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Introduction

Liverpool’s best attacking football in the modern era often looks chaotic to the casual eye: a quick pass into midfield, a bounce pass back, then suddenly someone is sprinting through the middle and the defense is broken. The structure behind that chaos is very teachable, and one of the key patterns is the vertical third-man run. Under Jürgen Klopp, especially in Premier League and UEFA Champions League campaigns from 2017–18 through 2021–22, Liverpool repeatedly uses this idea to turn a packed defense into a running race. For Indian fans learning tactics, this is a useful entry point because it connects simple actions—pass, set, run—to big outcomes like creating a one-on-one with the goalkeeper or forcing a defender to step out of the line. This article explains what “third-man runs” mean in plain language, how Liverpool builds the conditions for them, why they suit Klopp’s principles, and how you can recognize them in real matches.

How It Works

A “third-man run” is a pattern involving three players. Player A passes to Player B, but Player B does not become the main attacker; instead, B’s touch or pass releases Player C, who is the “third man” arriving into space. The run becomes “vertical” when Player C attacks forward through the middle or behind the defensive line, not sideways. Liverpool uses this to bypass tight marking in midfield. When opponents man-mark Liverpool’s pivot (often Fabinho in Klopp’s 4-3-3) or block direct passing lanes into Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mané, Liverpool uses a bounce pass as a decoy: A finds B under pressure, B sets it first time, and C runs beyond the pressure into the gap created by defenders stepping out. The key is timing and spacing. Liverpool’s midfielders (Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Thiago Alcântara, Naby Keïta) often position at different heights so one can receive to feet while another is ready to sprint beyond. The full-backs—Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson—also stretch the pitch wide, pinning the opponent’s wide defenders. That extra width keeps central channels slightly cleaner, so a vertical third-man run has somewhere to go. In present-tense match situations, you often see this sequence: centre-back (Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konaté) plays into a midfielder between lines; the midfielder “sets” the ball back or across with one touch; then Salah, Diogo Jota, or a midfielder bursts through the half-space or central lane. Because the defense reacts to the first receiver, the runner becomes free for a split second—enough for Liverpool to slip a through ball or carry the ball into the box.

Match Examples

1) Liverpool vs Manchester City, Premier League 2017–18 (Anfield, 4–3): This match under Klopp against Pep Guardiola’s City is a classic for vertical attacks. Liverpool’s counter-pressing wins the ball high, and the immediate verticality creates running lanes. You repeatedly see a forward pass into a “connector” player (often Roberto Firmino dropping between the lines). Firmino’s role resembles the second man: he attracts pressure and sets the ball, allowing Salah or Mané to become the third man running beyond City’s stepping midfield. Even when the final pass is not a pure through ball, the same logic applies: City’s line moves toward the receiver, then Liverpool’s runner attacks the space behind the movement. The result is fast entries into the box and forced defensive errors. 2) Liverpool vs Barcelona, UEFA Champions League 2018–19 semi-final second leg (Anfield, 4–0): While the famous corner is the headline, Liverpool’s general method of breaking a set defense is instructive. Barcelona under Ernesto Valverde defends compactly, so Liverpool uses quick combinations to shift markers and then run beyond. The third-man idea appears when a midfielder receives facing pressure and instantly sets to a teammate, who releases a runner into the channel. The important learning point is that the “set” pass is not backward for safety—it is backward to accelerate forward. That is a hallmark of Liverpool’s vertical third-man usage. 3) Liverpool vs Manchester United, Premier League 2021–22 (Anfield, 4–0): Ralf Rangnick’s United defends with a narrow block at times, trying to protect the middle. Liverpool’s rotations between midfield and forwards create moments where a pass into feet draws a midfielder out, and then the third man runs into the newly opened lane. You see Alexander-Arnold or Robertson providing width, while a central player (often Firmino’s replacement movements, or a midfielder stepping in) acts as the link. The takeaway: even against deep, passive defending, third-man runs still work because they manipulate individual decisions—who steps, who holds, and who tracks the runner.

Related Concepts & Skills

Training Implications

To train vertical third-man runs in an Indian academy, school team, or amateur group, use simple, repeatable exercises with clear rules. 1) Triangle release drill (15–20 minutes): Set up three cones in a triangle 12–18 meters apart. Player A passes firmly into Player B (who is “marked” by a passive defender or a cone gate), B sets first time to Player A or to a side teammate, and Player C sprints vertically through a gate behind B to receive the next pass. Rotate roles every 2–3 minutes. Coaching points: B’s body shape stays open to see both A and C; the set pass is cushioned into the runner’s path; C starts the run only when A’s pass travels, not earlier. 2) Add decision-making with a live defender (15 minutes): Now place one active defender who can intercept the set pass or track the runner. The rule is: the third man can only receive behind a line (use flat cones as a defensive line). This forces timing and disguise. Encourage the first receiver to use one-touch when possible; if they take two touches, the defender recovers and the run becomes useless. 3) Small-sided game constraint (20–25 minutes): Play 5v5 or 6v6. Award 2 points for a goal that comes from a third-man sequence (pass into feet, set, then a forward pass to a runner). This rewards the pattern without over-coaching. Practical tips for coaches: stop the game only to correct spacing (players too flat) and timing (runner goes too early). For players: scan over your shoulder before receiving, call “set” loudly, and make the run with a clear target lane—either central or the half-space—so the passer knows where to play.

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How Liverpool Use Vertical Third-Man Runs to Unlock Defenses