Liverpool (4-1-4-1) vs Barcelona (4-4-2-0) - Champions League - - ShareMyTactics.com
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When Liverpool had the ball, Barcelona set up as a 4-4-2, presumably with the aim of taking all defensive responsibility from Lionel Messi. He was not asked to press Liverpool's defence, and Suarez was the first line of defence. It was in the transition from attack (4-3-3) to defence (4-4-2) that Barcelona had problems. If Vidal was central when Barcelona were on the ball, and Liverpool won it back, he would struggle to get out wide on the right to help Roberto, with Messi offering little assistance. This left Milner and Mane (or one of the other Liverpool forwards) in a 2 vs 1. Wijnaldum's second goal came from an overload on that side, allowing Shaqiri the space to cross. Valverde brought off Vidal for Semedo, putting him at right back and Roberto into the midfield, but by that point the damage had been done. Liverpool also had Alexander-Arnold very high up the pitch, pinning the attacking Jordi Alba back.
