Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola conceded that his opponent's tactics caught him off guard at the start of the match. Following some changes, the Merseysiders stepped up their pressing game and, according to the Spaniard, became the stronger team.
Iraola spoke to TNT Sports:
It's hard to ask for more. I think we showed true character, especially after such a tough beginning.
I enjoyed everything — the atmosphere was incredible, and I was fortunate to experience those emotions. I must take responsibility for the slow start because they surprised me a bit with their tactics. They played with five defenders in a 5-3-2 formation, while we were expecting something different and took time to adjust.
After the break, we played much better, pressed more effectively, and I believe we were the stronger side.
Iraola specifically praised Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, who both scored in the match:
Lovely goals from Alexis and Dominik. They put in a tremendous amount of work.
Alexis played very smartly. In my opinion, the first yellow card shown to him was a bit harsh, and then the opponent tried to provoke a situation that could lead to a second card. But he’s a clever player and managed to deal with it.
