Liverpool panic after lack of intensity in Manchester City triumph
Manchester City showed plenty of intensity and attacking organisation to beat a defensively confused Liverpool at Premier League Machday 29
Right on the return of international football after the Data Fifa, the Premier League has booked a Manchester City v Liverpool as the main attraction of the weekend. This would be a big test for the Reds against the Citzens, unbeaten for ten games in all competitions.
Pep Guardiola makes six changes to the side that beat Burnley in the FA Cup quarter-finals with Erling Haaland missing, as he hasn’t recovered from a groin injury. Akanji, Ake, Stones, Gundogan and Grealish were the others selected.
At the other end, Jurgen Klopp made just two changes from the defeat against Real Madrid. Elliott and Henderson both come into the midfield, meaning Gakpo is back to playing through the middle.
Liverpool withstood first-half pressure
Strategies were clear from the opening whistle, with Liverpool adopting a defensive stance looking for quick breaks in attacking transitions but prioritising the defensive system to avoid the Citzens’ inspired attack.
Inevitably, Manchester City took advantage and controlled possession from the start, looking for many substitutions to find spaces mainly on the sides and less inside in the attacking third.
After managing to press their opponents for 15 minutes, City were surprised at Liverpool’s fatal counter-attack. Alexander-Arnold lifted for Jota, who he drives into the box. Facing marking from Akanji, he held the ball inside the penalty area and waited for Mohamed Salah to arrive to finish with freedom.
The pressure increased after the goal conceded and Manchester City quickly sought an equaliser. De Bruyne stretches to get it through to Mahrez down the right and worked the ball for Grealish to arrive with space on the opposite flank. He fizzes his low cross into the middle with his first touch and Alvarez is there to tap it in, levelling the contest.
Manchester City took full control after the break
Unlike the balance seen in the closing stages of the first half with Liverpool closing the gaps in midfield well, Jurgen Klopp will certainly have plenty to talk about with his squad regarding their lack of performance after the break.
City needed seconds to turn the match around. On a great switch of play out to Mahrez by Alvarez, he plays a wonderful cross into the box and Alisson gets fingertips on it, but can’t stop it from reaching De Bruyne.
Before the 10th minute, Jurgen Klopp’s side settled the contest with another move down the right where Mahrez found space and found Alvarez on the low cross. The first shot was blocked by Alexander-Arnold, but Gundogan took advantage of a lack of attention from the defensive system in front of three markers and finished.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Antes do apito final, Grealish confirmou a estatística de melhor jogador em campo e fechou a vitória do City. Em outro ótimo switch, desta vez de Gundogan para Greliash na esquerda, o artilheiro tabelou no one-two com De Bruyne, abrindo espaço na área para chutar rasteiro e superar o goleiro Alisson.
What remains for both teams after Manchester City 4-1 Liverpool?
The best news for Manchester City after this win is the fact how the Citzens have seamlessly overcome the absence of Erling Haaland thanks to the team’s collective attacking organisation.
On the other side, a new yellow sign for Liverpool, who saw the old problems regarding defensive positioning emerge again after good performances before the Data Fifa.