How Klopp left Pep insane with rage...
He caught his rival cold in first leg, rested men, then stuck to his guns
ANFIELD BLITZKRIEG
LEAVING aside the unsettling effects of the unfortunate ‘welcome’ for the City coach, which Jurgen Klopp admitted was “embarrassing” for the club, Liverpool’s approach in the early stages at Anfield set the tone.
Haring out of the blocks with incredible pace and vigour, City were taken out of a comfort zone too many teams have allowed them to play in this season. The contrast with their stroll against an insipid Everton the weekend before was stark.
The result of their efforts was that stand-in left-back Aymeric Laporte, plus Nicolas Otamendi and Kyle Walker, had little time for their preferred tactic of building from the back. Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva were unable to dictate and City could not establish any kind of rhythm. Within half an hour they were 3-0 down.
TRUST IN YOUTH
KLOPP has nailed his colours to the masts of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson this season despite their age and relative inexperience – although the latter had a full season with Hull last winter.
Alexander-Arnold has started all of Liverpool’s Champions League games since the trip to Maribor.
That faith will have been shaken after he endured a torrid time at the hands of Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford two games before the first leg at Anfield, particularly given the similar threat posed by Leroy Sane. But by sticking by his man, Klopp was rewarded with a magnificent performance in the first leg. AlexanderArnold’s form allowed Klopp’s usual utility man James Milner to play in midfield, where his contributions were vital.
PLANNING
PEP GUARDIOLA’S shuffling of his pack prior to Anfield, in the derby where he looked unsure whether to go for it or not, and again on Tuesday when he was backed into a corner, looked haphazard and reactive. In contrast, Klopp looked like he was moving chess pieces. Against Everton, Gigi Wijnaldum was successfully trialled in the Jordan Henderson role following his suspension in the first leg; Danny Ings was tried out as a possible Salah substitute on the right of Liverpool’s front three (less successfully), while Salah and Robertson were rested. Alexander-Arnold, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were all given half their usual workloads.
It looked like Klopp was plotting a steady course through a period of three matches in six days with a map in his hand rather than looking up to see whether he could spot any landmarks.
It also helps that the German sticks with a tried-and-tested 4-3-3 framework whoever he has available. His players stick rigorously to it on the training ground at Melwood and, as a result, know their jobs better.
DEFENSIVE ORGANISATION
VIRGIL van Dijk, below, has improved Liverpool’s defence significantly, with the club conceding just seven goals in their last 14 matches in all competitions. But he is also bringing out the best in both Dejan Lovren and Loris Karius in goal. The central defensive pair were huge at Anfield and in the second half at the Etihad this week, when the whole team regained their composure. Of City’s 20 shots, 12 were blocked by the Liverpool defence and 27 crosses were dealt with one way or another. Liverpool’s hard-working midfield – Henderson (first leg) and Wijnaldum (second) plus Milner and Oxlade-Chamberlain (both) – was also key, smothering City’s attempts to cut back from the byline behind the central defenders.
LUCK... AND KLOPP
TWO key slices of luck went Liverpool’s way; when Mo Salah’s opening goal at Anfield was ruled onside, and when Leroy Sane’s ‘goal’ at the Etihad was ruled offside, both wrongly. With correct decisions, City would have gone in at half-time on Tuesday 2-2 on aggregate.
On such fine margins ties spin and teams progress or get knocked out, and it could have been Klopp who was banished to the stands. As it was, he was able to dictate Liverpool’s calm response in the second half while Guardiola sat simmering. @gideonbrooks