“European nights at Anfield are why you fall in love with football.” ~ Steven Gerrard
Wednesday night reminded us why we love this game, and why we love this team, warts and all. It
was a return of foot on the accelerator football, at times chaotic, but never boring. Andoni
Iraola’s first Champions League match at the helm of the Reds revealed a team with
definite flaws, but also one with an energy and passion that has been missing for much of
the past two seasons despite a league title. The Anfield crowd of nearly 60,000 helped
propel Liverpool to a well-deserved 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid, and sent the faithful
home having been thoroughly entertained.
This was in no way a dominating Liverpool performance. In fact, Atletico had 55%
possession and won 52% of the duels (Opta). Despite an aggressive start which saw
Alexander Isak nearly put the Reds in front in the first sixteen seconds of the match, it was
Atletico who were the better organized, and more dangerous team for large spells of the
first half. As Steven Gerrard noted with concern, the Reds’ press, while aggressive, was
frequently disjointed, and at times only one or two players took part in any coordinated
fashion. This coupled with a high defensive line, made Liverpool vulnerable. It seemed
inevitable that it would be Marcos Llorente who would take full advantage. The man who
named his dog “Anfield”, potted his fifth goal in Champions League matches on Liverpool’s
home turf seventeen minutes in, aided by especially poor decision-making on the part of
Milos Kerkez.
In response, the Anfield faithful did their part, roaring their encouragement. The Reds
responded well, dominating for large parts of the remainder of the half, and equalizing on
40’ when Dominik Szoboszlai slotted in a neat Ronald Araujo back pass. Ironically, the
sequence leading to the goal had been begun by effective pressing from Milos Kerkez.
Atoning for his earlier error, Kerkez celebrated as if it was his boot that had put the ball
behind the Atleti keeper.
Whatever instructions Iraola provided at half seemed to take root, as Liverpool’s press was
far better organized and effective in the second forty-five. Liverpool made it very difficult for
Atletico to get out of the Kop end. This culminated in a terrific Alexis Mac Allister strike to
put the Reds in front for good on 50’. While Atletico pushed back, especially late in the
match, Liverpool defended well as a team, and were far better organized than in the first
half.
Ronald Araujo was voted man of the match, providing defensive stability on the right side
while showing an offensive flare that many of us had not expected to see. But there were
plenty of others deserving of credit. Alexander Isak looked dangerous and pressed really
well. Bradley Barcola should have scored twice on his Liverpool debut, and showed great
speed going forward. Rio Ngumoha looked far more comfortable on the left than he has on
the right, and was a thorn in the side of the Atletico defence.
But it was Florian Wirtz who gave perhaps the most complete performance of the match.
His work ethic was nothing short of admirable as he effectively pressed the Atleti back line,
frequently breaking up their attempts to progress the ball. Wirtz tracked back energetically
all night, and going forward showed his passing flare and calm creativity. Hopefully, this is a
harbinger of things to come for him.
While the Iraola era has begun with an undefeated run of four games, last night was the first
time that Liverpool fans got a real sense of what this team will be under this new manager.
It will be a team that presses ferociously, and will attack with flare, all while occasionally
having a defensive lapse. If Iraola can train this squad to make such lapses a rarity, then the
Liverpool faithful are in for an exciting season on all fronts.
