How and Where: Liverpool wrested the advantage in the Klopp Derby

Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Weidenfeller (GK), Piszczek, Bender, Hummels, Schmelzer, Castro, Weigl, Durm, Mkhitaryan, Reus, Aubameyang

Thomas Tuchel’s boys usually play in a 4-2-3-1 formation and they did the same on the night with striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leading the line with Marco Reus, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Erik Durm behind him. The fluid formation shifted to 4-1-4-1 when they attacked, while they reverted back to the original formation when Liverpool got the ball.

Liverpool also started in a similar formation as their rivals with Jurgen Klopp opting to play Divock Origi at the top instead of Daniel Sturridge. The Belgian’s work rate and ability to hold the ball up the pitch got him the nod over the Englishman. Roberto Firmino, who returned from an injury, started on the bench with James Milner starting behind Origi.

Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund were the ultimate masters of the counter pressing strategy. Thomas Tuchel took over from Klopp and perfected the approach by giving the team more of an attacking threat. On the other hand, Liverpool under Klopp have been a work in progress showing glimpses of what they can do before throwing up problems of the Rodgers era. At the Westfalenstadion on Thursday, both teams employed their usual pressing tactics giving the other a lot to think about.

Although, Daniel Sturridge is the premier striker at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp opted to bench the England striker for the crucial first leg tie against Dortmund giving Divock Origi the start. The Belgian did exactly what his manager wanted by holding the ball up the pitch and allowing Coutinho, Lallana, and Milner to join him the attack. With Dortmund enjoying the majority of the possession, the decision to start Origi instead of Sturridge proved to be a masterstroke by Klopp on the night after Origi put the Reds ahead in the 36th minute.

Hummels is known to be one of the best-attacking headers of the ball in Dortmund, and the defender made his way into the box unnoticed to head the ball into the back of the net from Mkhitaryan’s delivery. Adam Lallana was the closest to the Dortmund skipper, but was never going to trouble the German with the entire Liverpool defence caught napping just after the break.

When the day started Borussia Dortmund were the favourites to go into the semis. After all, they thrashed the second-best team in England – Tottenham Hotspur– 5-1 in the pre-quarters. Liverpool languish ninth in the English Premier League and were supposed to be a much-weaker opposition than Spurs. But, when the day ended the Reds from Merseyside returned to their home ground with an away goal in their bag to set up another magical European night at Anfield on next Thursday.