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Guardiola’s Verdict After Liverpool’s Setback at Man Metropolis

Manchester Metropolis’s 3-0 win over Liverpool on the Etihad created one other vital storyline in a rivalry that continues to form the Premier League panorama. With Arne Slot making an attempt to regular the champions after a turbulent run, it was Pep Guardiola who left with readability, management and a end result that moved Man Metropolis nearby of the highest. The match offered a pointy reminder of how influential detailed structural work, tempo management and particular person match-ups will be when Liverpool meet Man Metropolis at full tilt.

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Management, Stress and the Metropolis Blueprint

This fixture marked Guardiola’s 1,000th sport in administration, and he acknowledged its symbolism. “Thanks to the gamers for this reward, in opposition to crucial opponents we’ve got confronted in my 10 years by far.” His facet delivered the kind of assertive, high-pressing efficiency that has outlined so a lot of their pivotal outings.

Erling Haaland missed a penalty however shortly corrected course with the opener. A deflected strike from Nico Gonzalez and a measured Jeremy Doku end accomplished a end result that left Liverpool crushed for the fifth time in six league matches. Slot’s facet at the moment are eighth, nonetheless trying to find equilibrium after an uneven begin to their title defence, whereas Guardiola’s gamers have closed the hole to 4 factors behind leaders Arsenal.

Guardiola highlighted the stability Metropolis discovered early on. “We press excessive to regain the ball fast and I prefer to see my staff do brief passes and have the power to run. The primary half was actually, actually good offensively and defensively.” His evaluation of the restart was much less glowing. “Within the begin of the second half we misplaced some duels and the sport turned tougher for the gamers within the center. However the again 4 and Nico (Gonzalez) had been excellent.”

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Managing Salah and the Wider Duel Panorama

Liverpool’s ahead line, notably Mohamed Salah, was central to Metropolis’s match plan. Guardiola praised the self-discipline proven by younger full-back Nico O’Reilly. “Salah has been a nightmare for a few years and Nico mentioned he needed to be aggressive with him,” he famous, earlier than highlighting how collective protection formed the end result. “It helped that every time Mo had the ball we had three or 4 gamers round him.”

This was not merely about shackling a single menace, it was about Metropolis controlling the tempo and minimising Liverpool’s transitional alternatives. Guardiola added additional reward for Conor Bradley. “Conor (Bradley) the right-back I used to be actually, actually impressed with, Pep Lijnders mentioned he may do every part.”

Photograph: IMAGO

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Metropolis’s Rising Contributors

Jeremy Doku’s influence continues to develop and Guardiola gave him particular credit score. “And Jeremy dealt with it, aggressive with and with out the ball. He performed an excellent sport.” Performances from rising gamers, paired with a tactical plan constructed on strain and precision, counsel Metropolis are rediscovering a few of their sharpest habits at a vital stage.

For Liverpool, this defeat underlines the size of the duty. Slot’s first season delivered a title however stabilising kind amid rising competitors from Man Metropolis stays a right away problem.