Saul Niguez’s past comments likening Liverpool’s midfield to “hunting dogs” shows how far the Reds have fallen this season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side we subjected to a 5-2 thrashing by Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 on Tuesday.
Despite a blistering opening period in which the Reds claimed two quick-fire goals, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior netted a brace to level proceedings before the interval.
The second half was a calamity for Liverpool after Los Blancos scored three unanswered goals to condemn the Reds to their heaviest home defeat in European football history.
Saul’s ‘hunting dogs’ claim
Saul’s past comments comparing Liverpool’s midfield to a pack of “hunting dogs” has shone a light on the Reds’ current decline, with several of Klopp’s most reliable hounds no longer able to keep up with the pack.
Tuesday’s bruising loss reiterated the Reds’ midfield woes, as Real dominated the middle of the park, despite the absences of Aurelien Tchouameni and Toni Kroos.
Last night Fabinho made mistakes on the ball and was outmanoeuvred while Henderson struggled to influence the game.
Indeed, of the starters, only Stefan Bajcetic will likely be considered in Klopp’s future midfield planning. Yet against Los Blancos the 18-year-old was given a painful lesson in the art of keeping and recycling the ball by Luka Modric.
Liverpool were once renowned for their electric midfield dynamism, however.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid in 2020, Saul told the Guardian: “They have those perros de presa [hunting dogs] in the middle who run, press. It’s not just running for the sake of running: they do things that aren’t normal and it looks disordered but it’s ordered, mechanised.
“One comes out here and you think: ‘That’s mad, why’s he there?’
“But the other man knows and comes from here. Klopp said they play with their heart, but it’s planned too. One breaks out to press, wild, but they follow. It’s very hard to escape when they come at you like that.
“It’s incredible: they press like animals because they know that even if they get turned there will be seven of them running like mad to get back. Liverpool are very complete, a great team in every area [but] they find it hardest when you’re deep because they’re very, very, very good in transition.
“I watched them against Norwich and if it wasn’t for Mané’s extraordinary control, they don’t win. They’ve won lots of games they could have drawn or lost, which tells you something about what they have inside.
“It’s not luck. It’s work, sacrifice, not giving up a single ball for lost.”
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