In an enthralling encounter at the Etihad Stadium, City edged in front thanks to a rocket of a shot from Sergio Aguero, before Roberto Forming equalized in the second half to turn the table against the defending champions. Guardiola's side had the last laugh though as Leroy Sane drilled in off the right hand post to inflict a first domestic defeat on Liverpool. Econsport examines what we learned from a pulsating night of football.
Dejan
Lovren falters
Dejan
Lovren has been part of a formidable Liverpool defence that had been breached
just eight times in 19 league games--make that 10 in 20-- prior to the clash at the Etihad Stadium. With
the continued absence of Englishman Joe Gomez, due to injury, Lovren has dispelled
some doubts about his elite
standing with some solid displays. Playing alongside Van Dijk, it looked like the
penny had dropped for the Croat, who was starting to churn out solid displays.
There was little solid though in his display at the Etihad. An early yellow
card for wiping out Sergio Aguero as the Argentine tore forward menacingly
perhaps set the tone for what would turn out to be not an abysmal outing but a
far from solid one. With the pace and movement of Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling
flanking Aguero in attack, it was always going to be a stern examination of Liverpool's
defensive resolve. For the opener, Lovren was caught out by a low cross into the
box from Bernardo Silva. Concerned with Sane lurking
somewhere around the six yard box, he failed to spot Sergio Aguero's smart run around
the corner. You don't give a predatory striker like Aguero any sniff of goal
and the Argentine let fly from an impossible angle to open the scoring. It was only a slight blip on Lovren's very good copybook this season, but it was a significant one
nonetheless. Trust the ever confident Croatian though to bounce back in no time.
Dejan Lovren (left) failed to spot the run of Sergio Aguero for City's opener
Power horse Fernandinho is City's bolt: He locks out the opposition
Power horse Fernandinho is City's bolt: He locks out the opposition
Is
it any coincidence Manchester City's losses to Crystal Palace and Leicester
City coincided with the period Fernandinho was out due to injury? Or that his return
has seen two consecutive victories against Southampton and a previously unbeaten
Liverpool? Far from coincidence. There are so many artisans in Pep Guardiola's team, weaving little pieces of magic together with their
nimble feet and trickery. But for Fernandinho's magic, there's no replacement.
Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho produced a classy display in midfield as City cut Liverpool's lead at the top of the standings to four points
Fernandinho was instrumental in Manchester City's 2-1 win over Liverpool
He patrols the midfield, screens the backline superbly, snuffs out oposition attacks
and launches those of his side. Not just the dirty work, but skilled at feet as
well, his piercing passes against Liverpool stretched the Red's defence. There
was one in particular to Sterling in the second half, who was upended by Andy Robertson as he sprung into the box, that showcased just how vital he is for
City. His eagle-eyed vision allows him spot teammates with near impeccable precision.
This was a factor in City's impressive showing as upon dropping deep to receive
the ball from the center halves, his quick use and distribution led
to City launching attacks at pace. His positional sense and discipline led to Liverpool being
unable to gain much favour through the middle, hence full-backs Alexander Arnold and Robertson
were used as outlets. The only time the Reds did get past his firewall, Salah
slotted in Sadio Mane whose shot cannoned back off the post and caused pandemonium
in the City box. Going about his job quietly but highly efficiently, he is the
conductor of Pep's midfield. How the Catalan must have missed his presence. The
orchestra clearly isn't the same without him.
Fine
little margins.
Football,
sometimes, they say is a game of little margins, and it was certainly a case of
the tiniest of little margins as City tackled Liverpool . Think of this : only 1.12
centimeters separated Liverpool from gaining the lead, as the ball had not
completely crossed the line, following John Stones', who got back superbly to
clear, hacked clearance into goalkeeper Ederson. Sadio Mane's shot came back
off the left hand post and stayed out. Sane's low drive hit the right hand post
and went in for the clincher. Two tales similar in sequence but different in results.
Vincent Kompany was whiskers away from seeing red, with scores locked at 0-0 ,after
a desperate lunge while attempting to win the ball off Mo Salah. It was reckless, two
footed with studs showing and on another day, with another referee, the colour
of the card could have been different. It would have been an herculean task for
City to pull off a victory with ten warriors, seeing it was already difficult even
with eleven. Small margins at this level can have the biggest impact. Seven points
can quickly become ten, or four as it turned out.
How closer can it get? Liverpool were this close to gaining the lead at the Etihad Stadium but 11.2mm of the ball didn't cross the line
Vincent Kompany was fortunate to escape a red card after a heavy tackle on Mo Salah
Guardiola
vs Klopp rivalry is the EPL's modern incarnation of Ali vs Frazier
Parolling
the touchline with manic intensity, hands flapping in different directions, scowling and cajoling the players for more, both managers went through the full repertoire of their
rerum natura. Their charismatic presence and aura on the touchline
played out in an absorbing and intense tactical battle on the field. Pep Guardiola's
fast paced possession based approach versus Jurgen Klopp's heavy metal football and
gegenpressing. Beauty and the beast if you like. The relationship is not as
acrimonious as the legendary Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier match-up, but it is certainly
as enthralling and captivating.
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp's tactical battles have been an interesting subplot in meetings between Manchester City and Liverpool
In 15 meetings between the two, Klopp has now won
seven, and Guardiola six, with two drawn. There have been huge results too.
Think of the 5-0 City win over the Reds in September 2017, or the perfect
revenge as Liverpool ended City's unbeaten 22 game unbeaten run with a 4-3 win
at Anfield in January last year. "Two teams, full throttle" was how Klopp
surmised in the aftermath, and these are two men sticking to their guns with
confidence, borderline arrogance, and belief going toe to toe. Neither was ever
going to park the bus. At least not in the Mourinho way. In the days leading up
to this, both managers expressed admiration for the work of the other. Taking
turns to label the other
the best team in Europe. When the time for pleasantries elapsed the action went
down with a real competitive edge, both managers making decisive tweaks and
changes in shaping this encounter. They
are arguably the top two managers in the Premier league currently and their teams
mirror that. The top two contesting for first spot. With the gap breached to
four points, courtesy of Sane's late winner for City, the title race is well
and truly on. The rivalry promises to be captivating. Defeating Liverpool
would have brought an added layer of sweetness as Pep's men ended their rivals
20 game unbeaten run. Thoughts of an unbeaten run quashed and dashed. With 18 games
still to play, there promises to be twists and turns along the way. City seeking
to defend their crown, Liverpool aiming to claim a first in 29 years. Guradiola
versus Klopp : it is a rivalry like no other on English shores.
Leroy Sane steps up
It's been a testing campaign for the PFA Young Player of the year after the highs reached in last. Omitted from the German squad to the World Cup and unable to secure a starting berth in the early weeks of the season, he seemed to have lost Guardiola's trust. Whatever it is that Pep must have said, has done the trick though. Against Liverpool, Leroy Sane was back to his swaggering best. Taking on opposition defenders --Alexander Arnold had a torrid time marking the speedster -- pressing, creating chances, and crucially back among the goals when his manager needed it most, following on from his impressive showing against Southampton. Keeping Riyad Mahrez out of the starting lineup is no mean task. A draw would have been a decent result, but you felt that Liverpool would have been the biggest gainers, had it ended all square. That one point, turned to three for City and blew the title race open is down, not totally but in some way, to the magical decisive left boot of Sane.
Scorers delight : Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane grabbed both goals in City's 2-1 victory
Tactical Breakdown: how it went down
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp lined up in a 4-3-3 formation. The homeside went for Danilo at right back with Laporte on the opposite flank and John Stones partnering Vincent Kompany in central defence. In midfield, Klopp went for the tenacity and workrate of Wijnaldum, Milner, and Henderson against the silkiness of Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva and David Silva for City. The presence of Danilo-- as against a Kyle Walker who was benched-- and Laporte who held fort and didn't leave much gap behind by bombing forward limited the space for the likes of Sadio Mane and Mo Salah to run in behind. That however afforded Robertson and Alexander Arnold the opportunity to provide width for Liverpool in attack, with the visitor's front three playing narrow. Liverpool's equalizer came from Arnold on the right whose brilliant cross found Robertson at the back post. Two full-backs combining to great effect. A well cushioned pass into the path of Roberto Firmino was cooly coverted. The calming influence of Fernandinho meanwhile negated most of Liverpool's play through the middle. The major time the Reds got past him, Sadio Mane hit the post. It proved to be a tight first half as clear cut chances were few. City wingers Sane and Sterling stayed very wide in a bid to maintain the width of the pitch, that meant the full backs Danilo and Laporte had to tuck in field at times. With the game tied at 1-0 Klopp introduced Fabinho for Miner. The substitution gave the Reds more creativity through the middle but meant less defensive cover, a case in point for City's second goal. As Sterling turned his marker far right, he ran into space in the middle of the park--which Milner might have occupied -- and slipped Sane through for a precise finish. Klopp responded by bringing on Shaqiri for Mane as the Reds changed to a 4-2-3-1 with Fabinho, Firmino, and Shaqiri supporting Salah who now occupied the number nine position. It was too late though, as Guardiola shut up shop with the introduction of Nicolas Otamendi and Kyle Walker in defence, while Ederson produced a refkex save to deny Salah a certain equalizer in the dying stages.
Leroy Sane steps up
It's been a testing campaign for the PFA Young Player of the year after the highs reached in last. Omitted from the German squad to the World Cup and unable to secure a starting berth in the early weeks of the season, he seemed to have lost Guardiola's trust. Whatever it is that Pep must have said, has done the trick though. Against Liverpool, Leroy Sane was back to his swaggering best. Taking on opposition defenders --Alexander Arnold had a torrid time marking the speedster -- pressing, creating chances, and crucially back among the goals when his manager needed it most, following on from his impressive showing against Southampton. Keeping Riyad Mahrez out of the starting lineup is no mean task. A draw would have been a decent result, but you felt that Liverpool would have been the biggest gainers, had it ended all square. That one point, turned to three for City and blew the title race open is down, not totally but in some way, to the magical decisive left boot of Sane.
Scorers delight : Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane grabbed both goals in City's 2-1 victory
Tactical Breakdown: how it went down
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp lined up in a 4-3-3 formation. The homeside went for Danilo at right back with Laporte on the opposite flank and John Stones partnering Vincent Kompany in central defence. In midfield, Klopp went for the tenacity and workrate of Wijnaldum, Milner, and Henderson against the silkiness of Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva and David Silva for City. The presence of Danilo-- as against a Kyle Walker who was benched-- and Laporte who held fort and didn't leave much gap behind by bombing forward limited the space for the likes of Sadio Mane and Mo Salah to run in behind. That however afforded Robertson and Alexander Arnold the opportunity to provide width for Liverpool in attack, with the visitor's front three playing narrow. Liverpool's equalizer came from Arnold on the right whose brilliant cross found Robertson at the back post. Two full-backs combining to great effect. A well cushioned pass into the path of Roberto Firmino was cooly coverted. The calming influence of Fernandinho meanwhile negated most of Liverpool's play through the middle. The major time the Reds got past him, Sadio Mane hit the post. It proved to be a tight first half as clear cut chances were few. City wingers Sane and Sterling stayed very wide in a bid to maintain the width of the pitch, that meant the full backs Danilo and Laporte had to tuck in field at times. With the game tied at 1-0 Klopp introduced Fabinho for Miner. The substitution gave the Reds more creativity through the middle but meant less defensive cover, a case in point for City's second goal. As Sterling turned his marker far right, he ran into space in the middle of the park--which Milner might have occupied -- and slipped Sane through for a precise finish. Klopp responded by bringing on Shaqiri for Mane as the Reds changed to a 4-2-3-1 with Fabinho, Firmino, and Shaqiri supporting Salah who now occupied the number nine position. It was too late though, as Guardiola shut up shop with the introduction of Nicolas Otamendi and Kyle Walker in defence, while Ederson produced a refkex save to deny Salah a certain equalizer in the dying stages.
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