On the night, Liverpool’s centre-backs were tasked with backing up the press when the players ahead of the ball applied pressure.
Ibrahima Konate, on the right, carried out these instructions throughout the game in support of Jeremie Frimpong – but the distances he ended up having to cover in an unfamiliar role left him exposed.
If he was slow to react, PSG would drop an attacker deep, who could then get on the ball, turn and drive at the defence, with space between him and an out-of-position Konate.
At times, Liverpool executed the press well, with their front three blocking PSG’s makeshift back three – before Frimpong jumped up to press whichever home player had rotated to the left side of defence.
PSG, however, adapted to this. The players in full-back areas took up deeper positions, increasing the distance Liverpool’s wing-backs had to cover when pressing.
When Frimpong did press, it was Konate’s job to follow his man.
But with time on the ball, PSG began to play over the top, taking advantage of the spaces behind Konate, forcing 34-year-old Virgil van Dijk across from the centre.
A good example of this early on was seen in Hakimi’s run from right-back to the left wing. Milos Kerkez, a natural left-back, tasked with marking him, likely felt uncomfortable moving to the other side of the pitch before Mendes played a long ball over Konate to find Hakimi unmarked.
