That was a hell of a performance. Dortmund are arguably one of the top five teams in the whole of Europe and are rightly favourites to win the Europa League, but we went there and more than held our own against them. They had most of the possession, we had most of the chances. Klopp’s inside knowledge obviously helped, but the players still needed to carry out his instructions and they did that brilliantly.
We could, perhaps even should, have won, but let’s not get too greedy. We have to be pleased with the draw and even more pleased with the manner in which it was achieved. It never really felt like we were in any trouble and the longer it went the more frustrated it seemed like Dortmund were getting. This was our best European performance since Rafa’s heyday. It wasn’t perfect, but it was surely better than any of us were expecting.
The defensive shape was excellent as tactically Klopp got it absolutely spot on. The only time we looked vulnerable was when we lost possession cheaply and were caught on the back foot, and even then we usually recovered with a saving tackle or block. Sakho and Lovren picked up where they left off in the last round at Old Trafford and were both outstanding. One block from Sakho in the first half was fantastic and saved a certain goal, while Lovren wasn’t to be outdone and produced one of his own to deny Aubameyang.
Those were rare, fleeting moments of danger though and generally we held Dortmund comfortably at arms length in the first half, and (sloppy goal aside) perhaps even more so in the second. Not only that, but we created the better chances, one of which was taken by the outstanding Origi.
There was a lot of talk beforehand about what a brave call it was by Klopp to pick the young Belgian over Sturridge. I didn’t see it that way at all, in fact I thought it was the obvious decision to make. I’d have been far more surprised (not to mention pissed off) if Sturridge had played. This was not a game for Sturridge as it was always going to mostly be a rearguard action. We were not going to be the dominant side and whoever played up front was going to be isolated an awful lot. Isolate Sturridge - especially this current version of Sturridge - and he’s not going to do anything except repeatedly lose the ball. That’s not a criticism, it’s just a fact.
Origi is quicker, stronger, more direct, more willing, more suited to this type of game. So much so that it was almost a no brainer to pick him. It won’t be so clear cut a decision next week as hopefully we’ll be playing more on the front foot at Anfield, but for this game Origi was the logical choice. He played the role to perfection and did everything that could have been expected of him and then some. The goal was exactly the kind of situation he was selected for, as he used his pace to create a chance out of virtually nothing.
It was just a basic flick on by Milner into space but Origi seized onto it and surged into the box before finishing well back across the keeper. It took a slight deflection but there’s every chance it would have gone in anyway. He could have had another just before half time too when Moreno played him in after we broke out from a Dortmund corner, but the keeper was out quickly and smothered his shot.
That keeper is a prick though, he was kicking off that Origi had fouled him and was booked for protesting far too vociferously. When you watch the replay of it Origi doesn’t actually do anything at all. He just slips and the momentum of both players causes them to collide, but that keeper was wanting the ref to give Origi some sort of card. Dick.
Maybe he was being overly sensitive after being head butted by Lovren earlier in the game? That looked painful, he saved Lovren’s header but the ball looped up in the air and they both went for it. The keeper got there first and Lovren’s head smashed right into his mush. He needed lengthy treatment to his mouth and Lovren had a cut head, presumably caused by the keeper’s chompers.
Still doesn’t excuse that shithousery of trying to get Origi in trouble though, but thankfully the ref wasn’t interested. He’s a funny one that ref isn’t he? He’s the same fella who booked Hendo for nothing in the first couple of minutes against the Mancs at Anfield, only to then let Fellaini get away with blue murder for the rest of the game. He was at it again here, booking Can for an innocuous, accidental collision in the first few minutes and then doing nothing about far worse challenges afterwards, not least a ridiculous two footed lunge by Moreno late on (I’ll get to that later).
Can deserves great credit for the way he played the rest of the game after that booking. I thought we struggled in centre midfield in the first half and it was the one area that didn’t function well, but in the second half Can was immense alongside the efficient Joe Allen. Poor Hendo though, he was having a poor game even before he got injured, but when he went down it didn’t look like it was anything serious and he made it through to half time. It doesn’t look good for him now though.
The silver lining to that dark cloud is that Allen will now get a chance to prove he has a future here. He was excellent again (he has been for months now) and I just hope he can stay injury free now, as every time he looks like he’s making some inroads he breaks down and misses a few weeks. With Hendo most likely out for a while and Can suspended for the next couple of league games, Allen has to stay fit now as we’re running out of bodies. I’d be tempted to start Stewart and Brannagan against Stoke on Sunday now and keep Allen fresh for next week.
He hadn’t been on the pitch long before we’d given up our lead though. It was a bad goal to concede too, as it was from a short corner. You play against a side with players like Reus, Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang (or Aggymang as Owen called him on commentary) in it and you know there’s so many ways they can hurt you, so to concede a cheap goal from a corner is pretty galling. Klopp took the blame for it afterwards by admitting he put Lallana in one of the three zonal spots instead of Origi. It did look a strange set up, as Origi was just stood there watching as Lallana went up with Hummels, which was an obvious mismatch.
We could have folded after that goal but instead the opposite happened, we came out firing and had our best spell of the game. Their keeper had to make three saves in a mad 30 second spell as we absolutely peppered their goal. The football we played in that period was great, it’s just a pity we didn’t score. Coutinho - who was otherwise very quiet - was denied twice (one save was top class) and Clyne had a long range effort parried away too.
It was the ideal response because even though we didn’t threaten too much after that, it re-energised everyone and prevented heads going down. Dortmund kept attacking and had a lot of the ball, but so many attacks were broken up by Lovren, Sakho and also Milner. I don’t know what position Milner was supposed to be playing but he was everywhere, making tackles and blocks and just generally getting himself in the way. He wasn’t much of an attacking outlet but that wasn’t what we needed in a game like this, we needed grit and intelligence and he provided it in spades.
By the end Dortmund looked like they’d ran out of ideas. Klopp obviously has the inside track on how they play and what the strengths and weaknesses of their players are, and no doubt that helped us a lot. Klopp’s changes suggested he thought we could win the game and he certainly wasn’t just looking to take the draw and get home. Firmino and Sturridge both came on, although neither really did anything of note. Both will presumably play a bigger part next week.
There were good performances all over the pitch and everyone played their part. Mignolet looked very assured in everything he did. He wasn’t over extended (he made one really good close range save in the first half) but when he was called upon his handling was impeccable, and his kicking was solid. Hell, he was even doing dragbacks and “Lallana turns” in his own box!
Clyne defended doggedly and got forward frequently, although he often looked like he had no idea what to do when he got there. Moreno on the other side was very disciplined with the exception of one stupid moment that could easily have seen him sent off. Just what the hell was he doing? He’s one of the thickest players I’ve ever seen, and it must drive Klopp mad.
Sometimes I look at him and think he’s on the verge of becoming a really good player, but then the brainfart happens and I’m just left shaking my head at the sheer stupidity of the lad. Technically that tackle wasn’t a sending off because by the time he reached the ball both feet were on the floor. But you only see that with the benefit of replays. In real time it looked like a two footed, high lunge. At the very least it should have been a yellow card, which would have ruled him out of the 2nd leg.
He knew that before the game, so what the hell was going through his head to make him dive in like that by the other team’s corner flag? To top it off he then jogged back as they attacked in the space he’d vacated and we needed Mignolet to make a save. If they’d scored from that I wouldn’t have let him on the plane back, the absolute moron.
As mentioned earlier, the two centre backs were quality and I still feel Lovren isn’t getting the recognition he deserves just because the stink of last season is hard to wash off. He’s stopped trying to be something he’s not and just keeps things simple now. Aubemayang has been unstoppable this season, but he got no change out of our defence and was actually subbed with 15 minutes to go. We’ll need him and Sakho at their best again next week because Dortmund are well capable of scoring a couple next week if we aren’t careful.
It wasn’t a night for the attacking midfielders to shine because a lot of their work was done off the ball. They all put a shift in for the team but next week we’ll need more from them in possession, especially Coutinho who - let’s face it - is probably the key to us going through. If he turns it on next week I think we’ll do it, but if he’s quiet it’s going to be a big ask for us to win the game.
The fact we’re even discussing the possibility of going through is a victory in itself as few gave us much chance of getting a result over there. Dortmund’s home record this year is most impressive but I doubt they’ve had many tougher games than this. There was a little too much focus afterwards on how Dortmund didn’t play well. Surely the story is not that they didn’t play well, but why they didn’t? They weren’t allowed to play well and credit for that goes to Klopp and the players who carried out his instructions so well.
It doesn’t mean we’re through or even that we’re favourites to progress. We’ve still got it all to do because we either have to win the game or keep it scoreless. Neither will be easy but at least we go into the 2nd leg with everything still to play for and the guarantee that Anfield will be bouncing. I seriously can’t wait, it’s our biggest European night in years.
Team: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Can, Henderson (Allen); Milner, Lallana (Firmino), Coutinho; Origi (Sturridge):
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