Football News: Liverpool v Manchester City - A Liverpool Perspective
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Liverpool v Manchester City
What a game! Now that was what football should be about, two teams trying to win and giving everything to win, not sitting back and hoping to snatch a point. A result like that had been coming, Man City had been given a proper scare in the cup, but got away with it. Finally someone took the game to them in the Prem, rather than just handed them the ball and hid in their own half to wait for the beating to take place. The mistakes that Citeh made have been happening every game, but no one has been high enough up the pitch to take advantage. Hopefully some of the other teams will be more brave against them now, realising they are very beatable if teams are just brave against them. Pep's teams have always struggled against opponents who took the game to them and pressed them.
This was the kind of match the Premier League wants to be about, attacking quality, a mix of good defending and defensive mistakes, pace, skill, high intensity and a result that showed that no one is unbeatable. It also showed that even a 3 goal lead is not enough to be able to switch off and coast when you face Man City, as it very nearly cost Liverpool all 3 points at the end. The big issue for Liverpool is now whether or not they can perform like this when they are not facing the big sides. Far too often the intensity drops and their play becomes slow and laboured against the 'lesser' teams.
Klopp - tactically spot on, finally a manager in the Prem with the balls to take on City and beat them, rather than meekly accepting defeat. Also glad to see someone spot their weak link - Fernandinho. Much as he is very good when the team is on top and he has time and space on the ball, also very good at breaking up play, when put under pressure he is woeful and gives the ball away constantly. It must be said he was not the only one to suffer last night, but for me he was the key to beating City with a press.
The only issue was substitutions, taking Can off for Milner was a mistake and left a huge gap in the middle of the park and the other two were far too late in the game to have an effect. I know Can had to come off, but Milner is not the answer to any question other than: who should never be played in central midfield? A minor gripe and certainly nothing to compare with just how well he has this team playing, especially without Coutinho.
Karius - it seems Klopp was right to bleed Karius in slowly judging by the reaction to his mistake on the first goal conceded last night. It is a witch hunt, with people even on about his hands being down as a sign of poor coaching and poor goalkeeping technique. It was a mistake, he should have got a strong hand on it, but his overall game is so much better than Mignolet's, who I would have no confidence in saving it either, that Karius has to keep his place until the end of the season. By then we should know for sure whether or not he is the answer to the keeper question. Karius does have a fair bit to prove to win over the fans though clearly.
Gomez - made a bad error on the first City goal, other than that he had a good game and kept Sane out of the game for the most part. The worrying thing is that the error he made is one he has made repeatedly this season, getting caught out by the flight of the ball, which is something he will need to address as a priority. It is a shame because it has overshadowed just how well he played for the rest of the game.
Matip - he was also at fault on the first goal, allowing Sane to go past him far too easily. At times he did play well but he could have done better on all 3 goals, which has to be a worry.
Lovren - van Dijk's injury gave him a chance to return to the side and he was mostly excellent, however he was badly at fault on City's 3rd goal. The captain's armband had seemed to inspire him and he was really putting himself forward to be the partner for van Dijk for the rest of the season until that error.
Robertson - what can I say about Robertson? Even if I wanted to nitpick, the only thing I can think of he did wrong was one misplaced clearance. A minor mistake in an otherwise fantastic performance, showing that he can defend after all, his problem has just been that he gets forward too much and is caught upfield. For me that was a proper fullback's game, supported the attacks well, but most of all he ensured the opposing winger got nothing from him and ended up so frustrated that Pep had to sub him to stop him getting sent off.
That chase when he must have covered the length of the pitch and more pressing the ball was indicative of his attitude and willingness. I cannot emphasise enough how impressed I was with Robertson yesterday. More of the same please!
Can - had a really good game and contributed immensely to a fantastic result. Him being subbed was a huge loss as it left a huge gaping hole and removed the protection he had been giving to the back four.
Wijnaldum - good to see him turn up after being a ghost this season! That was an overall really good performance but he still needs to stop dithering on the ball. There were a few chances to break he wasted by not being decisive enough. I do feel churlish saying that because he did play really well overall, he has to maintain that level now though. Also it would help if he took less touches, he will take 6 when 1 would have done the job and invites pressure on himself.
Oxlade-Chamberlain - I never understood the need for him before we bought him, but he has been getting better and better by the game. He looks perfectly suited to playing the central midfield role in a Klopp team and his conduct in interviews has been exemplary. One minus point was his lack of tracking back on one of the goals conceded let City back in. He could have done more then, but clearly thought the game was won and so failed to chase back. Hopefully it will be a lesson to him never to coast, even if you are way ahead with seconds to go, you play all out until that final whistle goes. Overall an excellent game though.
Salah - always dangerous, never gives the opposition defence a moment's rest and scored a beauty. He has given the attack a whole new dimension.
Mane - his form seems to be returning, just at the right time. His goal was sensational, especially when you remember he scored it with his wrong foot.
Firmino - for me the man of the match, just. His goal summed up his performance, a through ball he should never have got near, outmuscled Stones and then played a delicious chip into the goal. Though it seemed to take an eternity to go in and I was holding my breath expecting the defender to hook it out for what felt like hours. There is not really anything left to say about him, form chasing back to the edge of his box to tackle Aguero and showing the aerial presence to win headers against much taller defenders, Firmino is fast becoming one of the best players in the Premier League.
Subs:
Milner - replaced the visibly tiring Can in the 79th minute and was his usual ineffective self. His energy and enthusiasm are excellent but it is not enough and he really should never be anywhere near the central midfield.
Lallana - came on in the 88th minute in place of Salah. Showed nice touches, chased around as he does and generally got himself involved in the game well. Looked a lot more like the old Lallana than he did when he started last time out. It is clear he is well short of match fitness at the moment.
Klavan - barely made it onto the pitch before the ref blew the final whistle as a late, late, 94th minute replacement for Mane.
Written by Tris Burke January 15 2018 09:10:36