Wednesday’s Champions League clash between Liverpool and Manchester City was pulsating to watch for fans of the beautiful game.
It was the thrilling first half performance that earned the Reds a 3-0 victory and put them one step closer to the Champions League semi-final. But what went wrong with Pep Guardiola tactics?
What impact did his decisions have on the team and why, by the time he changed it, was the damage already effectively done?
City started well on their part, they had very good possession in the first 10 minutes and made attempts to open up the Reds on their turf. Liverpool started with a 4-3-3 and but changed to a 4-5-1 during many periods of the game.
When Vincent Kompany or Nicholas Otamendi had the ball, Liverpool modified into a 4-5-1 to prevent the Citizens from attempting passes through the middle. James Milner and Jordan Henderson set the tempo with their ferocious tackles and passage of play during the first half.
Pep set-up his side in a 4-3-3 and used left back Laporte as a third centre back in place to stop the troublesome front three of Salah, Mane and Firmino.
The Spaniard has been successful this season using players as inverted full backs but he gave Kyle Walker free rein to stay out on the right hand side. This made City play a lopsided back four while Gundogan played on the right wing of Man City’s front three.
Even though Pep likes to reinvent the game with his innovative tactics, this proved to be an architect in City’s downfall in the first half. Walker playing high on the right made Liverpool expose him many times as many of our attacks came from the left.
Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp are well renowned for their high pressing but City were punished because of the opposition’s work-rate.
They didn’t give City a chance to implement their passing game, they counter-pressed errors made and they exploited them with the three goals.
3-0 at half-time, Guardiola knew in his mind he had been tactically undone by Jurgen Klopp’s men.
The second half saw Pep go back to playing his normal 4-3-3. He brought on Sterling and injected fluidity and pace into City’s attack. Gundogan moved to centre midfield but, by the time changes were made, it was too late.
With defender Virgil van Dijk leading the way, Liverpool put in a well-drilled defensive performance and worked to the bone to prevent City from getting that away goal before heading back to the Ethiad for the second leg.
The tie is not over but Pep’s tactical error could prove to the catalyst for Liverpool having a place in the semi-final.
The Champions League semi-final.
