Liverpool vs Man City - Premier League (18/19 - Game 8)

[marcus50bucks]

Ox is missed hugely, things like that driving run through the midfield and lay off for Salah to score v Newcastle, that is totally gone from our game now and obviously we all remember the way he destroyed City twice last season. Way too reliant on the front 3 to conjure something up themselves now, often v 6, 7 or 8 opposing players. Hendo, Milner, Gini are all good but it's a pretty terrible mix and Naby is still working his way in. Got to be sorted in January.

Absolutely bang on

[Phoenix07]

Pep Guardiola explained how Man City looked to slow down the game at Anfield, as he believes Liverpool could be “the best team in the world” on the break.

Sunday’s clash was set up as the biggest game of the season so far, with two title rivals duelling for three points before the international break.

The Reds came out of the blocks quickly, but were eventually subdued as a fraught 0-0 draw played out, with Riyad Mahrez’s late penalty miss compounding a lack of chances.

This, as Guardiola explained after the game, was part of City’s game plan, with the visitors looking to stymie Liverpool’s swift counter-attacking play after losing twice at Anfield last season.

“If you play so quick, they are much better than us,” he told reporters.

“We want to create, but they wait for when you make a mistake in this kind of situation.

“We like to make the process, the buildup, to create the spaces. It’s not easy.

“But if it’s an open game at Anfield, an open game against Liverpool, you don’t even have one chance, not even one percent. They play for that.

“We controlled it with Riyad, the guy who could give the extra pass; Bernardo in the middle, to give you an extra pass.

“It’s important to get that base, because if it’s up and down quickly they are much, much better—they are maybe the best team in the world running these transitions, offensive-defensively.

“There is not a team better in the world than them, because it’s built for that, it’s created for that.

“It’s what Jurgen feels, and what the players take, for that sense. In that situation they are much better than us.”

https://www.thisisanfield.com/2018/1...-of-game-plan/

[Fosterbloke]

Joint top, unbeaten, not playing well, a proper goalkeeper, a 21 year old playing to the same level as a world class defender, three top class players still to adapt and make an impact, one former great back to full fitness and with four goals to his name, an easier run of upcoming Premier League fixtures, and finally back to back fixtures against the Champions League's weakest team ..

Is it really that bad?

[Fredo]

Who said it was?

[BigChief]

Just glad we got the point. Chelsea and City have to face Jose soon enough after the internationals and there's no way Jose is letting either get a walk over.

[Ams12]

Gomez MOM for me. Was pretty solid defensively without being over extravagant at RB. Gini 2nd. He’s a great ball carrier and holds/shields it soo well.

Was a Pelanty. VVD should have just held him up not stuck a foot in, got no touch on the ball...not enough to justify taking Sane out too.

Have a rest & regroup. Onto the next round of games.


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[Fosterbloke]

This season proves that league winning teams are built on a solid defence.

While City and Chelsea have been banging in the goals, we've been a bit ****e up front and in midfield and yet we're still joint top.

Just wait until we click...

[dom9]

I can't think of any other teams that City would change their entire game plan so drastically for.

Their tactics were almost Mourinhesque by their standards.

[Irishnev]

I can't think of any other teams that City would change their entire game plan so drastically for.

Their tactics were almost Mourinhesque by their standards.

Pep said it himself after the game:

"If it is an open game at Anfield, you don't even have one percent of a chance. We controlled it through Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, the guys to give the extra pass. Up and down they (Liverpool) are the best team in the world in these transitions, offensive, defensive, it is built for that. In that situation they are much better."


Given this was the last match of an insanely tough run of games we did well to get a result. Our players must be feeling the intensity of so many big games and little rotation () so I am v happy with a point.

Our GK & DEF have been the ones that have led us so far (best defensive record in the league) so once the front 3 click we'll start motoring.

[Lecter]

Pep said it himself after the game:

"If it is an open game at Anfield, you don't even have one percent of a chance. We controlled it through Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, the guys to give the extra pass. Up and down they (Liverpool) are the best team in the world in these transitions, offensive, defensive, it is built for that. In that situation they are much better."


Given this was the last match of an insanely tough run of games we did well to get a result. Our players must be feeling the intensity of so many big games and little rotation () so I am v happy with a point.

Our GK & DEF have been the ones that have led us so far (best defensive record in the league) so once the front 3 click we'll start motoring.

I dont think we have seen the same type of blistering football we saw last season. Even when we beat West Ham felt it was done at half pace

I would hesitate to say we havent played that well this season because defensively we have looked very good. The forward line looks miles off the pace and there is a definite disconnect at times between the rest of the side and the front line and they look well under par so far this season

Only game you could really have a moan about is Napoli, we deserved more out of the Chelsea games than we got (too profligate in front of goal)

Heard a few things said about the front line, just picking on Salah alone, his touch is off, his shooting and decision making is off but at times he also looks slower than he was and looks to be lacking the ability to hold off defenders like he did

We have had a tough run of games and have beaten Spurs away in the league, picked up a draw at Chelsea and drew with City. The fixture list is looking kinder over the next few weeks so hopefully we can start firing on all cylinders

[Maxiedge]

I think we have found it hard to pick up any momentum when the opponents we have been facing in the last month have not been mugs in both their tactical awareness and defending.

Obviously, recent results have not been best case scenario but I believe we can come out of them with our heads held high and with a lot of confidence going forward. We handled those fixtures with great professionalism and team spirit, although we are not firing on all cylinders.

[danperkins]

It was very interesting to hear Peps tactical change. We are obviously a nightmare to play against for attack sides, which City. I think in the past with us against teams who sit, keep possession and slow the game down it does kill our momentum. The first 10 to 15 mins it did look like we would blitz them but they killed the pace of the game and it did negate our style of play. Was very interesting to hear him talk about it & flattering considering the team they have.

I think bringing likes of Shaqiri in in CM to get a link between midfield and the front 3 would be beneficial. There's a disconnect between the midfield and front line at moment and the service isn't great. We need those front 3 lads firing asap.. whatever it takes to get the lads going again.

[Lecter]

It was very interesting to hear Peps tactical change. We are obviously a nightmare to play against for attack sides, which City. I think in the past with us against teams who sit, keep possession and slow the game down it does kill our momentum. The first 10 to 15 mins it did look like we would blitz them but they killed the pace of the game and it did negate our style of play. Was very interesting to hear him talk about it & flattering considering the team they have.

I think bringing likes of Shaqiri in in CM to get a link between midfield and the front 3 would be beneficial. There's a disconnect between the midfield and front line at moment and the service isn't great. We need those front 3 lads firing asap.. whatever it takes to get the lads going again.

The only thing I would be concerned about playing Shaqiri in CM is the positions he takes up

I cant remember which game it was but we started Shaqiri in that exact attacking role you are advocating in one game recently and we had to shift Firmino out of the centre and play him out wide to accommodate him (it might have been the game he was hauiled off at half time). We had to put Salah upfront to encourage him to look to go beyond the centrebacks in order to create that space for Shaqiri to go into

Shaqiri had a great half but the rest of the frontline looked all over the gaff and Klopp was keen to say post match that tactically we were all over the place

Basically Shaqiri was playing beyond their midfield and in the hole, the exact hole that Firmino drops off into if he was in the centre and that completely altered our shape and many of our attacking moves (which if you watch a lot of them are definitely rehearsed/choreographed training ground moves)

[gratziani]

In October and not lost a game in the league after playing Spurs and Chelsea away.

City at home being a draw was a fair result after seeing the game as well.

Definitely feel like players are burning themselves out after all the hard games we have had.

Need to utilise our squad before injuries come into play

[calvoboy]

The only thing I would be concerned about playing Shaqiri in CM is the positions he takes up

I cant remember which game it was but we started Shaqiri in that exact attacking role you are advocating in one game recently and we had to shift Firmino out of the centre and play him out wide to accommodate him (it might have been the game he was hauiled off at half time). We had to put Salah upfront to encourage him to look to go beyond the centrebacks in order to create that space for Shaqiri to go into

Shaqiri had a great half but the rest of the frontline looked all over the gaff and Klopp was keen to say post match that tactically we were all over the place

Basically Shaqiri was playing beyond their midfield and in the hole, the exact hole that Firmino drops off into if he was in the centre and that completely altered our shape and many of our attacking moves (which if you watch a lot of them are definitely rehearsed/choreographed training ground moves)

I think it was Southampton at home? I think the idea is right though, if Shaqiri can learn the position. We definitely miss Ox/Lallana carrying the ball in midfield when the opposition is working hard to block our passing lines to the front three (as Napoli and City were doing very effectively). Shaqiri is the obvious one who could come in, but he'd have to do it from deeper or wider and avoid crowding Firmino as you say.