy typically amplifies Liverpool’s pressing, but it also increases the risk-reward profile; one broken chain can become a transition chance against them. Lammens’ candor effectively hands future visitors a clear, executable blueprint.

Reaction

Fan spaces lit up with a blend of admiration, banter, and sideline chatter. A wry brand cameo joked, 'Frosted outside. Citrus inside.'—a tongue-in-cheek nod to the cool-headed direct approach. One popular fan voice quipped, 'Cunha sent Frimpong back to Leverkusen 😂', pulling in cross-league banter to celebrate the art of beating a press with raw individual moments. Another supporter gushed, 'Nearly forgot how much I actually love these guys 😭', capturing the emotional release that comes when pragmatism delivers a result at a fortress like Anfield.

Even a major club handle chimed in with, 'Some shift today from Matheus 🇧🇷', focusing praise on industry and work-rate—the currency of second-ball football. A photography fan account chimed, 'What goes around comes around', framing the win as karmic repayment for prior Anfield heartbreaks. One partisan voice teased the coverage patterns—'He doesn’t even tweet about Bayern Munich like the way he does for us😭❤️'—hinting at the gravitational pull of English football discourse. The approving, mission-accomplished tone was summed up neatly by, 'Y'all understood the assignment and carried it out perfectly. Well done.'

Collectively, the reactions validate Lammens’ message: supporters admire clarity, courage, and a willingness to ditch aesthetics for edge. In the social arena, winning the duel for territory and second balls felt as satisfying as any intricate build-up sequence.

Social reactions

Y'all understood the assignment and carried it out perfectly. Well done.

Sir Bugie (@BugieKay)

Cunha sent Frimpong back to Leverkusen 😂

UtdXclusive (@UtdXclusive)

What goes around comes around.

cold pics of Manchester United (@utdsnaps)

Prediction

Expect more visitors to Anfield to copy-paste this plan: compress the pitch vertically, play quickly into the channels, and swarm second balls with three runners instead of two. The emphasis will be on pre-assigning zones for knockdowns, using inverted wingers to attack the inside-left pocket behind Liverpool’s pressing full-back, and keeping a holding midfielder ready to recycle clearances back into the box. Teams lacking a traditional target man will simulate one by rotating a wide forward onto a smaller full-back or stacking two bodies on Liverpool’s weaker aerial side.

Liverpool’s counter will likely be twofold. First, they may lower the first pressing line by 5–8 meters to shrink the landing zone for long balls, empowering the center-backs and the goalkeeper to claim more territory. Second, they could emphasize a 2+2 rest-defense (two center-backs plus a screening double-pivot) to trap the second ball centrally rather than dueling in isolation. Expect more proactive sweeping from Alisson and tighter distances between lines to ensure the first contact is backed by immediate cover. Set-piece preparation will also rise in importance, as teams that play long often load restarts. In short, a mini-arms race is coming: direct play and second phases versus compact rest-defense and superior field coverage.

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Conclusion

Lammens’ breakdown distills a hard truth about Anfield: when Liverpool’s press is humming, aesthetics take a back seat to survival. The smartest route is often the most direct, and the winner is the team that claims those scruffy, marginal phases between first contact and controlled possession. His remarks don’t just explain a single result; they chart a reproducible path for underdogs—embrace verticality, script the reaction to every long delivery, and flood the drop zone with aggressive runners. For Liverpool, the lesson is equally clear: protect the landing areas, tidy up rest-defense, and resist being drawn into isolated duels.

In the bigger picture, this episode reinforces how elite football is decided by details—starting positions, body orientation for second balls, and collective timing. Anfield remains a fortress, but no fortress is impregnable if you target the hinges. Credit to Lammens for pulling back the tactical curtain; whether rivals can execute with the same discipline will determine if this blueprint becomes a trend or remains a one-off masterclass.