Liverpool flattered Real Madrid in their 1-0 win, which saw Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai complement each other in a manner that Arne Slot could have utilised earlier.
For the first time since September, Liverpool recorded back-to-back wins as they showed the resilience and knack required to inflict Real Madrid‘s second defeat of the season.
It was a set-piece that won the match for Slot’s men as Thibaut Courtois did what he always does against Liverpool in the minutes preceding what proved to be the winner.
Slot, again, went back to basics but this time asked Wirtz to play from the left in place of Cody Gakpo, as Szoboszlai maintained his advanced position and, with the help of FotMob, we can see how effective it was.
Topping distance covered charts
For the 10th time this season, Wirtz and Szoboszlai were named in Liverpool’s starting XI, but only for the second time Cody Gakpo was not lined up alongside them.
The previous occasion was in the defeat at Palace, where the No. 6 had more of a free role than sticking to the left flank, which Slot changed at halftime.
Against Real Madrid, the German predominantly stuck to the left, only at times drifting into central positions, which coupled perfectly with Szoboszlai’s right-sided dominance as the No. 10.
Together, as per UEFA, they topped the running charts at Anfield, combining for a distance covered of 21.98km, with Wirtz (11.37km) finishing first above Szoboszlai (10.61km).
That accounts for 19.9 percent of Liverpool’s total distance on the night (110.2km), highlighting their value in the press as Slot reverted to his formula from last season.
The promise of the two together is a cheat code Slot should have turned to earlier.
Important going both ways
Their front-footed nature and ability on the ball sparked Liverpool’s attack, with Szoboszlai finishing with a match-high five shots (four on target), while creating the third-most chances (3).
The Hungarian had the second-most touches of any Liverpool player (54) and, of course, set up Alexis Mac Allister‘s header.
Wirtz, meanwhile, had the third-most touches in the opposition box of any Red (five) and created the most chances of any player on the pitch (five).
Slot even noted after that match that, “he has been so unlucky throughout his career here at Liverpool because even today he created so many chances for the team. But the goal we scored wasn’t an assist or a goal from him.”
Defensively, they were just as important, both making six recoveries – joint-fifth most – as they plugged the gaps and helped move Liverpool up the pitch.
Their tempo and understanding of the game, and each other, was key as Slot instructed his players to “either press really high or go to a low block” due to the threat of runs behind from Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe.
Speaking of Real’s two forwards, they managed three shots combined – all from Mbappe – none of which were on target.
Liverpool have needed balance and cohesion and playing Szoboszlai as the No. 10 and Wirtz on the left, in a role he readily assumed at Bayer Leverkusen, offers dynamism and plays to their respective strengths.
Now to see if Slot sticks with the formula when Liverpool travel to Man City on Sunday.
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