Zinedine Zidane has admitted Liverpool played into Real Madrid's hands tactically as Jurgen Klopp's side lost the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday night.
Mohamed Salah scored a vital away goal for the Reds, but the reigning Premier League champions were ultimately outclassed in Spain as defensive errors saw them fall to a 3-1 defeat.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was at fault for Madrid's second goal, heading the ball straight into the path of Marcos Asensio.
And Zidane has admitted his side targeted both Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, preying on the fact that Liverpool 's full-backs push so far forward with Vinicius Junior, who scored twice, in particular able to benefit.
“Liverpool’s fullbacks go forward a lot, so it worked out well for us and for Vini,” he said at his press conference.
“There was an order to look for long balls behind them when we recovered the ball.”
Liverpool will be looking to bounce back against Aston Villa this weekend as they look to record their first win at Anfield since mid-December before hosting Real Madrid in their quarter-final second leg next Wednesday.
