Conte’s former assistant could spoil Liverpool Champions League party

Jordan Russell (@JordRuss96)
20 nov 2017

A quick glance at Group E of this season’s UEFA Champions League group stage standings could fool some into thinking Liverpool’s passage into the last 16 will be a relatively straightforward one. However, by delving deeper into their actual situation, nothing could be further from the truth.

The Merseyside giants still have to face Sevilla away tomorrow night, before a tricky matchday six encounter at home to a much-improved Spartak Moscow side. The Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium is a tricky venue for visiting teams to head at the best of times, let alone in such a crucial match which could potentially make or break both side’s chances of emerging from the group.

But that is not all. Spartak Moscow – led by Antonio Conte’s former assistant coach Massimo Carrera – are a vastly improved team since the beginning of the campaign, having ditched a 3-5-2 system in favour of a return to 4-2-3-1 which brought them so much success last season. They have rediscovered the right balance between discipline and freedom, which has naturally propelled them up the Russian Premier League table.

Jürgen Klopp and his players must go into these two matches with their eyes wide open, and know exactly which threats their opponents will pose. If not, then they risk coming unstuck despite having put themselves in a solid if unspectacular position four matches in.