Premier League: A rude awakening for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool

Manchester City players form a guard of honour for the Liverpool players (Photo by PETER POWELL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City players form a guard of honour for the Liverpool players (Photo by PETER POWELL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Manchester City v Liverpool FC - Premier League
Raheem Sterling, Manchester City (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images) /

The backline looked average

Did the Liverpool defence party too hard after winning the title? The back four looked like they were still out the night before the game. The Reds defence looked complacent and lacked urgency. City’s forwards wanted it more and the results show.

Gomez had a nightmare of a game. Sterling was running circles around him, turning him inside and out while winning a penalty. He still holds a grudge from the previous bust-up with Gomez, as it seemed like he was a man on a mission.

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Sterling performed well, but Trent allowed him the space to get into the box, which seemed like a pattern during the match and Guardiola eyeing Liverpool’s right-back and left-back positions exposed a weakness.

Trent had a tough time containing Mendy, the left-back rarely put a foot wrong the entire match, his passing was on point, making important tackles 1v1 and putting some dangerous crosses in as well.

With Trent and Robertson pushing so high up the field Foden, Sterling, and De Bruyne had time and space on the counter-attack, often having three on two scenarios with van Dijk and Gomez.

Foden looks to be the perfect replacement for David Silva when he retires the end of the season. The young Englishman was one of the standout players for City. He has loads of potential and he’s improving every game.

Robertson couldn’t handle the youngster, he was going on the outside of Robbo and cutting on the inside playing key passes in the final third. He also had the confidence to take on the Liverpool defenders and midfielders.

The Reds are known to have a solid defence over recent years, but City made them look mediocre. The fans will hope that they can brush off this disappointing display before their match against Aston Villa this weekend.