Van Dijk highlights small margin
Critics of Liverpool’s high defensive line would surely have been rubbing their hands in delight at the way this match ended.
However, sat in the dugout having a rare night off was the chief reason the Reds persist with an approach for which the reward far outweighs the risk.
No method is fool-proof. And rather than sit back and comfortably see out a four-goal lead in this Champions League quarter-final against Benfica, Liverpool retained unshakeable faith in the way they have defended all season – and the visitors, and Darwin Nunez in particular, reaped the rewards.
That late goals from Roman Yaremchuk and Nunez that sparked brief concern inside Anfield were initially flagged offside before VAR proved them legitimate goals underlines the small margins concerning Liverpool’s tactic. Even the most minor miscommunication can make a difference.
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And while there were three changes to the defence, the key absence was that of Virgil van Dijk, the conductor of the back four and whose command of the backline is total.
Ibrahima Konate could point to heading in the opener for the second time in the tie, and a second game in four days for Joel Matip suggests the Frenchman could be in line for a start at Wembley on Saturday. Not for nothing, though, does Van Dijk remain the main man, the glue who holds it all together.
Tsimikas reminder as midfield muddles through
Everything Jurgen Klopp said pre-match pointed to rotation. Nevertheless, there was intrigue at the Reds boss making seven changes for a Champions League quarter-final.
Rather than disrespect Benfica, this was squad management for a team that continues to harbour hopes of an unprecedented quadruple and was coming into the tie off the back of Sunday’s draining draw at Manchester City.
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That was the reward for the hard work done in Lisbon last week, making this arguably the last time Klopp could heavily alter his line-up in the closing weeks. The final outcome, despite the late wobble, justified the decision.
A few players made the most of it, not least Firmino. Even better, though, was left-back Kostas Tsimikas, the Greek creating goals for the Brazilian and Konate with his wicked dead-ball deliveries and enthusiastic in his work, both going forward and in defending.
On the other defensive flank, Joe Gomez was solid before being somewhat exposed by Nunez as Benfica threw everything forward in the final quarter.
But midfield was something of another muddle, the trio of Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita and James Milner starting well but eventually losing their way. Finding the right combination for City on Saturday remains a headache for Klopp.
Back to the future for Reds
It’s all gone a bit 2016 for Liverpool in Europe.
The Reds last came up against Villarreal, their opponents in the Champions League semi-final in a fortnight, six years ago when they scrapped for a place in the Europa League final.
Liverpool overcame a first-leg defeat on a rousing Anfield night only to have the reverse happen in the final as they let slip a half-time lead against Unai Emery’s Sevilla.
Emery, of course, is the mastermind behind Villarreal beating Manchester United in last season’s Europa League final to earn their Champions League berth, and then seeing off Juventus and Bayern Munich in the knockout stages.
Memories of that Basel beating in 2016 remain raw, an occasion that underlined to Klopp there could be no shortcuts in his attempt to guide Liverpool back to the summit in England and Europe.
And it’s why, for all their delight at the dangerous Bayern being dumped out, Reds supporters will be wary of what ace organiser Emery conjures up as he looks to add another prized scalp to Villarreal’s roll of honour.
It won’t be easy. Liverpool, though, are now just one step away from a fourth European final of Klopp’s tenure – a remarkable statistic.
