Liverpool’s full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson played directly into Real Madrid’s hands, according to Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.
Liverpool were beaten 3-1 by Madrid last night, and Jurgen Klopp’s side ended up being out-thought during the contest.
With Alexander-Arnold and Robertson pushed high up the field as ever, Madrid went more direct with their tactics.
Vinicius Junior and Marcos Asensio were tasked with using their pace to get in behind Liverpool’s defence and it worked to perfect.
The Reds simply could not deal with Madrid’s attacking threat throughout.
And Zidane admits that Alexander-Arnold and Robertson both rather played into Madrid’s hands last night, by doing exactly what he wanted.
“Liverpool’s fullbacks go forward a lot, so it worked out well for us and for Vini,” he said at his press conference, which was broadcast on We Show Football’s Youtube channel.
“There was an order to look for long balls behind them when we recovered the ball.”
The comments will make bleak reading for Alexander-Arnold, whose defending has come in for question of late.
Jamie Carragher launched a fierce defence of the Liverpool youngster earlier this week, but he badly struggled at the elite level last night.
And Liverpool now face an uphill task to turn the tie around ahead of the second leg.
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