'Dragged Down' by Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund's European Campaign Hits a Snag

In a way, Thursday's 1-1 draw between Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals felt like a classic BVB performance. 

The problem is, it came from the other team.

Whenever the Black and Yellows faced a side stronger than them on paper, Jurgen Klopp would say that his plan was to drag them down to his team's level. That thought is such a staple of the 48-year-old's football philosophy that he reiterated it on his first day on the job at Anfield Road:

Make no mistake about it: Dortmund were the better side on Thursday, but they played a game on terms Liverpool dictated.

It was arguably the Black and Yellows' worst performance of 2016, as they struggled to find consistency against the Reds' aggressive pressing. Head coach Thomas Tuchel had an honest assessment after the game, per the club's official website: "We were lacking form, confidence, precision and the ability to impose ourselves on the game."

Dortmund couldn't overcome a number of players having poor evenings. Apart from Mats Hummels and Julian Weigl, no outfielder came close to their usual best. And Hummels himself was partly at fault for Liverpool's ever-so-crucial away goal, when he misjudged a long ball and subsequently lost an aerial duel with James Milner, of all players.

ESPN FC's Stefan Buczko rated both Hummels' and Weigl's performance at eight out of 10. No other outfield starter received a rating higher than five out of 10. 

It was that kind of night for the Black and Yellows, and for the head coach. His plan didn't work.

Playing full-back Erik Durm on the wing had worked pretty well against both Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the year, but Bayern are possession-orientated and Spurs didn't play their first-choice XI. Going up against the aggressively pressing Reds, Durm was in over his head. Losing the ball time and time again, the 2014 FIFA World Cup winner was his side's weak spot in the first half.

Tuchel realised his mistake and introduced midfielder Nuri Sahin as a calming presence at half-time, but even then Liverpool arguably had the better chances to win the game.

ODD ANDERSEN/Getty Images

If Roman Weidenfeller hadn't rolled back the years with an outstanding performance, Dortmund might well have lost the tie after 90 minutes. The 35-year-old pulled off a number of world-class saves, starting in stoppage time of the first half, when he narrowed the angles for a broken through Divock Origi.

Weidenfeller's moment of glory came seven minutes into the second half, when he saved three shots in 31 seconds, per German broadcaster Sky. 

As the video below shows, he had no business keeping out Philippe Coutinho's first effort, but he somehow managed to get down in time and swat it away with a brilliant reaction save:

"

Liverpool very unlucky > 3 good chances in span of 1 minute pic.twitter.com/Yttu8z28wm

— LFCMostar (@LFCMostar) April 7, 2016"

Tuchel knew he had to thank his veteran 'keeper, per the club's official website, saying "it was an excellent performance from him." He correctly pointed out that Weidenfeller "kept us in the game, especially in the phase after the break. If anyone deserved it, it was him."

Thanks to Weidenfeller's performance, Dortmund still have a pretty good shot at progressing to the semi-finals, despite history suggesting it won't be easy: According to Jochen Tittmar of Spox.com (link in German), no German team has ever won at Anfield Road.

Boris Streubel/Getty Images

The expected return of Ilkay Gundogan will be a major boost, as the Black and Yellows sorely missed his composure, ingenuity and pressing resistance. The Germany international had returned to team training during the week but didn't make the squad, having now missed the last six games because of a bruised foot.

First, though, Dortmund face archrivals Schalke 04 on Sunday. The local derby arguably comes at a very inopportune time, as Tuchel alluded to after the game: "Liverpool, Schalke, Liverpool—it does not only cause a physical strain but also a level of emotional stress."

Tuchel has shown a very good feel for his players' needs in his first year at the club, but this seven-day spell is without question the most delicate situation he's had to manoeuvre so far.

Lars Pollmann is a Featured Columnist writing on Borussia Dortmund. He also writes for YellowWallPod.com. You can follow him on Twitter.