KLOPP SHOWS HIS WORTH
I could say that Jurgen Klopp gave us a coaching masterclass on Sunday, and some bright spark will chime in with "But Liverpool didn't win". They didn't. However, what Klopp did to make his team more competitive against EPL's dominant team requires more serious examination. Earlier in the day, I watched a leaden-footed Aston Villa squad crumble at home to Tottenham Hotspur as the two contest the fourth-place Champions League spot. Would Liverpool suffer a similar fate? While City had not had a week off like Spurs. their Wednesday home matchup with Copenhagen was a dead rubber. Liverpool played a day later in Prague. With travel plus losing another starter to injury, the situation could have been better for Liverpool's manager.
I was very apprehensive going into the match. Even with the Anfield factor, Liverpool faced a dominant team on a strong winning run with all their big guns present. Putting Klopp's dilemma into City terms, Guardiola might have faced this. Absent before kick-off: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Nunes, Grealish and Alvarez. Managing minutes for players coming back from long-term injuries, Ake and Foden. He's blooded some of his youngsters from the Academy, and the one who has shown a goal threat is out. So, no Oscar Bobb. That's ten players in Pep's squad. How would the great man have coped?
Jurgen then surprised us with his starting XI. Four Academy youngsters!! He had no alternative. No surprise, perhaps, that Salah was on the bench, but Andy Robertson, too? I guessed they would be the second-half cavalry and spread his depleted squad out, so there were bench options. The only issue was, with three in the young defensive unit of five having never faced City before, would they be able to hold out until the second period?
Kick-off and the Reds were competing well with their revered opponents. However, City was playing with authority and getting into dangerous positions. Connor Bradley, in response, was showing well and twice found himself in threatening positions of their own but lacked that little bit of composure to take advantage. Then City took the lead with a cleverly worked corner kick. From a Liverpool perspective, it might have seemed soft, but credit where credit is due. It was a creative and well-worked routine.
Liverpool continued to grow after the setback and matched City's goal attempts. The difference was that few of these attempts were on target. As the half-time whistle blew, it was difficult not to be apprehensive. A patched-up Reds team was competing well, but Manchester City had their top players on the field, the lead and big game experience. As it turned out, it mattered little. The Reds were soon on the attack, facing the new Anfield Road stand. City erred with Ake's undercut backpass this time, resulting in Emerson sending Darwin Nunez into orbit. It was a clear penalty confidently despatched by Alexis Mac Allister. The score was evened, and there was everything to play for. That's exactly what Liverpool did!
When have we last seen Manchester City as stretched as they were in the second half? Liverpool was carrying the game, creating chances and panic in the City rearguard. Luis Diaz was the major culprit, spurning several golden opportunities. But, by the same token, he was heroic with lung-busting runs, shrugging off numerous City opponents along the way. Salah and Robertson brought the desired impact on their entrance, illustrating a coach who knows his players and how to get the best out of them for the team's sake.
Recommended by LinkedIn
As the match entered the closing stages, Liverpool had not taken advantage of their dominance, and the fear began to grow that City could snatch the points with many quality players in their ranks. That nearly proved to be the case as Doku's strike came off the foot of the post into the arms of a relieved Caoimhin Kelleher.
Predictably, the game ended in controversy. I have to be honest: when I see these incidents on replay, I don't know what to think anymore. At first glance, the thought is dangerous play. The call is more subjective than the Nunez penalty shout. Hearing all the debate post-match makes us aware for the umpteenth time how those operating VAR have little overall idea of what they are doing. The comment that had a penalty been awarded, it wouldn't have been overturned sums up the system's failure. VAR is judging the referee's calls and not doing what it is supposed to do, ensuring the game is called correctly.
A 1-1 draw and the third banana, Arsenal, slides to the top of the tree. Had Doku's late strike ended in the Liverpool net, we would have been serenaded ad nauseam with "Pep is a genius". Jurgen Klopp is a great coach and deserves the plaudits on this occasion. Klopp showed his worth!! The difference between the two managers is summed up with City having two Academy youngsters, Rico Lewis and Oscar Bobb, on their bench. They are full internationals with England and Norway, but were they ever going to be used? Liverpool, in contrast, started four in an injury-hit squad. Jaydon Danns would have been given a run if not for concussion protocol.
The discussion now turns to how this affects the title race. Arsenal visits the Etihad in two weeks for a crucial game. Staying from the belief that City will do it again is hard. A point at Anfield is a good point generally, but with Liverpool's current circumstances, should they have gone for all three points? The Jurgen Klopp factor kept his team in the game and the title race. His leaving Anfield will be a tremendous loss.
YNWA