Adjustments made by Jurgen Klopp at half-time against Man City in the Champions League quarter final second leg worked magic to inspire Reds victory.
There was palpable relief at the half-time whistle yesterday against Man City. The Champions League second leg kicked off at breathless pace. An early goal gifted to City by Virgil van Dijk but the Reds on the back foot and they were lucky to be only a goal down at the break.
Rather than count his chickens and hope for the best, Liverpool manager made some half time adjustments that changed the course of the game. It took the Reds from hanging on in the first half to dominating the second. They would walk away from the Etihad with their third win against City in a row.
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There were key tweaks to the formation and tactics that proved the difference; one in defense and the other in attack. Crucially Klopp instructed his back line to play further up the pitch and not sit so deep.
Pep Guardiola named six attackers in his side and that had the desired effect in the first half to pin the Liverpool back four deep into their own half at the edge of the box. Insisting that the defense played further forward was instrumental in the second half change of fortunes.
Particularly it aided Gini Wijnaldum who had less room in front of the defense to cover. His personal second half performance gave Liverpool the control they needed in the central areas.
In attack, Klopp shuffled his deck. Sadio Mane switched to the right allowing Mohamed Salah – Liveprool’s biggest goal threat – to play centrally and Roberto Firmino shifted to the left. That re-jigged formation led to both goals.
The Man City defenders were given man marking tasks – Walker on Mane; Otomendi on Firmino; Laporte on Salah. When the changes came it threw out that plan and Man City struggled with the forwards movement for the whole second half.
Next: Player Grades: Manchester City v Liverpool 2nd Leg
Klopp is a world-class manager who has been here before; winning high pressure European games. All his experience and class were on show last night and were a huge part of a famous Liverpool victory.