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Positioning to help a teammate who's engaging the ball, ready to step in if they get beaten. The covering player provides insurance - if the first defender fails, the covering defender should be there. Good teams have layers of cover; poor teams have gaps. Centre-back partnerships are built on trust that your partner will cover you when you step out to press.
Van Dijk and Matip's partnership at Liverpool worked because of their covering. When one stepped out to challenge, the other adjusted to cover the space behind. Neither got caught alone because the other was always there.
Robbie
Jan 31, 2026
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