Gini Wijnaldum on “difficult” Cardiff clash

Gini Wijnaldum believes Liverpool face a different kind of challenge against teams who sit back and defend, despite being part of the side that defeated Cardiff City 4-1 at Anfield on Saturday.

Neil Warnock’s side did their utmost to park the bus against a relentless Liverpool, who enjoyed 80 per cent possession and 19 attempts on goal, but Jurgen Klopp’s men eventually broke through, putting the Bluebirds to the sword with goals from Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane (2) and Xherdan Shaqiri.

Wijnaldum impressed once again, continuing his fine form this season, and explained after the match how playing against defensive sides can be “difficult.”

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 24: Gini Wijnaldum of Liverpool in Liverpool’s match against Red Star Belgrade at Anfield on 24 October 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photograph: Reuters)

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“It’s more difficult than other games,” said Wijnaldum. “When you play a top team they are trying to create chances, so when you have the ball you will have more spaces, they will try to press you.

“But with them they don’t really press. They were marking the spaces and their wingers played like left-back and right-back.

“It was difficult but we managed to score four goals.”

On Salah, Wijnaldum said: “He’s in a good way and hopefully he can keep it like that.”

Cardiff drew level in the 77th minute through Callum Paterson after a defensive lapse down Liverpool’s left side, and Wijnaldum was quick to respond to the suggestion that Liverpool were woken up by conceding that goal at home.

“It’s difficult to say,” said Wijnaldum. “Maybe, because we scored two goals after they scored one.

“That’s what we tried the whole game but also because they had the feeling they could score one more so we had more spaces.

“In the first half we didn’t have a lot of chances from counter-attacks.

“They were defending quite deep and even when the ball was going forward, they didn’t push up, they were standing behind because they know that we have fast players in the front.

“It was difficult to score when it was like that but after 2-1 they thought they had a chance which is normal and they were better in the game.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com