Liverpool suffered their second group stage defeat in the Europa League against Anzhi Makhachkala as they fell to a 1-0 defeat.
Brendan Rodgers fielded a very young side over in Russia and a change in formation to help them stem the expected tide of Anzhi attacks and domination of the match, but instead it was actually the Reds who had the majority of control of the game.
Despite this, Anzhi scored the only goal of the match just a few seconds before half time, with Lacina Traore lifting the ball over first Seb Coates and then Brad Jones, for an excellent individual strike.
Here are six things we learned from the game.
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Brendan Rodgers fielded a very young side over in Russia and a change in formation to help them stem the expected tide of Anzhi attacks and domination of the match, but instead it was actually the Reds who had the majority of control of the game.
Despite this, Anzhi scored the only goal of the match just a few seconds before half time, with Lacina Traore lifting the ball over first Seb Coates and then Brad Jones, for an excellent individual strike.
Here are six things we learned from the game.
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
A big part of Rodgers' switch was to start a game with three
central defenders, with Jon Flanagan and Stewart Downing acting as
wing-backs.
Liverpool looked very comfortable for much of the match with three defenders at the back, with Andre Wisdom and Jamie Carragher occupying the channels either side of Seb Coates.
It aided the team in retaining possession because it offered a quick, easy route for the midfielders to turn back whenever they were pressed high up the pitch, and both Wisdom and Carragher were comfortable stepping into the midfield line when necessary.
It was a momentary lapse of concentration in defence from Coates which cost Liverpool the game in the end, but until the last minutes as the Reds chased an equaliser they remained comfortable in dealing with most of the threats Anzhi threw at them.
Three at the back, whether with five or four in midfield, remains a good option for the future for Liverpool.
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Liverpool looked very comfortable for much of the match with three defenders at the back, with Andre Wisdom and Jamie Carragher occupying the channels either side of Seb Coates.
It aided the team in retaining possession because it offered a quick, easy route for the midfielders to turn back whenever they were pressed high up the pitch, and both Wisdom and Carragher were comfortable stepping into the midfield line when necessary.
It was a momentary lapse of concentration in defence from Coates which cost Liverpool the game in the end, but until the last minutes as the Reds chased an equaliser they remained comfortable in dealing with most of the threats Anzhi threw at them.
Three at the back, whether with five or four in midfield, remains a good option for the future for Liverpool.
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images