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Liverpool defeated Manchester City 3-1 in a crucial Premier League match last night at Anfield. With that victory, Liverpool have now opened up an eight point lead over second placed Leicester City. They also lead defending champions by nine points and the deficit might prove to be too big for City to overcome.
It was Liverpool’s 11th victory in 12 league matches this season in the league and they now have 34 points going into the international break. Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane scored for Liverpool, whereas Bernardo Silva scored for City. Guardiola's men had more possession and managed to win more corners than Liverpool but the Reds were too clinical in their approach and found their way to score the vital goals.
We would now take a look at the reasons behind Liverpool’s resounding win:=.
#1 Accurate long passing and crossing by Liverpool
Liverpool’s passing accuracy, especially while playing long balls, was laudable yesterday. That quality was evident during the second goal, when right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold played a 60-yard-long pass to left-back Andrew Robertson across the pitch, and then the latter’s cross found Mohamed Salah inside the City penalty box. Salah headed the ball home from close range and all but sealed the fate of the match with his ninth goal of the season.
The enviable accuracy in playing long crosses was again on display when Jordan Henderson played a 40-yard-long cross to Mane inside the box and the Senegalese international obliged by heading the ball in. Mane’s goal put the result of the match beyond doubt and ensured three priceless points for the home side.
Throughout the match, Liverpool kept playing those long passes and crosses in order to exploit the open space left behind by the City midfielders and defenders. Even Fabinho’s opening goal was a testimony to his shooting accuracy, which enabled him to beat Claudio Bravo with a 25-yard-long piledriver.
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#2 Lack of creativity in City’s midfield
It was a matter of surprise that one of the world’s best set of midfielders were devoid of creativity but that is what precisely happened yesterday. Pep Guardiola opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation with Ilkay Gundogan and Rodrigo playing as double pivot and Kevin De Bruyne deployed as the playmaker.
It was a defensive move to curtail the movements of Liverpool’s much vaunted front three, but also meant that City were lacking creativity and movement upfront. Gundogan was limited in his movements in the first half and struggled in his endeavour to play a box-to-box role in the second period. Maybe, Guardiola should have gone for a 4-3-3 formation with someone like Riyad Mahrez in the starting eleven. It would have given City more options upfront.
Raheem Sterling troubled the Liverpool defenders through the left flank repeatedly but City could not attack as much though the right wing. Bernardo Silva did not do much apart from scoring his side’s only goal.
#3 Liverpool’s defensive discipline
Not only were Liverpool clinical in their attacks, they were also disciplined and effective while defending. They already have arguably the best centre-back in the world in the shape of Virgil van Dijk, who was brilliant as usual last night. Moreover, Dejan Lovren also had a very good match and did not allow Sergio Aguero much freedom in the final third in the latter’s 250th league appearance.
Fabinho also had a stellar outing and continues to grow in stature as a player. He did the holding job to perfection in the midfield, and Georginio Wijnaldum was astute with his positioning and distribution.
Moreover, Liverpool’s full-backs were also very reliable. Apart from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s disputed handball inside the penalty box in the fifth minute of the match, they hardly put a step wrong and nullified the threat posed by Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva. Jurgen Klopp should be very happy with the discipline and composure shown by his defensive players.
