UEFA Champions League 2021/22: How Diego Simeone’s side can beat the Liverpool juggernaut – tactical preview

The 4th week 2021-22 UEFA Champions League group stage features the return leg of the previous week’s clashes and the most enticing one among them is Liverpool hosting Atletico Madrid once again. It all goes back to the 2020 round of 16 clash between the two when Atletico were the first team to win at Anfield after Liverpool went unbeaten there in the Champions League for two seasons in a row. Liverpool got their own back when they won the game against Atletico two weeks back, defeating them on their home soil. 

Liverpool have started the season strong and are on the back of a thumping win against their historic rivals Manchester United, beating them 5-0 at Old Trafford, while Atletico Madrid have had a mixed start to their title defence as they were recently held to a draw against Real Sociedad. 

Diego Simeone will be looking to get one back against Jurgen Klopp’s men that could also boost their chances of qualifying to the knockouts. This tactical preview features the tactics that were used by the teams this season and what changes could be expected going into this game. Let’s begin the analysis. 

Liverpool’s positional flexibility

Liverpool are a force to reckon this season having scored 27 goals and conceded just 6 from 9 games in return in the Premier League this season. The numbers are even more astonishing in the UCL with 11 goals scored and 3 conceded in 3 games and also competing in the group of death against the likes of Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Porto. 

One of the key reasons for their dominance is their improved positional superiority compared to last season along with the presence of all the key players. With Firmino back in the fold with his return to form in recent weeks. Klopp has again gone back with the 4-3-3 with Firmino as the False-9 in the system. This was seen exclusively last week against Atletico Madrid in their 3-2 win. 

The likes of Salah and Mane are very high and wide while Firmino drops deep to create 4v3 against the Atletico midfield. The use of Firmino doesn’t stop there as he also is used to creating wide overloads and also as a roaming player in the midfield whereas Mane or Salah would be high and take his position as the striker. These positional rotations can be disruptive for any defence. 

Liverpool last week exploited Atletico in multiple ways and found solutions to all the different types of defensive setup that Simeone had planned. The 3-5-2 that Simeone went played to the strengths of their attacking duo but left them exposed badly in defensive phases.