3v2 “Klopp Inspired” Shooting Drill

PLAYERS:

+10

TIME:

30 min.

FOCUS:

Shooting

AGE:

U13+

INTENSITY:

8/10

SETUP

Arrange 3 cones in a line approximately 10 meters outside the box, spaced around 10 meters apart, representing a striker and two wingers. – Position a small goal on each side of the pitch, outside the box and roughly level with the line of cones.
Have a minimum of 2 attacking players waiting at each cone.
Have a minimum of 2 defenders behind the goal line on each side of the goal, with a supply of balls ready.
Place a goalkeeper in goal.
Adjust distances between cones based on the age and skill level of the players.

WHY USE THIS DRILL?

This 3v2 “Klopp Inspired” Shooting Drill is built around the principles seen in Jürgen Klopp’s gegenpressing Liverpool side. It trains the moment right after the ball is won: defenders have to move the ball away from the danger zone and out to the small goals on each side, representing full-backs or midfielders. At the same time it gives your attackers a clean 3v2 overload to work on their finishing and their connection with each other, so both halves of the transition get trained in the same repetition.

This drill particularly focuses on:

Playing Out of Pressure: Defenders learn to lift their heads immediately after winning the ball and find the safe outlet wide rather than clearing it aimlessly.
Defending as a Pair: Two defenders against three attackers have to stay compact, shift together, and delay rather than dive in.
Finishing in an Overload: Attackers get repeated chances to convert a numerical advantage quickly, before the defence can recover.
Attacking Combinations: The three attackers work on timing their runs off one another to break the defensive line.

HOW IT WORKS

One of the two defenders starts the game by passing the ball into one of the three attackers at the cones. As soon as the pass is played, both defenders on that side push up towards the attackers, staying compact and ready to win the ball, and a live 3v2 unfolds towards goal. The attackers aim to score as quickly as possible, using varied runs to get in behind and around the two defenders – experiment with different running patterns rather than repeating the same attack every time. If the defenders win the ball, their job is to get it into one of the small goals on either side of the pitch as fast as possible. Scoring: attackers earn 1 point for scoring in the main goal, defenders earn 2 points for scoring in a small goal. The first team to reach 10 points wins. Modify the scoring system to suit your team if it looks unfair to either side.

Coaching Flexibility: Vary how the ball is played in – to feet, into space, or a deliberately awkward pass – so the attackers have to control under pressure before the 3v2 starts. Alternate which side of the goal the defenders come from so both pairs get equal repetitions.

OTHER KEY POINTS

Coach the two defenders to stay compact and shift across as a pair – the drill loses its value if they split and dive in.
Encourage the attackers to attack at speed; the slower the attack, the easier the 3v2 becomes to defend.
Rotate players every 2-5 minutes to ensure everyone gets involved evenly.
The drill should be seen as inspiration. So feel free to adapt the drill to suit your team’s specific needs or focus areas.