I think Klopp's tactic was spot on but team selection and substitutions were bizarre at best. Most of the time we didn't press high which is good decision IMO. Villarreal actually invited us to press higher with recycling the ball in deeper areas when they had the ball. We defend fairly compact and also have three decent chances to score.
Team selection is other thing. If we decided not to press higher than Studge was better option than Firmino up front. It was totally different game than, for example, against Manchester City where other team were happy to attack us and we got enough space to kill them at the counter. But Villarreal defend with overloading deep area with eight or nine players and use pace up front when they get the opportunity. Studge is way better than any of our available players to score or combine in front of goal in a tight space. Also, it's strange that we start to press higher late in the game when Benteke came into the game. He cannot press effectievly and he didn't offer any smart movement up front.
At Anfield we need to attack and it will be difficult game IMO. They don't have world-beaters in the team but they know how to defend very well and use the space in the counter. They will have the chance because we need to be proactive in the second leg which will suit them pretty well.
I hope I'm wrong and hope we destroy those cu*ts 4-0 at Anfield.
Logged