Liverpool got back on track against Bournemouth courtesy of wing wizards Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, but they are going to need a much better performance to beat Atletico Madrid this week, particularly from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
It has long been noted that the Reds’ creativity comes from their full-backs rather than the midfielders (Sky Sports), meaning that when the full-backs are shut down, the team struggles to create chances. This was evident in the first leg in Madrid, when Alexander-Arnold lost possession 36 and completed just 2 of his 16 crosses (Sofascore), and his radar was off again when the Cherries came to Anfield on Saturday.
Aim for the ones in red… Against Bournemouth, Liverpool’s local lad got his crossing all wrong, firing in countless balls both from corners and open play that failed to find their target. The 21 year-old completed just 1 of 14 cross attempts (Sofascore), a far cry from the pinpoint accuracy he has shown on so many occasions this season.
Counter attacks galore… While losing possession is bound to happen when you are the player most often tasked with attempted dangerous passes into the final third, Alexander-Arnold’s lost possession count of 31 was 11 more than any other player on the pitch (Joe Gomez, 20) and at times left the Reds exposed to dangerous counter-attacks. Against Atletico Madrid, who will expect to be far more clinical than Eddie Howe’s side, he simply cannot afford to surrender possession so carelessly.
Switch it up… If there’s one thing you can usually rely on from Liverpool’s number 66, it’s those delightful driven balls across the park in the direction of Andy Robertson, or in this case James Milner, who filled in for the Scotland captain as a precaution. However, Alexander-Arnold completed just three out of his ten long ball attempts, stifling the Reds’ usually effective strategy of switching the play quickly and catching the opposition sleeping on their weak side.
Aforementioned, Atletico have already shown they can shut down the threat from the flanks with their sturdy 4-4-2 formation (Premier League Panel), so Jurgen Klopp simply must figure out a way to get Alexander-Arnold back to his best or else the game will follow the same path it did in Madrid and it will be Diego Simeone who is dancing along the Anfield touchline on Wednesday evening.
Reds fans, what are your predictions for Wednesday? Join the discussion in the comments below!
