The Champions League is at the business end of the season and the quarter final draw threw up a mouth watering tie between two of the best teams in the premier league this season in Liverpool and Manchester City.
The first leg on Wednesday night was a highly anticipated tie with both teams high scoring in the league but both with inconsistent defences; Liverpool boast the leagues top goalscorer and arguably one of the transfers of the season in Mo Salah while Man City have contender for player of the season in Kevin De Bruyne.
Liverpool’s Intent was evident early on, take the attack to Man City and tear into them and that approach paid off after Mo Salah scored his 38th goal of the season before an absolute screamer from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made it 2-0 and all before 20 minutes. Sadio Mane then sent the Anfield faithful into dreamland on the half hour mark by making it 3-0; Man City were being made to look a shadow of the team that has dominated the domestic league this season.
In the second half, we expected a reaction from city and we sort of got it, City enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and were more direct however we saw liverpool defend with such discipline which we do not usually associate with this team. Liverpool never looked like conceding and the fact that Karius, Liverpools goalkeeper didn’t have to make a save is a true testament to that.
Jurgen Klopp got his tactics spot on and they never let Manchester City settle on the ball, The high intensity pressing game we have become used to seeing in a Jurgen Klopp team was paramount to their success. City’s two playmakers, De Bruyne and Silva had little or no time on the ball and by doing this consistently, Liverpool were forcing them into making mistakes and giving the ball away. Another one of their in form players Leroy Sane, looked quite bright in the opening exchanges but that soon changed, he was out marked, out muscled and out played by man of the match Trent Alexander-Arnold; A performance beyond his years, he showed he has a bright future in the red of Liverpool.
All Over For Man City?
Guardiola on the other hand will possibly rue his starting lineup. In what looked like a 4-2-3-1 with De Bruyne and Fernandinho playing Deep with Gundogan on the right side of the three, Silva in the Middle playing the familiar 10 role with Sane on the left. However i’m not sure whether it was down to poor positioning or was done on purpose but Gundogan played more centrally which left a gap on the right hand side – leaving right back Kyle Walker as their only outlet on the right and left Liverpool left back Robertson to bomb up and down the wing and assist in attack.
City should’ve expected Liverpool to come out an attack them but they simply couldn’t handle it, Liverpool Rode the crest of wave generated from the atmosphere synonymous with European Nights at Anfield. Liverpool’s 12th man was simply incredible and when the ground exploded into their new song “Allez Allez Allez” with Lyrics such as “We’ve Conquered all of Europe” you know this night will go down in History as one of the great Champions league nights at Anfield. There was a slight scare for Liverpool when undoubtedly their player of the season Mo Salah clutched his Groin and was substituted immediately. After Missing Saturdays Derby, Fans will be hopeful he is back for tonight’s second leg but if he isn’t he will be missed as even though the whole squad is firing, their confidence and their attacking prowess has been built on the form of Salah.
Going into tonight’s second leg, Can Manchester City score 4? well there is no doubt that they are capable of doing so; Will they? I don’t think so, I think they have left themselves too much to do and they will have to score 4 providing Liverpool don’t score again and I don’t think that’s likely. I think it will be 2-2 – Liverpool to win 5-2 on aggregate.
