Liverpool have opponents in a choke hold thanks to obsessive Klopp

“People might say I’m obsessed with the counter-press,” Jürgen Klopp began, going over the 4-0 Anfield win against Manchester United on the Tuesday before last, a game in which there had been so much to admire about his Liverpool team’s performance, particularly in the first half. So much, in fact, that their work off the ball felt almost secondary. Not to Klopp. “The counter-press was absolutely, completely, different level,” the manager continued.

So, yes, Jürgen. People might say you are obsessed with it. But there really is no need to be self-conscious because it is worth obsessing over, especially after the latest Anfield illustration on Wednesday night when Villarreal were placed in the choke hold and eventually tapped out.

Unai Emery’s minnows had reached the interval of the Champions League semi-final first leg at 0-0 and the manager would profess himself satisfied at how they had defended. But it took a toll; everything does against Liverpool. Take Villarreal’s attempts to play out from the back. There were times when the centre-half Pau Torres looked a picture of composure in possession, stepping up past an opponent, playing a nice pass. Ditto the midfielder Dani Parejo.

They helped Villarreal to construct encouraging sequences, even if they felt risky, moments when they withstood the initial waves of Liverpool pressure. They were up and moving. And then you realised that they had not even made it to halfway. And then Liverpool won the ball back.

It is draining for opponents, mentally as much as physically, and it said much for Villarreal’s resolve that they did not panic in the first half when the Liverpool counter-press forced turnovers, even high up. They continued to stick to their gameplan – the basic