Manchester Metropolis misplaced a fourth consecutive Premier League match by way of a 2-0 scoreline in opposition to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, leaving them fifth within the division.
Defeat on Merseyside additionally signifies that the four-time successive reigning Premier League champions now discover themselves a staggering 11 factors adrift from Arne Slot’s high-flying Liverpool facet in early December.
After a slew of misplaced passes that noticed the Sky Blues come underneath fixed duress within the opening minutes, Liverpool lastly took the lead within the twelfth minute when Cody Gakpo bought on the tip of a Mohamed Salah cross.
The Egyptian ahead drove into Manchester Metropolis’s penalty space earlier than launching a ball to the far submit to offer the Dutch ahead a straightforward tap-in, while additionally splitting Pep Guardiola’s whole line of defense within the course of.
Many of the first-half adopted the identical system: fixed turnovers and an absence of physicality in midfield allowed Liverpool to pounce. Luckily for Metropolis, the hosts continued to waste their alternatives to double their lead.
After a considerably promising finish to the first-half, Metropolis continued to indicate flashes of management early within the second-half. Nevertheless, that management lasted only some minutes at greatest and was squandered when Stefan Ortega Moreno hacked down Luis Diaz to offer Liverpool a penalty.
Regardless of lacking from the spot earlier within the week in opposition to Actual Madrid within the UEFA Champions League, Mohamed Salah was capable of sneak it previous Ortega to double Liverpool’s lead within the 78th minute and finally finish the sport.
Instantly following Salah’s purpose, the depth of the match dropped. Metropolis, with Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jack Grealish all now on the pitch, started to mount a couple of extra assaults however couldn’t get previous Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Metropolis now return again to the Etihad Stadium for his or her subsequent Premier League match in opposition to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night, however earlier than then, listed below are our 5 Issues Discovered from the loss in opposition to Liverpool at Anfield!
This was (hopefully) all-time low
The primary-half efficiency in opposition to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon was arguably a number of the worst soccer Manchester Metropolis have performed underneath Pep Guardiola since his arrival all the best way again in the summertime of 2016.
The opening 45 minutes on Merseyside was harking back to the match final December away to Aston Villa, which noticed Manchester Metropolis in some way solely lose 1-0, whereas being outshot 22-2 within the course of.
That was the low level for the Sky Blues, who rapidly recovered to kickstart their trademarked mid-season run of victories.
Whereas it’s uncertain this present Metropolis facet is able to that form of turnaround, the few temporary moments of management at Anfield exhibits that there’s nonetheless high quality on this aged and injury-riddled Pep Guardiola facet.
Jack Grealish’s future may be midfield
Whereas Sunday afternoon was not the primary time we’ve got seen Jack Grealish play a couple of minutes in a midfield position for Metropolis, this definitely was the perfect competitors he has confronted whereas taking over that place.
Pep Guardiola hinted that Grealish could also be getting extra minutes there within the coming video games. “I’m considering Jack Grealish within the center can assist us to have that management and imaginative and prescient into the ultimate third,” he informed reporters after the match at Anfield.
With each Jeremy Doku and Savinho now again from their respective damage issues, there are a slew of large choices for Pep Guardiola hastily, with only some central midfielders at the moment totally match.
Jeremy Doku exhibiting indicators of his previous self
It has been a tough few months for Jeremy Doku, with the Belgian winger anticipated to be within the midst of his second-season come-up, however a tough damage in his quad has saved him from being totally match for the previous month.
A wholesome Doku and Savinho offers Pep Guardiola a much-needed spark to his struggling assault. Whereas the previous will not be wholesome sufficient to begin a full match but, his performances off the bench have traditionally been a few of his most profitable.
Champions League qualification is the purpose now
After 4 consecutive Premier League titles, it’s not possible to think about this present Manchester Metropolis facet realistically competing for a fifth. The Sky Blues sit exterior of a Champions League spot, and crucially, 11 factors behind first-placed Liverpool.
An enormous squad refresh is coming over the following few switch home windows, and Champions League qualification will likely be wanted to make sure Manchester Metropolis are capable of spend each single pound possible.
Pep Guardiola continues to be comfortable to be right here
The Anfield crowd determined to have a go at Pep Guardiola within the closing moments, jokingly chanting, “You’re getting sacked within the morning,” on the Catalan struggling the worst string of ends in his managerial profession.
Whereas it wasn’t the primary time this has been sung at him this season, it clearly impacted Guardiola extra coming from Liverpool followers, versus decrease opposition.
The legendary Catalan coach flashed a wry smile and held up six fingers, highlighting the six Premier League titles Manchester Metropolis have gained prior to now seven seasons, most of which by besting former Liverpool supervisor, Jurgen Klopp.
Pep Guardiola highlighted his want to remain at Manchester Metropolis in his post-game press convention, “Once I was in bother my mum and pop by no means gave me away. Now I wish to be with this membership and with these gamers to assist them.”