Liverpool produced a scintillating performance to thrash Manchester City 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening, and Jurgen Klopp’s influence was stamped all over the emphatic victory. “I spoke to one or two of them and they were disappointed”.
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“We were off in the first 45 minutes; then the performance in the second half was a bit more positive – a bit more direct”.
“These things sometimes happen in football, why we played so badly today – that is why I do not want to talk about one player or a tactical system”.
Speaking to USA television network NBC, Klopp said that while he walked into a squad of willing players, they lacked the knowledge of how to win, and something he noticed once again at City.
“There are always areas we can improve”.
“Look at the results we’ve had at City, Chelsea and other top teams away and they’re pretty solid”, he said.
Barely six weeks into Klopp’s reign Liverpool are unrecognisable from the timid crew he took control of; you know momentum when you see it and the only question from the stunning win seemed which moment best expressed a club’s new confidence. “If we can get the home form right we won’t be too far away”.
Milner says although Klopp insists on high-energy physical approach, he wants them to have cool, clinical minds when they have possession. It was a really fake game for us. Pellegrini, who has been on the hot seat at City for much of his time as manager, struggled to explain his side’s poor performance.
“If you’re stuck in the forest, it’s dark and you’re afraid, and someone tells you not to be, then it doesn’t work”.
What did you think of the game? “It’s only OK that you ask this after we lose”, he said. “He’s different to the old manager but the longer we’re together the better we’ll get”.
That defeat came in Liverpool’s last home match.
Pellegrini was left baffled by his side. In a formation that looked sometimes like 4-3-2-1 and sometimes 4-3-3, Liverpool’s attacking midfielders Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana worked hard to pressure City’s full-backs, Bacary Sagna and Aleksandar Kolarov. I don’t understand. I have never seen this team play how they did tonight.
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The Reds playmaker limped off midway through the second half of Saturday’s 4-1 demolition of Manchester City after complaining of discomfort in his hamstring.
