Playful intelligence is needed by Liverpool against Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the last 16 of the Champions League at Anfield Stadium on Thursday (12/3).
The 0-1 defeat in the first leg at Atletico provided important lessons for the reigning Champions League champions. The Reds are also believed to learn a lot from the bad results.
In the first leg Liverpool had difficulty penetrating the meeting of the Atletico defense. In addition, Atletico, the host, has found a gap in Liverpool’s defense several times through counter-attacks with passes from the back.
In that match Diego Simeone’s team implemented a 4-4-2 scheme, but in the course of the match they were transformed into ‘bus parking’ using an 8-1-1 formation.
Four Atletico midfielders: Koke, Saul Niguez, Thomas Partey, and Thomas Lemar help the defense by leaving Angel Correa and Alvaro Morata up front.
After winning through Saul Niguez’s goal in the fourth minute, Atletico were also seen playing a 6-2-2 pattern. Partey and Saul are the midfielders who help the Atletico defense the most.
In the statistics summarized by Whoscored, 70 percent of Partey’s movements never left the Atletico playing field. The mobility of the 26-year-old midfielder occurred mostly in the midfield. He became the first layer of Atletico’s defense to block the Liverpool attack.
Saul also has more heatmaps in his own defense. Its main task is to dispel the Reds attacks originating from Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Koke’s role is almost the same as Saul’s. Simeone knew very well that the source of Liverpool’s attacks was not only from Salah, Roberto Firmino, or Sadio Mane, but also from Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.
Because of that Koke figure is needed. The 28-year-old moves diligently to the left and right of Atletico’s defense to help prevent opportunities that can be born from Alexander-Arnold and Robertson.
With such a layered defense, Liverpool have no shot on goal or shots on target from eight trials throughout the match.
In the first leg Liverpool shot a lot happened from the penalty box. Apart from being too weak, a number of other efforts widened from the target.
Interestingly, in that first meeting Liverpool seemed to lack the courage to open fire from outside the penalty box. Sadio Mane and and Salah who have the ability to kick from outside the box are also difficult to create these opportunities because first ‘locked’ by Atletico players.
To be able to score goals and even win matches, Liverpool need to create many ways to play against Atletico in the second leg.
When stuck in penetration into the Atletico penalty box, the trio of Liverpool attacking lines: Mane, Firmino, and Salah can make shot attempts. From the shot they can hope the luck of the emergence of wild balls or rebounds that can bear golden opportunities or become goals immediately after changing direction.
The Reds midfield which is likely to be filled by Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also demanded to be more creative in arranging attacks, including creating opportunities. One of them was through a kick from outside the penalty box.
With a lot of shots from outside the box, Atletico’s defense will change his mind not to give the home the firing room. From there the penetration through both wings with short balls can be re-done.
In the match Wijnaldum will likely be the key to Klopp. The Dutchman has a good physique in filling the position of Alexander-Arnold and Robertson when assisting the attack.
The quality of Alexander-Arnold and Robertson in releasing crosses is beyond doubt. That way is also needed by Klopp to break down Atletico’s layered defense.
When Alexander-Arnold or Robertson rose to attack, there was a gap in Liverpool’s defense. In such situations Wijnaldum’s role is needed as a coating.
At certain moments, Wijnaldum also has the ability to be a deadlock breaker. In the Dutch national team, Wijnaldum was quite fertile when helping the attack.
In addition to attacking, Liverpool also need to concentrate on defense. Atletico is believed to have only one way to attack Virgil van Dijk, namely through a counterattack, especially cross bait.
Badly for Liverpool, in recent weeks the defense line of the port city club looks like it has a hole and easily penetrated through a counterattack with a hull bait from behind.
Norwich City had a chance to score a goal through the pass through the Liverpool defense when the two teams met in mid-February. Luckily keeper Alisson defeated Norwich’s chances.
Whereas in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 round, Morata’s shot could also be blocked by Alisson after Van Dijk failed to throw the ball perfectly to Partey’s cross pass.
Outside of Liverpool’s way of attacking and defending against Atletico in the second leg, the Reds also need to focus on Adrian who could be a substitute for Alisson. The Brazilian goalkeeper is still doubtful because of injury recovery.
At the beginning of the Premier League season this season, Adrian made a number of important saves while being an injured Alisson liner. However, on a number of occasions the former West Ham United goalkeeper also has a number of blunders.
Liverpool’s neat defense can minimize Adrian making unnecessary mistakes, which can lead to goals for Atletico. Because, additional goals from Atletico is not impossible to increase the difficulty of Liverpool to qualify for the quarter-finals.
