Genk Look to Manchester United for Template for Frustrating Liverpool

If you’re the underdog and playing host to the defending European champions, you’ll need a special performance to have a shot at the upset. And for Genk boss Felice Mazzù, it helps to have a template—based on another underdog’s success.

“Manchester United played a good game against Liverpool on Sunday,” he noted ahead of kickoff this evening. “Their system with five in the back worked well. It was a good point for Liverpool even if Manchester United only played well in one half.”

Five at the back, a well organised side, looking to frustrate the Reds and spring the counter when they have the chance. Certainly it worked for United. Though it also took them playing probably their best game of the season to date to be in it.

Genk know that as underdogs they will need to do the same thing—and looking at how United as underdogs combined a plan to frustrate the Reds with a season-best performance to earn a point can at least show the players that it is possible.

“Most important tomorrow for our team is believing we can achieve a good result,” Mazzù added. “We did that against Napoli and that will also have to be the case against Liverpool. The will to want to play a good match must be there.

“They have lots of players with experience and maturity and a philosophy of a high press and wanting to be in the opponent’s half. We have to play attention to this. Offensive football is important [for us], but compact defending is too.”