It’s incredibly difficult to break down. Liverpool did as most teams do against a low block and passed the ball from side to side to try and stretch the Atlético shape and create gaps, but the difference between Simeone’s setup and other teams who play in this style is how strong, fast and talented the players are and how aggressively they defend individually. Atlético are essentially a world-class version of Burnley.

The moment a Liverpool player received the ball in the final third, a defender had snapped on to him as though holding onto the other end of a measuring tape. The only option was to release the ball immediately – dangerous around the Atlético box because of the players waiting to counter-attack – or go backwards. With a 1-0 lead, Atlético could control the game in exactly the way they wanted.

How Liverpool can get back in the tie

Liverpool need to be really brave with their passing in the second leg, firing passes more quickly out to the wide full-back or winger and trust their ability to control strongly hit balls. Anfield will make a difference and can help boost the confidence of players to attempt these riskier passes, but the danger is surging forwards and being hit on the counter.

Alexander-Arnold's delivery was poor in the 1-0 defeat and if he simply plays better, Liverpool will create more from the right side and from set pieces. He has created the second most chances of any Liverpool player in the Champions League this season with 10 (Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané have 13) but in the Premier League he is their most important creative outlet, having provided 67 chances to score in 26 games. Mohamed Salah is second with 43.

One solution to getting more from Alexander-Arnold is have the right winger double up in attacking situations. Atletico push their left-back and left-midfielder onto the Liverpool full-back, with Salah tucked inside closer to the centre-back. If Salah pulls out wide instead, this could potentially create a two v two or two v one on the wing and free up a tiny bit of space for Alexander-Arnold to better deliver early balls towards the back post.

Another trick they could use is have one of the forwards drop out of their position to leave a space for the full-back to attack. Mané did this on the left on occasion, leaving a gap between right centre-back Stefan Savic and right-back Sime Vrsaljko which Andrew Robertson could move into: