In the last Premier League game of the calendar year, Liverpool defeated Manchester City 1-0 to remain second in the table and move 4 points ahead of the visitors. Georginio Wijnaldum scored the only goal of the match, which had been billed as a contest between two of the best managers in football.
The result was a big blow for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City as they saw their deficit to leaders Chelsea increase to 10 points, while the win meant Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side continues to be the most likely challengers to Antonio Conte’s team in the Premier League this season.
We take a look at the talking points of the game:
#1 Klopp’s decision to start with an extra midfielder instead of a striker
Despite having strikers Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi available for selection, Jurgen Klopp opted to play Roberto Firmino in a central attacking role and including both Emre Can and Gini Wijnaldum in midfield alongside Jordan Henderson with Adam Lallana in a more advanced role.
While Firmino had an off game, the presence of the extra midfielder helped Liverpool control the match in the first half as Jordan Henderson, Wijnaldum and Can outplayed the City midfield. It also resulted in Wijnaldum often getting freedom to move ahead and join the attack.
There had been plenty of talk on how the two managers, who had faced off previously in the Bundesliga, would prepare their teams tactically for the match and it appeared that Klopp had made the better decisions at the start of the game.
#2 Wijnaldum opens the scoring with a fantastic goal
Signed from Newcastle in the summer, Georgino Wijnaldum has established himself in the Liverpool team with some impressive link-up play and work rate. But he has mostly been an unsung hero in the side with his performances getting overshadowed by that of his teammates.
But the Dutchman was the star player for his team against Manchester City, as he scored the only goal of the match in the eighth minute with a brilliant header. It was Wijnaldum who started the attack from Liverpool’s half and the player made a run and out-jumped Aleksandar Kolarov to meet Adam Lallana’s cross and put it past Claudio Bravo into the net.
#3 City threatened to equalise in second half but couldn’t score
After a very indifferent first half, Manchester City tried to turn around things after the break. Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Raheem Sterling had attempts on Liverpool’s goal but none of them managed to trouble Simon Mignolet much.
Jordan Henderson’s injury in the 64th minute saw the Liverpool captain being replaced by Divock Origi and Liverpool’s system changed. There were a few moments of concern for Klopp as City tried to take control of possession with David Silva pulling the strings and Liverpool having a period of sloppy play. However, City failed to capitalise during this period and ultimately fizzled out and failed to find the equaliser.
#4 The battle of the #7’s: James Milner vs Raheem Sterling
There has been a lot of discussion around James Milner’s role at left-back for Liverpool and if the team need to purchase a recognised left-back for the position. But the experienced Englishman continues to excel in his new role and he had an excellent game against City where he kept Raheem Sterling (who was playing on right wing) quiet.
Sterling, a former Liverpool player, would have been keen to perform well on his return to Anfield, but had a disappointing game and was booed by the baying home crowd whenever he had the ball. He was constantly kept in check by Milner, who ensured that the winger wasn’t able to make any impact. (Sterling was moved to the other flank later in the match, but found the going tough against Nathaniel Clyne as well)
It was an intriguing contest between the two players who wear the coveted No. 7 jersey of their respective sides (and having represented the other team previously), and the veteran Milner, despite playing in a make-shift role, was able to win the battle against the younger Sterling.
#5 Sergio Aguero looked off-colour on return from ban
After getting a 4-game ban following his red card against Chelsea, Sergio Aguero saw his team win three out of the four matches from the sidelines. However, his return to the playing XI in the game against Liverpool was a major talking point with everyone acknowledging the importance of the striker in City’s quest for glory in the Premier League.
But the Argentine striker’s game looked very rusty as he failed to make any impact in the game. With just two weak shots on either side of the half-time break, and negligible contribution in the team’s attempts for attacks build-up, Aguero was arguably City’s worst player on the field in the match.
Seeing his Manchester City fall 10 points behind league leaders Chelsea, Pep Guardiola will know that he needs his talismanic striker back in top form very soon along with Kevin De Bruyne (who also had an indifferent game) in the coming matches to be able to surmount a serious challenge for the league title.
