Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum has said his first experience of playing as a central defender at Brighton on Saturday was "really difficult," but felt he settled into the role.
With Joel Matip injured and Ragnar Klavan only fit enough for a place on the bench, manager Jurgen Klopp fielded a three-man defence consisting of Dejan Lovren and midfielders Emre Can and Wijnaldum.
Wijnaldum said the unorthodox lineup worked because Liverpool's attacking dominance in a 5-1 win ensured there was little pressure on the back line.
"It was difficult, really difficult," he said. "You could see in the first half how difficult it was for me to play there. But I felt that in the second half things went better for me.
"I've never played there before. When the manager picked the team and put players in certain positions, then I knew I was playing in that position.
"It is really different from what I am used to because normally I am one line in front or in the attacking line.
"The manager was running out of options back there. Emre had to play there too, but he's quite used to that. You always need defenders, but this was a game when we didn't have to defend that much."
Wijnaldum hopes to return to midfield for Liverpool's crucial Champions League tie with Spartak Moscow at Anfield on Wednesday.
It will see him face his friend and Netherlands international teammate Quincy Promes, who missed the 1-1 draw in Moscow in September through injury.
"Promes is a real threat," Wijnaldum said. "I think he has already showed that in their league games when he has played. He has scored a lot of goals and given a lot of assists.
"He is a player that needs a lot of thought. Spartak are a good team, to be fair. They were better than I expected in the first game.
"They had a few missing that night, including Promes, but now they are stronger."
Liverpool head into the final group game needing a point to secure qualification for the knockout stages, while a win will guarantee top spot in Group E.
But Wijnaldum warned: "I don't think you can go into the Spartak game with the thoughts that a point is enough. I think it is dangerous if a team plays like that.
"I think you always have to play with the intention that you want to win the game. That's what we have to do."
Source: espn.co.uk