OB1
Well-Known Member
All the stories written before a ball had been kicked describing how Salah returned to form gloriously, how Klopp out thought Pep yet again and how City were blown away by a mighty Liverpool tornado urged on by a packed Kop which unnerved City by screeching 1950s musicals had to be ripped up. The new line was how Pep had been forced to abandon his principles and turn a game against the best attacking team in the world into a goalless snore draw. Pep is even at fault for entrusting a potentially match winning penalty to a serial penalty misser.
Mahrez did miss a penalty, but that's all he did. Pep trusted him and he missed it. He didn't commit high treason, he didn't kill anyone and he didn't throw a brick at a coach. He missed a penalty. And I'm glad to report that City players consoled him, John Stones gave him support in the post match interviews, he did not have to leave the pitch on his own like a leper and I don't believe there has been any nonsense like death threats from demented "fans" - unlike the fate of a certain goalkeeper who offended that cheery bunch of scousers at the other end of the east Lancs road. City are a team and a club, and I'm proud to say they behaved with a dignity and class quite alien to our opponents yesterday.
As for the match yesterday, I thought it was intriguing but quite clearly Pep out thought Klopp. City lined up with a back four in a normal Guardiola 4-3-3 and Klopp expected the normal splitting of the CBs and the advanced full backs. This was naive as the last thing Pep was likely to do was order his troops to throw themselves on Liverpool's sword. All four of our back line showed admirable discipline and Liverpool were shown to be completely devoid of ideas when deprived of space behind the full backs and Mendy, in particular, was careful always to prevent Salah cutting inside onto his left foot. This is why Salah "looked a pale shadow of last season's player". I can't remember Ederson having a save to make in the entire match (and City were able to play out from the back in relative comfort). Part of the reason is that Liverpool's fullbacks didn't push up, as they have tended to stay deeper this season and because City's midfield is better than theirs and will exploit the space either side of their CB's. As the game wore on only one side looked likely to score. The penalty was the clearest opportunity but these things happen.
Beautifully put. Loving the paragraphs ;-)
Liverpool did have two attempts on target, weak Sturridge header and Salah backpass IIRC but more a case of Ederson collecting the ball than saving it.