Tactical Analysis: The Miracle of Istanbul

Earlier this month, Liverpool fans celebrated the 15th anniversary of their famous Champions League victory in Istanbul. The Reds trailed AC Milan 3-0 at the break, but three quick goals from Steven Gerrard, Vladimír Šmicer and Xabi Alonso brought them back to level terms, where the trophy was eventually won on penalties.

This tactical analysis will explore what went wrong in the first half and how manager Rafa Benítez inspired the comeback with his half-time changes.

Line-ups

Liverpool started in a 4-4-1-1 shape, with Harry Kewell playing off of striker Milan Baroš. Alonso was supported in a double-pivot by Gerrard, who played in a deeper position than usual.