#2 The not-so-best laid plans
Mark Hughes decided to go with a 3-5-2 formation for his side’s visit to Anfield. Initially, it seemed to be working well for the Potters as they got the first goal but it went horribly downhill from there. The formation gave Pieters, who was deployed as a wing back, the freedom to go forward instead of sitting back. It paid off as he provided the assist for the goal.
It wasn’t meant to last as Liverpool had them figured out soon after. Push back from Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane were no match for Pieters. In fact, Lallana and Mane eventually became the most influential forces in the match. Neither Pieters nor Bruno Martins Indi was anywhere near the ball when the English midfielder scored from a near-zero degree angle.