Liverpool: Champions League 2005

Second-half

The Champions League Final of 2005 presented Liverpool with a task which is familiar to England sides at international tournaments. They faced a technically sophisticated team that was likely to outnumber them in central-midfield.

Liverpool initially set up under a 4-4-1-1 formation with Steven Gerrard next to Xabi Alonso in central-midfield, and Harry Kewell behind Milan Baros in attack. Kewell was selected for his attacking qualities so did not significantly bolster Liverpool in central areas. Carlo Ancelotti’s AC Milan played a midfield diamond which comprised Gennaro Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf either side of deep-lying playmaker Andrea Pirlo, with Kaka in an advanced role. Up against such a compact and talented midfield, Liverpool were overrun and this was starkly apparent as half-time approached. Two goals were added to Paulo Maldini’s first minute strike and these came as a result of Kaka finding space behind a porous Alonso/Gerrard barrier. For the second of these goals Kaka evaded a weak challenge from Gerrard near the half-way line before playing in Hernan Crespo.

Set with the task of turning around a 3-0 deficit, Rafa Benitez sent Liverpool out with a revised formation in the second period. They now played three at the back, with a lop-sided midfield five. The principal aim of this midfield was to match each point of Milan’s diamond. Benitez recognized that Milan’s veteran left-back Maldini did not offer much attacking width; therefore, Vladimer Smicer was able to tuck in from the right to squeeze up the space around Seedorf. John-Arne Riise was the ‘remainder’ and he stayed wide left to thwart the advances of attacking right-back Cafu.

Gerrard now had a freer role with Alonso the dedicated anchorman and Hamann also adding some midfield bite. Alonso and Gerrard had been chasing shadows towards the end of the first half, but a different tone was set immediately after the break: Hamann made a snappy challenge on Seedorf with Alonso mopping up the loose ball. Gerrard’s demeanour was accordingly more positive as he was able to break forwards. It was Gerrard’s headed goal from a Riise cross which gave Liverpool hope. And it was his run into the box which drew a foul from Gattuso which led to the penalty, from which Liverpool pulled level after Alonso fired home the rebound.

Ancellotti adjusted Milan’s line-up in the attempt to wrest them from the fetters that Liverpool’s formation had imposed. He brought on a left winger in Serginho to take advantage of Liverpool’s lack of presence on the right. But Benitez countered this by moving Gerrard into a right wing-back position and moving Smicer into a more central role.

Liverpool demonstrated that tactical reorganization can turn a game around – even against very high-class opposition. If England are behind at half-time against Brazil or Spain at World Cup 2010, perhaps a 3-5-2 or 3-6-1 approach could be utilized by Fabio Capello. (Brazil and Spain both play with highly resourced central-midfields and attacking full-backs.) This Champions League Final also underscored some of Gerrard’s limitations when playing a deep central role – although it could be argued that any two-man centre-midfield permutation was likely to be overrun by Milan in the first period. Gerrard was much more imposing when he had the security of Alonso and Hamann playing behind him. He further indicated his value to any team or squad with an impressive switch to an unfamiliar wing-back position. But whilst English fans might like to see the Champions League Final of 2005 as Gerrard’s game, on reflection it was Rafa that won it!