Liverpool impressed at Anfield as they ran out 3-0 winners over Manchester City.
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City beat Liverpool in the League Cup final on Sunday but there was to be no repeat for Manuel Pellegrini’s side as Liverpool’s superior commitment and possession paid off on a bitterly cold night on Merseyside.
The Chilean said: “From the beginning we were not fresh”. It was intense with travel to Ukraine and the final.
“We have to climb now and get points as we have so many important games in the next few weeks and only two tournaments left, but they’re the most important tournaments”.
They did just that with a performance more in keeping with the high-tempo, high-pressing display they produced in their 4-1 victory at Etihad Stadium in November.
“With Mama I don’t know exactly; we had to make a decision in the moment at the sideline and I think it was the right decision”.
Goals late in the first half from Adam Lallana and James Milner illuminated an opening period that had otherwise felt very much like a hangover from the weekend’s encounter for both teams.
Sergio Aguero was a willing runner in attack and David Silva tried to get involved, but Jesus Navas was anonymous and Fernando and Fernandinho were bypassed time and again by a more energetic home midfield. “People say we can not always play like this”. I hope on Saturday we can return to our normal level of performance.
“It is an important gap, but we are not thinking about other teams”.
Lallana was the instigator of the third goal, running unchecked to the edge of the area before slipping a short pass to Firmino, who curled a finish into the corner.
Steve McManaman has claimed that Liverpool have barely improved at all under manager Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson admits there is a collective and personal responsibility for him to lift his team-mates after the disappointment of defeat at Wembley.
Meanwhile, Manuel Pellegrini will select Raheem Sterling against Liverpool at Anfield despite the hostile reception awaiting the forward, with Manchester City’s manager clear the very best players must be able to handle pressure.
“If someone wants to be champion they should be champion without our help, our points”, he added.
“I am too old to think that from now on we will play like this all the time but for us it was a really good sign”.
“The preparation of the pressing situations was brilliant, so was the counter-pressing, and then you have to score goals and that’s what we did tonight”.
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Centre-back Mamadou Sakho will continue to be assessed after he was forced off in the first half with a head injury, while Klopp will be cautious with injury-prone striker Daniel Sturridge after he struggled with cramp having played 120 minutes.
