Adelaide United coach Josep Gombau says Liverpool’s fast style hard to match

ADELAIDE United coach Josep Gombau believes Monday night’s clash with Liverpool was a special night for soccer but concedes Awer Mabil would have added lustre for the occasion.

20/7/15 - Liverpool v Adelaide United at Adelaide Oval - Joseb Gombau Picture Simon Cross

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ADELAIDE United coach Josep Gombau believes Monday night’s clash with Liverpool was a special night for soccer but concedes Awer Mabil would have added lustre for the occasion.

Liverpool attracted a vast and appreciative 53,000 fans while delivering the 2-0 scoreline its faithful craved. Brendan Rodgers’ unit was on the offensive from the get-go as Gombau’s men learned time on the ball is reduced to a split second against the Premier League elite.

“It is difficult as the ball speed is different and we play our way but normally we have more time to think, you have less seconds against these type of teams,” Gombau conceded.

Gombau is steadfastly committed to the attractive possession style in A-League combat but pulling it off against Liverpool was always going to be a bridge too far, particularly after James Milner’s 67th-minute opener.

“It is difficult. We did try to play from the back and did well until they got their first goal,” said Gombau, praised by Liverpool counterpart Rodgers for making his men play a “tactical game”.