Coutinho’s strike against Manchester City took his tally to five goals and three assists in 12 Premier League matches, the sort of record you would expect from such a good player. We tried to close the spaces where they want to play and we pressed high.
Advertisement
The opener came after seven minutes as Coutinho robbed Bacary Sagna and Mangala turned Firmino’s cross into his own net. But Liverpool went into the Ethiad and dominated for 90 minutes, pulling out an impressive 4-1 victory. “It was a complete disaster, the whole team”.
Indeed, the absence of captain Vincent Kompany left the Citizens disorganised at the back, with Liverpool’s attacking trio of Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana scintillating throughout.
Coutinho, who starred in goalscoring displays against both Chelsea and Crystal Palace previously, stepped up his output further against Pellegrini’s side, pairing his creative zeal with a tenacity and hunger for possession. It was also a Firmino cross that Coutinho put in for Liverpool’s second.
But the Reds did not let it affect their game and Hart saved brilliantly with his feet from Firmino as they started the second half with the same intensity.
Liverpool’s system was so effective that when Manuel Pellegrini made changes at the break, introducing Fabian Delph and Fernandinho in place of Touré and Jesús Navas, he organised his players into a system not dissimilar to Liverpool’s, matching them in the centre of the pitch. We wanted to be in their faces.
“We played with big passion and that’s the most important thing for us”. “We were top class in the first half, it was a brilliant result. Before the game the gaffer laid out a plan for us and it worked out perfectly”, Mignolet said. “It’s not important what you spend, it’s only important who you are, what you want to do – what you want to do together”, Klopp said before this game. At half-time I told the boys they were surprised to be winning 3-0, and we must do better in that situation.
Klopp has already become a huge fan favourite at the club and after his time in Dortmund, came to the club with a highly-sought after reputation – one which made him one of the most wanted managers in world football.
Advertisement
Mamadou Sakho, Jordan Henderson, Sturridge and Benteke can all slot into this side and ensure improvement, with the return of Sturridge in particular set to boost the likes of Coutinho and Firmino.
