Visualized: Liverpool 4-2 Hoffenheim

Previous Match Infographics: Crystal Palace (h), Hoffenheim (a), Watford (a)

Match data from WhoScored.


(Here's the formation diagram usually included in match reviews.)

The lesson, as always, is I'm an idiot.

Chances are we're getting "soak up and counter" Liverpool. Defend deeper than usual, hoping to prevent the gaps and mistakes which lead to long-ball and counter-attack concessions. Try not to give away any set plays. And then burn them with pace, with Salah, with Mané. As tempting as it is to go at Hoffenheim from the opening whistle, that Liverpool getting one goal wouldn't dramatically change proceedings will play into Klopp's tactics.

I was spectacularly wrong. Spectacularly. And I couldn't be happier to be so.

It's not as if Liverpool can or will ever completely focus on defense. That's not Liverpool. Liverpool just aren't built to play that way, a couple of first-leg European performances at Dortmund and Villarreal aside. Liverpool "focusing on defense" usually means heavy pressing from the front and quick counter-attacks. And, to be fair, we did get a bit of that.

But I did not expect that show of force, that show of strength. That much of a trip to the woodshed for the first quarter of the match. Those first 24 minutes rivaled anything we've seen in the last few seasons – even The Great Arsenal Massacre of 2013-14.

In those first 24 minutes, until Hoffenheim were forced into a tactics- and formation-altering substitution, Liverpool took nine shots. Hoffenheim took none. Four of those Liverpool shots were clear-cut chances, three of those shots ended in goals.

Hoffenheim just could not breathe.

Within four minutes, Mané was through on goal thanks to Firmino's defense-slaying throughball, denied by Baumann. Within ten, Liverpool opened the scoring – another throughball from Firmino to Mané, this time holding up play before a back-heel to Can, a fortunate finish via deflection. Eight minutes after that, Wijnaldum hit the post when set up by Firmino, and poacher-in-extremis Salah's on hand for the rebound tap-in.

And then, in the 21st minute, one of the prettiest goals you'll ever see. Embedded here, because it's just that sexy. And if this embed is country-protected because Fox Sports – which at least won't get taken down because of copyright – I encourage you to Google. Now. This'll be here when you get back.

Another Mané backheel, another Emre Can goal. Firmino with a 👌 cross, too. Beautiful play from Liverpool. #UCL https://t.co/MdrChrUwzE

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 23, 2017

My gods. All the gods. Just watch it again, then a few times more. It's as good as team football gets.

Moreno forward into Firmino, who has dropped as a "false nine" should, then turned and makes the necessary run forward after laying off to Wijnaldum. Who delivers as perfectly-weighted a throughball as you'll see – and we'd already seen two from Firmino. Then Mané's intelligence in holding up play rather than an early low cross to a covered Salah; seriously, this is the most underrated part of the move. Then exactly the back-heel needed to release Firmino, followed by Firmino's cross with his weaker foot to the exact spot for Can to finish with his weaker foot. The entire move from start to finish, from one of the pitch to the other, took just 12 seconds.

Woof. I'm done. I'm on the floor and I have no idea where I am or where my pants are.

Incidentally, two of Liverpool's three goals so far had featured back-heels from Sadio Mané. A small matter in the greater scheme of things, but I want to note my fervent approval.

But, credit where due – and it ain't much credit – Hoffenheim steadied. Hoffenheim made a necessary and improving change: Uth for Nordtveit, attacker for defender and a switch to a 4-2-3-1. Because a high-line three center-back defense was getting absolutely shredded by Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino, with Can and Wijnaldum cleverly taking up spaces vacated by retreating center-backs. A back four with deeper full-backs and central midfielders at least stemmed that tide for a while.

And it got Hoffenheim a goal back, with some help.

It feels slightly pedantic to blame an individual player for a goal conceded in a match where Liverpool often ran riot, but step forward Dejan Lovren. Wait. No. Don't step forward. Don't step forward after playing a pass directly to a Hoffenheim attacker in your defensive third, creating the angle for Wagner to feed Uth. The substitute's goal from a wide-box shot to reduce arrears, just as he did in Germany a week ago, this time less than four minutes after coming on.

That could have been tilt. Or at least a little tilt-y. We've seen Liverpool, no matter the good that came before, sink faster than the Titanic when faced with adversity after unnecessarily conceding. But that did not happen here.

Liverpool should have extended its lead even further in the 36th – Moreno cross-field to Alexander-Arnold, one-touch perfectly weighted for Salah, a low cross to Firmino with the goal dead to rights but somehow shot straight at Baumann. Not long after, Emre Can was inches away from a 42-minute hat-trick. Meanwhile, Hoffenheim remained limited to a couple more half-chances from Gnabry and Uth.

Liverpool just kept doing Liverpool. Gegenpress, then go for the throat. Sure, play the high line. Press fervently. Attack, right away, if given the slightest glimmer of a chance.

Liverpool were incorrigible. And ultimately unstoppable. The second half never saw the heights hit in the first, but Liverpool were in control of tenor and tempo if not possession. Another clear-cut chance, a couple of shots on-target well saved by Baumann – who truly prevented a massacre – and then the final nail into Hoffenheim's coffin in the 63rd minute. Henderson charging forward from deep to press Vogt into an error, then laying off for Firmino. 3-1 up, 5-3 on aggregate, with 30 minutes to play, and your deepest midfielder is doing things like that. Liverpool can really be fun sometimes.

And from there, a formality. Liverpool rarely tried to attack, taking 20 minutes from the fourth goal to even register another shot, and Liverpool were kind of, sort of punished for it with Hoffenheim's second consolation: a well-hit cross after a well-worked throw-in, but more notably Matip losing his man, leaving Lovren one versus two and Wagner first to the ball to head past Mignolet. Yes, this was a match where I was extremely happy with what Liverpool did for 97% of the time. But it was a match where Liverpool also conceded two goals mainly because their two center-backs each did something not great.

That second consolation was also enough of a wake-up call. Hoffenheim would get no closer. Hoffenheim wouldn't take another shot for the rest of the match.

Yesterday saw Liverpool's attack almost at its best. Almost. And the only reason it's "almost" is that six or seven goals wouldn't have flattered the home side.

Liverpool had six clear-cut chances. Everyone in front five had at least one. Liverpool's high last season was five, achieved twice, in the 5-1 win over Hull and 6-1 win over Watford, and Hoffenheim is neither Hull nor Watford. I've been tracking Liverpool clear-cut chances for three seasons now. This is the most I've seen in a single match. Meanwhile, Hoffenheim had none.

Liverpool put nine of 20 shots on-target. Liverpool took 17 of 20 shots inside the box. Liverpool out-shot opponents who needed a win, who needed at least two goals to get that win, by 11 shots. And that's despite (or maybe because of) Liverpool having just 45% possession.

We're four games into the season and each of Liverpool's preferred front three have scored two goals. Mo Salah's the only of the three without an assist.

There have only been four games, so "sample size" in big flashing neon letters, but this is what Liverpool's front three are doing so far:



It wasn't just the attack either. We finally got a functional Liverpool midfield too. An assist, five successful tackles, two interceptions, and 89% pass accuracy from Jordan Henderson. Three in-box shots – good chances coming after smart runs – that killer pass to start the move for Liverpool's third goal, and three key passes from Wijnaldum. Oh, and two goals from Emre Can, who was reportedly ill.

Most sides would've have done what I expected Liverpool to do. Hoffenheim needed two goals, so first and foremost make sure Hoffenheim doesn't get two goals. Well, that's not Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool.

Hoffenheim got those two goals. Liverpool got four.

This was Liverpool's game, Liverpool's match, to a T. Look up "Klopp's Liverpool" in the dictionary and you'll see this, probably the best example of what they're capable of against this type of opposition, since the 4-1 victory at Manchester City early in the manager's reign. An onslaught from the opening whistle. Press, blitz, finish. Lather, rinse, repeat. A boot, stamping on a human face – forever. Until the defense does something dumb, but at least not until Liverpool are out of sight.

If only more opponents would let Liverpool approach matches similarly.

However, as noted by someone smarter than I on Twitter (stupid private accounts and pseudonyms make it hard to credit), Liverpool are a Wijnaldum error and blown offside call (on the same injury-time play) from a perfect start to the season. It should be two wins from two in the league, and is two wins from two in the Champions League qualifiers. Despite all the issues we've repeatedly mentioned in previous matches. Despite Coutinho, Lallana, and Clyne yet to play a single minute so far.

Despite Liverpool being capable of much more than we've seen so far. But yesterday was as close a glimpse as we've gotten yet.

Liverpool v Hoffenheim 08.23.17

Liverpool lead 2-1 on aggregate

2:45pm ET, live in the US on Fox Sports 1

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 1-0 Palace (h); 2-1 Hoffenheim (a); 3-3 Watford (a)
Hoffenheim: 1-0 Bremen (h); 1-2 Liverpool (h); 1-0 Rot-Weiß Erfurt (a)

Goalscorers (all):
Liverpool: Mané 2; Alexander-Arnold, Firmino, Salah 1
Hoffenheim: Amiri, Kramaric, Uth 1

Referee: Daniele Orsato (ITA)

Guess at a line-up:
Mignolet
Trent A-A Matip Lovren Robertson
Can Henderson Milner
Salah Firmino Mané

I'd expect to see at least three of those rested against Crystal Palace to come back into the XI: Emre Can, Salah, and Alexander-Arnold. Possibly Lovren as well, although Klavan did play well, and seemingly made Matip look better as well, even if it was just one match. Given his showing on Saturday, Robertson has to be likely to keep his place.

And I'm tempted to think that James Milner will as well, as much for what Wijnaldum hasn't done as for what Milner did.

That key players were able to miss Saturday's match, while Liverpool still won all three points, is of massive benefit. But fatigue remains an issue. Matip, Henderson, Firmino, and Mané are the only four outfield players to start all three matches so far. Matip's played every minute; Mané's missed just one, substituted late a week ago; Firmino has been substituted late in each match so far; and Henderson missed the last half-hour in Germany. That's a lot of minutes played in 11 days. And I can't see any of those players left out tomorrow. Maybe I just don't want to envision any of them left out.

Oh, and Arsenal's on Sunday. As much as we'd like that not to play a role, that will play a role.

Hoffenheim rested players during their weekend league match as well. Similarly three-at-the-back, but 3-5-2 rather than 3-4-2-1, and five changes as well – at wing-back, central midfield, and up front.

Your guess as to their formation and personnel is almost certainly as good as mine, if not better. My best guess is similar to what we saw in Germany, with maybe one or two differences. So let's go with Baumann; Nordtveit, Vogt, Hübner; Kaderabek, Amiri, Demirbay, Zuber; Gnabry, Kramaric; Wagner. Hoffenheim have no new injuries or absentees since last week.

Regardless of XI, Hoffenheim will attack. Hoffenheim have to attack. At Anfield, they'll probably have less of the ball than in Germany. But they need at least two goals, whether or not Liverpool get one. Two goals with no reply will see them through. Two goals while Liverpool score one gets us extra time.

Hoffenheim have yet to score more than once in their three matches so far this season.

Chances are we're getting "soak up and counter" Liverpool. Defend deeper than usual, hoping to prevent the gaps and mistakes which lead to long-ball and counter-attack concessions. Try not to give away any set plays. And then burn them with pace, with Salah, with Mané. As tempting as it is to go at Hoffenheim from the opening whistle, that Liverpool getting one goal wouldn't dramatically change proceedings will play into Klopp's tactics.

There is no way to overstate the importance of tomorrow's match. It is the difference between the Champions League and the Europa League. The difference between a celebration and a return to the big kids' table, or an unwanted Thursday night slog through remote locations.

And it is too early in the season to suffer such a setback.

Visualized: Liverpool 2-1 Hoffenheim

Previous Match Infographics: Watford (a)

Match data from WhoScored.



(Here's the formation diagram usually included in match reviews.)

It's second-half injury time. Liverpool are clinging onto a one-goal lead. A Liverpool substitute who'd come on just moments before gives away a cheap free kick. And an opposition set play leads to an opposition clear-cut chance.

Four days ago, Britos converted his, which came from a corner following Gomez's foul. Yesterday, Benjamin Hübner sent his header from Demirbay's free kick just over the crossbar.

After Saturday's match, I wrote that "what goes around comes around." Here's yet more proof.

And to be completely honest, it's hard to argue that Liverpool fully merited its win, especially had it remained a two-goal margin.

Liverpool's goals came from the most unlikely of sources: Trent Alexander-Arnold's wonderful free kick and Milner's fortunately deflected cross leading to an own goal. The last time Liverpool scored at least two goals with none coming from Liverpool's front five was nearly a year ago, 2-1 over Chelsea with goals from Lovren and Henderson.

It took both heroics from Simon Mignolet and poor finishing from the hosts to keep Hoffenheim out for 86 minutes. Hoffenheim failed to score any of their three clear-cut chances. Had Kramaric converted his 12th minute penalty – which was admittedly incredibly soft – this is certainly a very different match. Mignolet did well to deny Gnabry in the 43rd, followed up by Wagner's rebound off the post rather than in an open goal-mouth. And then there was the aforementioned Hübner off-target header in the 91st minute.

To be slightly fairer, Liverpool also failed to take two clear-cut chances of their own – Salah's right-footed shot wide on the counter in the 15th and Firmino's close range effort saved in the 47th.

Liverpool's Henderson-Can-Wijnaldum midfield again suffered and again disappointed. All three struggled to get onto the ball in the face of constant Hoffenheim possession, and as at Watford, chances came when defenders found attackers, bypassing the central zone. Neither Henderson nor Wijnaldum created a chance or took a shot, and Liverpool looked vastly better when Milner replaced the captain, shifting Can to a deeper role.

Not that a lack of possession seems to hurt Liverpool. This was the 14th match under Klopp where Liverpool's had less than 50% possession. Liverpool's record in those matches is 8W-5D-1L – 2.07 points per game – with the lone loss coming due to an injury-time goal conceded in the 0-1 loss at Villarreal. But 36.6% possession is by far a new low, the first time Klopp's Liverpool have been held under 40%.

Once again, it's any port in a storm, especially in European competition. Liverpool's had done to them what they did to Hoffenheim far more often than the reverse has happened.

And despite that lack of possession, Liverpool still out-shot Hoffenheim, and could have scored more with better finishing of their own, especially from that vaunted front three. I'll almost always take 50% shooting accuracy – especially when compared to Hoffenheim's 30.8% – but Salah, Firmino, and Mané all left chances out there.

Aside from Lovren In The Time of Cholera (© Not Too Xabi) – responsible for the penalty, completely out of position and up the pitch for Gnabry's chance, and playing Uth onside for the goal – Liverpool defended reasonably well. As usual, there's at least one mistake you can point at for each of the four, but I was still pleased, especially with Liverpool's full-backs.

Special mention goes to Alexander-Arnold, who unfortunately stopped playing when assuming offside for Hoffenheim's goal, but was otherwise faultless, and gave Liverpool that indescribably important lead from a free kick which stunned us all. It's been too long since a Scouser scored for Liverpool – since Steven Gerrard in Steven Gerrard's last game, in May of 2015. This one's only 18.

And with that free-kick, Alexander-Arnold joins a short list of players who've scored from that situation over the last five years.



And while they all count in the end, it bears mentioning that both of Henderson's free kicks, as well as Milner's, came from left-wing crosses missed by both attackers and goalkeeper. In matches which ended 6-0, 6-0, and 4-0.

Long may this continue, Trent.

When all's said and done, Hoffenheim hadn't lost at home since the final day of 2015-16, unbeaten at the Rhein-Neckar through all of 2016-17, with 11 wins and six draws. By hook and crook and talent and luck, Liverpool broke that streak.

Liverpool now take an edge – albeit more slender than we'd like, because of failings we've seen in the past – into next week's match. Liverpool still have work to do, but they're in a position we'd have all happily taken prior to kickoff.