Liverpool (A) Post Match Thread

applecentral said:
In my opinion at half time I felt we needed more pace and energy up front. I noted to myself that Mahrez hardly touched the ball and Sterling apart from the pen, was pretty ineffective in the first half. Now after the 2nd half I accept I was wrong about Sterling and he was much better. But I was right about Mahrez, because as soon as we replaced him the attack was suddenly more energised. At the end of the game I was overjoyed at our marvellous team performance.
I have supported City since 1967, so hopefully you can imagine the joy of seeing my team destroy the bin dippers.
I hope you can now forgive me the temerity of having an opinion at half time.
Perhaps the next time I will seek out your permission first before commenting.
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Sterling was our best player in the first half.
 
While we're all screaming at Raheem to run in on goal, Pep sees something else - that thing where he stops and turns, draws in defenders, is clearly a tactic. Took on defenders at the right time today. Annihilating Liverpool is becoming a habit now!!!!
 
Mo Salah’s heat map vs Man City

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bluealf said:
Klopp said 'We played well' and then said 'I can see by your eyes you don't think so'

the interviewer replied with what you said.
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Well Klopp can read minds as well now.

A ref once told me he could tell what I was thinking and promptly sent me off.

In the bar later he wanted to share a drink with me. I told him to read my mind. (F:ck You).
 
Respect to ZeeZeeTopFulham who comments in The Grauniad. This is all his.

I’ve been holding off from saying it for a while, but this Manchester City side may just be recapturing the Premier League title. Pep Guardiola sank considerable depths with the team last season, while Liverpool shattered records and stormed to the title, but a display as resolute as this demonstrates to me that the mental barriers impeding the side have genuinely been shattered.

I thought that Liverpool were going to turn up for the game, and it looked as though it was going to be that way. The scoreline conceals it but for many of the early parts of the game Liverpool commanded the ball, with Thiago and Jones in particular making excellent usage of the ball - they even managed the best chances of the first half. Alexander-Arnold and Robertson were making inroads along the flanks and when Gundogan missed his penalty, and later Salah capitalized on Dias’ mistake to score his own, I thought Liverpool were ready to resurge into champion form.

It is the mettle, steel and fire Manchester City have ascertained that prevented this from happening. The cool attitude the team have to their games persists in any situation - their heads could have dropped with their setbacks, making them potentially spurn chances and allow Liverpool into the game. Instead their relentless pressure, their ice cold composure, their technical brilliance saw them capitalize on Liverpool’s shortcomings - recognizing the chinks in the armour and forcing them into chasms.

The work Guardiola has done with this team is exhilarating. There isn’t a player that hasn’t improved this year - Zinchenko and Cancelo were phenomenal at fullback, Rodri has gone from ponderous and clumsy to a vital piece of the midfield. Gundogan looks a juggernaut in midfield and the slickest attacker not named Kevin De Bruyne. Bernardo and Mahrez are finally incorporating their skills into the attack. Raheem Sterling’s explosive pace and fantastic dribbling is no longer isolated from his teammates but a critical component of the City attack. Ederson was a titan, utterly dedicated to preserving his net while Alisson faltered in the opposite half. They control the ball, control the park and throttle the opposition, while a few months ago their possession strangled their own momentum.

And what of Stockport’s own? Foden rightfully takes the headlines with his outstanding goal (those Messi comparisons Pep was making aren’t quite as fanciful as you might think) but his tireless work along both flanks, his deft touches and dribbles, left Liverpool scrambling many times. His assist for the Gundogan goal was as good as any City have managed, and even in the moments that appeared drier for City caused serious headaches for the otherwise decent Fabinho and Henderson.

You can point to the obvious caveats - Liverpool are enduring their direst form since Klopp took charge, they have still fielded midfielders in defence, the morale at the club is faltering. But what should take centre stage is that Manchester City were not anywhere close to their best, and Liverpool gave their most spirited home display in over a month… and the scoreline is 4-1 to Manchester City. They pulled together as a team, refusing to capitulate at similar moments last season, finally piecing together a clinical display up front (how many times have you seen Sterling and Gundogan ruin opportunities like ones they scored from today?), eroding Liverpool and perhaps putting an end to Liverpool’s chances of retaining the title.

My proverbial hat is in my head. Manchester City are back - Guardiola et al have convinced me. Congratulations, blues of Manchester - you have a phenomenal football team.
 
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