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Ange Postecoglou goes on Liverpool spying mission as new role brings return to England
Reach Daily Express | April 22, 2026 4:39 PM CST

Ange Postecoglou has returned to Premier League territory to run the rule over Liverpool as part of his new job. It's been a chastening year for the Australian since he led Tottenham to Europa League glory last season.

Postecoglou paid the price for Spurs' 17th-place finish in the Premier League by being dismissed just weeks after that Bilbao triumph over Manchester United. He was then sacked by Nottingham Forest after just 39 days at the helm. However, the former Celtic boss is back at work after being appointed a technical observer by UEFA. One of his first missions saw him check out Arsenal in the Champions League in January, while one of his latest assignments took him to Anfield for Liverpool's second leg clash with Paris Saint-Germain.

Postecoglou's analysis of the game, which PSG won 2-0 to complete a 4-0 aggregate triumph, has been published on the UEFA website. The 60-year-old begins the piece by praising Liverpool's pressing game, saying: "Ryan Gravenberch and Dominic Szoboszlai did a really good job of closing down the midfield space. They denied PSG that central area they like to play in."

He then lauded the way Luis Enrique's side adapted by adopting a more direct approach. Postecoglou said: "Liverpool's approach really made it difficult for them and if they'd just persisted in trying to play like they normally do, they may have got unstuck."

While at Spurs, Postecoglou was often accused of failing to curb his attacking instincts when the situation demanded it. However, as he summed up PSG's win, he noted that Tottenham adapted when required during their Europa League run.

He said: "A key thing is to understand that, rather than having a predetermined idea about how things could transpire, you need to understand the game in front of you and the immediate task at hand. For coaches, experience teaches you that.

"The reality of it is, whether it's pragmatism or simply understanding what the actual challenge is on the day, the paramount thing is being successful, particularly in Champions League knockout football because the margins are so fine.

"You can't abandon your foundations, and if you look at Luis Enrique's approach, there were still the elements you always see. But there was also a recognition that there was a different challenge to overcome.

"There's a difference to knockout football in Europe, and the approach you take and recognising that, at certain stages, it's not an abandonment of philosophy, it's an acknowledgement of the challenge that's before you and doing what's required.

"And that certainly was our approach with Tottenham in the Europa League final last year, and it wasn't saying that everything we've done up till now doesn't matter."


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