What. A. Game.
This fixture has rarely failed to enthral football fans around the globe in recent years and for the spectating neutrals, this was entertainment worth its weight in gold.
After an uncomfortable start which saw City dominate possession and threaten the Liverpool goal, it was Klopp’s men who stormed into the lead before doubling the score within 13 minutes.
City attempted a seemingly half-hearted fightback in the second half but were found severely wanting in their finishing and defending as Liverpool ran out comfortable 3-1 winners in the end.
All in all, Pep’s team have a massive task attempting to cut this now nine-point lead against the table toppers. Here are some of the talking points from the biggest PL clash of the season:
1. The title is Liverpool’s to lose
No doubt that the good people of Liverpool will be rejoicing to the tune of “it’s coming home!” but in truth, despite the hefty lead, it’s still to early to call it and declare them champions. Having said that, it would take a cock-up of hilarious proportions for Klopp’s men to concede their now strong grip on the title.
2. Has VAR actually made anything better in the EPL?
We saw it at the 2018 World Cup and it was good. We saw it implemented in other leagues around Europe and it was sort of good. This year, we’ve seen it arrive in the PL and it has been shambolic for the most part.
Pep Guardiola and his team will rightly be furious over the penalty calls over Alexander-Arnold’s handball incidents. In the first handball incident, TAA’s arm was moving up and away from his body as it struck the ball and as per the letter of the law – that was a penalty.
Additionally, camera replays cast doubts as to whether Salah was offside in the buildup to Liverpool’s second goal. This system was set in place to negate on-field controversies as much as possible and so far that hasn’t been the case. The saga rumbles on.
3. City deserved to lose despite the questionable VAR decisions
How does Klopp keep doing it? How does his side consistently engineer statistically numbing results at Anfield time and again? We don’t know the answer and apparently neither does Pep Guardiola.
The Catalan made a poor choice in failing to rotate his squad in midweek and paid the price as Ederson was lost to injury. Even though his side conjured up meaningful possession and chances throughout the game, they just couldn’t force themselves back into the tie.
Even after they did score, they never looked capable of clinching the result. Having lost two of the best defenders in Kompany and Laporte in recent months, it was no surprise that they struggled at the back. John Stones, Claudio Bravo and Fernandinho were all culpable in their defending and probably two of Liverpool’s three goals were avoidable.
They now sit nine points behind the Reds and a third consecutive PL title appears pretty far-fetched.
