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Liverpool continue their dream run in the league as two top class goals from Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho help them usurp defending champions Manchester City at Anfield. Edin Dzeko scored their solitary goal but it wasn’t enough for the second placed team in the league table.The win leaves Liverpool within sniffing distance of top four as they trail fourth placed Manchester United by two points. Meanwhile, this win has done a favor on Chelsea as they maintain their five point cushion at the top over the defending champs now with an additional game in hand.It was a thrilling game at Anfield where both the teams with the intention of getting all the three points. Here are the five talking points from the game.
#1 All hail King Philippe!
Cometh the hour, cometh the man! Philippe Coutinho once again rises up to the occasion to haunt defending champions Manchester City as he scored the winner at Anfield. The Brazilian had wonderful evening in front of the Kop where he harrowed Manchester City defense throughout the 90 minutes capped by an exquisite goal from outside the box.
Coutinho started the game brightly as he pressed high up the pitch thus putting City’s midfield and defense under some immense pressure from the word go. His relentless runs down the left gave Man City’s rightback Pablo Zabaletta a torrid time.
The goal was surely well deserved as the former Inter Milan man was one of the best players for the home team throughout the 90 minutes. One more striking feature of Coutinho’s play today was his composure and belief. Seldom he looked out of sorts or gave away the ball cheaply when pressurized by the opposition. He maintained the level of performance which he displayed last week at St Mary’s.
This signifies that the young attacker is finally finding some sort of consistency against quality opponents. He is underlining the fact that his display against Southampton at south coast wasn’t a fluke. This bodes well for both the man and the club as Liverpool will look into carry on their momentum in this race for top four.
#2 Liverpool\'s Gegenpressing
There was a lot of talk about both the teams heading into this blue chip fixture on the back of disappointment in Europe. Liverpool lost their Europa League tie in Istanbul agonizingly in a penalty shootout after 120 minutes of grit and determination. City too had forgettable midweek where they were outclassed by Luis Suarez inspired Barcelona at Etihad.
Liverpool playing with a back three pressed maniacally high up the pitch. They tried to nullify City’s defense and midfield which contains some of the powerhouses of world football in Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure. Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho were instrumental in the success of this ploy as they took Citizens’ full backs in Aleksander Kolarov and Pablo Zabaletta out of the game. Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson utilized the space that was created in the middle as both the goals came from outside the penalty box.
Liverpool played without an out and out holding midfielder and that was a risk considering City’s riches in the attacking department but high pressing tactic forced Citizens out wide more often as their central midfielders were denied both time and space to pick up a pass centrally.
The energy on show by the Merseysiders is commendable considering they played a grueling European game away in Istanbul just over 48 hours ago.
#3 Kompany\'s Anfield woes conitnue
Vincent Kompany has risen to become one of the best centre-backs in the league. His leadership qualities that led City to two titles in three seasons is a testament to his character but time and again he has failed to raise his game at Anfield.
Many players have their boogey teams or boogey stadia and it slowly forming out that Manchester City captain doesn’t like the feel of Anfield that much. Today he was constantly fluctuating between awful and mediocre throughout the game. He was miles away from his usual calm and composed self which has led City’s defense to glory in recent years.
The Belgian was directly responsible for Jordan Henderson’s opener as he was too sluggish to close down his Liverpool counterpart. This gave the Englishman time and space to pick his spot. He was constantly bullied by Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho who did him in with their twinkling feet.
It seemed that the 29 year old was still reeling from the ghosts of last season where he assisted Coutinho in scoring the winner. City’s skipper was miles away from his best and this has cost his team heavily as they trail Chelsea by five points who now have a game in hand.
#4 Liverpool continue to march on
Liverpool’s win against City has not only made the race for the Champions League more intriguing but also highlighted that anything is possible in Barclays Premier League. Brendan Rodgers not only tactically outsmarted Manuel Pellegrini, but he also made a point to his critics who were calling for his head just over a month ago.
Since their defeat to archrivals Manchester United in mid December, the Reds have gone onto an unbeaten run in league. This has rejuvenated their prospects of a top four finish which seemed bleak just around Christmas time.
Rodgers took a gamble to rest Daniel Sturridge after the Englishman played 105 minutes against Besiktas in midweek. Raheem Sterling in a false number nine in a back three was a strange tactic against City who is known for their direct and wing play. The wide-men starred particularly for the hosts especially Coutinho.
Adam Lallana and Emre Can are the unsung heroes of this win as they silently grafted their way and helped Liverpool to trump Man City. Lallana, in particular, was very unlucky as he scored twice but was ruled out offside both the times. He along with Raheem Sterling terrorized City’s central duo of Kompany and Mangala.
#5 City\'s defensive shambles.
Manchester City are treading a thin rope this season as they are lacking any sort of consistency in their levels of performance. Many of their players are having an inconsistent season especially those at the back shielding Joe Hart.
Manuel Pellegrini must be wondering how come his star studded defense is failing to live up to big occasions. They crumbled against Arsenal and Barcelona at Etihad while they were pinned down by West Ham at the Boleyn ground. Today as well, City’s defense was left frustrated by Liverpool.
The high pressing tactic disturbed the rhythm of City’s fullbacks as they were denied the chance to express themselves from the flanks. But their full backs have been seldom below par and this points to the bitter truth that the real issue lies at the heart of the defence. Vincent Kompany and their new 32 million man Eliaquim Mangala have failed to form any sort of partnership.
The crack is wide open and has been exploited by the opponents time and again. Despite both of them being gifted footballers, they have failed to work in tandem especially when put under pressure by top class opponents in big games. If at all City want to end the season with any sort of silverware their two big centre-halves will have to rise to the occasion in the big games.
