There are no secrets about David Moyes’ tactics against the “bigger” sides in the Premier League.
Ahead of Sunderland’s trip to Anfield last month, the Black Cats boss made no bones about his strategy as he announced that he intended to park the bus against Jurgen Klopp’s free-scoring Liverpool side.
“We will go there and make it difficult for Liverpool,” Moyes said. “Anybody who plays against Liverpool has to park the double-decker bus, but we also have two centre forwards scoring goals.”
It was a declaration that didn’t instil much hope in Sunderland fans, who weren’t altogether thrilled to hear that they had 90 minutes of defending to look forward to in the hope of catching the Reds on the break.
There was no such luck and Liverpool claimed a routine 2-0 win.
This week, Chelsea visited the Stadium of Light with the chance to tighten their grip atop the Premier League table and record 10 league wins in a row.
And Moyes clearly didn’t want to see his side on the wrong end of a rout as he named seven, 7, SEVEN defenders in his starting XI.
📝 David Moyes has made a number of changes ahead of tonight's game v @ChelseaFC @StadiumOfLight pic.twitter.com/OhZa6e9h6j
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) December 14, 2016
Billy Jones, Papy Djilobodji, Lamine Kone, John O’Shea, Patrick van Aanholt, Jason Denayer and Jan Kirchoff are all listed as defenders but all seven of them took to the field in the hope of spoiling the Chelsea party on Wednesday night.
And Sunderland fans did not appreciate the ridiculously defensive line-up.
5 CB's wtf
— JS 🇷🇺🇩🇪 (@JS_SZN) December 14, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @ChelseaFC @StadiumOfLight 7 at the back lol
— MJ (@VintageMarko) December 14, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @ChelseaFC @StadiumOfLight 7 Defenders? Very confident I see
— Chelsea24/7 (@BBFifaHD) December 14, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @ChelseaFC @StadiumOfLight has to be the most defensive #SAFC side i have seen in a very long time
— Philip Oates (@phil_oates92) December 14, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @ChelseaFC @StadiumOfLight Wtf did he literally name every cb Sunderland have my lord
— ANTI,OZIL.LEAVE (@IwobiFlair) December 14, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @ChelseaFC @StadiumOfLight Moyes the tactical genius thinks he’s fucking Mourinho parking the bus like this. ????? ?⚪?⚪
— Ethan (@ethan_thoburn) December 14, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @ChelseaFC @StadiumOfLight Holy fuck! 7 defenders ??
— La Seko (@RealSeko9) December 14, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @OfficialFPL @ChelseaFC @StadiumOfLight ?defend defend defend defend defend ???
— Craig Devine (@sir_craigdevine) December 14, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @ChelseaFC @StadiumOfLight someone wants a draw? I’m all for defending but with that team, we’ll be stuck in our half
— Adam Davey (@adam_safc10) December 14, 2016
@SunderlandAFC @Fpl_Updates @ChelseaFC @StadiumOfLight 5 cbs?
— FUTsune23 (@CFCsune23) December 14, 2016
@SunderlandAFC@ChelseaFC@StadiumOfLight 7 at the back then #defeatist
— Adam Royal (@aamroyal) December 14, 2016
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