Pep Guardiola has seemed like a damaged man for a lot of the season and on Wednesday evening he lastly accepted defeat.
After had been dumped out of the , Guardiola conceded that the once-European conquerors had been knocked off their perch.
“Nothing is everlasting,” Guardiola stated.
“We’ve been unbelievable and we now have to attempt step-by-step to get higher from immediately. We’ve been terribly extraordinary up to now, however not any extra.
“We’ve 13 video games [left in the ] and need to be high 4 or 5 to attempt to be [in the Champions League] once more.”
It was solely two years in the past that Man Metropolis reigned as Treble winners with one of the vital completed groups in world soccer. However flash ahead to current day and Guardiola’s males look a world a manner from profitable something.
In opposition to Actual Madrid, they had been run ragged by Kylian Mbappe, who netted a hat-trick, and had been at sixes and sevens in defence. The group haven’t any time to treatment their frailty on the again as they now put together to welcome the league leaders to the Etihad on Sunday.
Arne Slot could have carried out loads of preparation on Man Metropolis within the build-up to this big sport and can seemingly pinpoint their full-backs as an space the place Liverpool can get some actual pleasure.
Proper again has been an enormous drawback space all season for Man Metropolis and it’s one which Guardiola nonetheless appears to be like like he’s determining. The final 5 video games have been like an audition course of for the place. 4 gamers have tried out the function however none of them look comfy. First it was Matheus Nunes, who performed within the disastrous 5-1 loss to , then Manuel Akanji within the first leg in opposition to Actual Madrid. Within the 4-0 win over , it was Rico Lewis.
In opposition to Madrid within the second leg, new signing Abdukodir Khusanov was thrusted into the right-back berth however had a tough night as Vinicius Jr and Mbappe ran at him all evening and had loads of success. He made only one sort out, one interception and misplaced two challenges, with a floor duel success of 40%.
It wasn’t simply him who needed to overlook although, as Ruben Dias was at fault for the primary aim after failing to cope with a protracted ball excessive and lacking his header, permitting Mbappe to attain the opener. The Frenchman then lower Man Metropolis’s defence into ribbons for the second aim, sitting Josko Gvardiol down on the bottom earlier than slotting house. For the third, the whole again line sat immobile because the famous person ahead effortlessly rolled a roller into the far nook.
Man Metropolis have proven you may get at them on both flank, which ought to present loads of optimism for Liverpool on Sunday. The Reds are hoping to welcome again Cody Gakpo from harm and he’d relish the possibility to run at one in every of Metropolis’s makeshift right-backs, which is prone to be Nunes once more this weekend.
On the left, Gvardiol shall be dealing with off in opposition to Mo Salah who has scored in every of his final seven matches and that duel may very well be a mismatch primarily based on his sorry efficiency on the Bernabeu. He made a complete of simply two tackles, misplaced two challenges and did not make a single interception. Going ahead didn’t convey an excessive amount of positivity both as he didn’t try a cross and solely accomplished one out of two tried take-ons.
It appeared like an off evening for the Croatian, who has statistically been the most effective left-backs within the Premier League this season after having the best floor duel success (62.1%), essentially the most passes into the ultimate third accomplished (145).
Nevertheless, we’ve seen him make six errors resulting in a shot this season, the best of anybody in his place who’s performed greater than 1,500 minutes. And Liverpool will definitely look to use that via Salah, who can run gamers ragged on a mean day.
Slot’s group shall be hoping to prey on the uncertainty on the again at Man Metropolis after the shoddy show from Ruben Dias and John Stones in opposition to Madrid.
As they confirmed in opposition to , Liverpool will punish any errors with their relentless excessive line after Villa’s pricey backpass led to a simple opener for Salah. And both Diogo Jota or Luis Diaz will look to take a seat on the shoulder of the final defender and run in behind. Liverpool have that skill to open groups up at will and Man Metropolis can unwell afford any lapses in focus.
One other plus for Liverpool is that Man Metropolis will seemingly be with out key ahead Erling Haaland, after the Norwegian missed the journey to Madrid with a knock. Omar Marmoush doesn’t have that very same bodily presence up entrance although he’ll nonetheless be a fear for Slot along with his very good skill at 1v1 dribbling, combining with others and medical ending — as he demonstrated by netting a hat-trick within the 4-0 win over Newcastle final week.
Like Man Metropolis, Liverpool additionally look susceptible at full-back after Villa managed to seek out gaps down the flanks — so Marmoush could look to enterprise into the channels left behind throughout counter assaults.
However Liverpool shall be by far the extra assured facet out of the 2 and Slot bullishly warned Guardiola’s males that they haven’t misplaced within the league since September.
“What I count on from Metropolis is what all people expects while you go to the Etihad: you must endure and work extraordinarily exhausting as a result of they’re so good in possession,” he stated.
“However in addition they face a robust group that hasn’t misplaced in 22 video games.”
The onus may be very a lot on Liverpool to ship on the Etihad, a venue the place they haven’t tasted victory since 2018. There has by no means been a greater time to convey that torrid run to an finish.