MAN CITY 2 – 2 Liverpool – MY THOUGHTS
4 Feb
A pulsating encounter, four excellent goals and a bizarre post-match mix of emotions. On the basis of City’s laboured performance in contrast to Liverpool’s vibrancy, this was a point gained but in the wider context of the race for the Premier League, there was huge disappointment and frustration. It may not quite be time to give up total hope of catching Manchester United, but the recent displays of both sides would suggest that point will arrive shortly.
For the second time this season, we were largely outplayed by an effervescent Liverpool side full of purpose, pace and intent but we showed enough character to fight back for a share of the spoils. Sergio Aguero’s audacious and quite sublime equaliser means we just about cling on to United’s tails at the top of the table, but we will have to improve markedly if we are to chase them down. With the way United are playing and their vulnerability at the back, they will, hopefully, drop points at some stage but we are by no means looking likely to take advantage.
As for this game, it was a lacklustre City showing. There were fleeting moments of the quality we know courses through the squad but our performance was characterised by a sense of insipidness. Edin Dzeko scored a goal, his terrific movement enabling him to slot home, but his overall display conveyed disinterest. Javi Garcia, after a couple of promising showings, regressed alarmingly and even the normally assured Matija Nastasic looked ruffled.
Whilst it may seem perhaps a touch churlish to criticise – it’s worth remembering that apart from last season, this current campaign is City’s best in Premier League history so far - it is concerning that we have consistently failed to produce anywhere near our enthralling peak. We’re grinding out results rather than blowing sides away and whilst that battling spirit is to be admired, it’s tough to see us winning the title without clicking into top gear.
For spells yesterday, most notably after Roberto Mancini changed to his often-criticised 3-5-2 formation, we looked threatening. It was a brave switch but it lead to us regaining the ascendancy, having a threat out wide and more sustained pressure. The manager’s decision to then replace David Silva as we searched for an equaliser was a bizarre one, and even though we managed to find that goal through a moment of brilliance by Aguero, it’s still hard to fathom that change. Silva may not have been at his best during the game but he possesses such immense quality and even though his touch wasn’t quite there, he was still the most likely to find that defence-splitting pass.
The main controversy centred around Liverpool’s equaliser and City’s protests about the refereeing decision that preceded it. First of all, it was a clear foul on Edin Dzeko that Anthony Taylor inexplicably failed to penalise, but after that, bearing in mind it wasn’t a head injury to the Bosnian, Liverpool were fully entitled to play on. Of course, most sides would have kicked the ball out of play due to sportsmanship, but the visitors, having just gone a goal behind, were never going to do that. It was their prerogative to continue playing, which they did. Once the free-kick was not awarded, Dzeko should have got to his feet and carried on, not continued sitting on the ground sulking. And then Javi Garcia should have cleared the ball instead of dillying and dallying. The referee made in an error in not initially awarding a free-kick but City seemed to switch off after that and were made to pay.
Opposition View: Liverpool were hugely impressive, their collective pressing forcing us in to errors and they had that one key ingredient we often lack: pace. Daniel Sturridge’s movement and intelligence in drifting out to the left to exploit the space vacated by Pablo Zabaleta’s frequent surges forward was excellent and he dragged Matija Nastasic out of position, creating more room for the likes of Luis Suarez in the middle. The visitors were incontestably the better side and deserved at least the point they earned, but they still looked a touch suspect at the back. There are promising signs that they are finally adapting to life under Brendan Rodgers and should they strengthen well in the summer, they could be a side to watch next season.
As for the Blues, there is a week’s break before travelling to Southampton. That is a must-win game if we are to put any pressure on Manchester United in the title race. Mathematically, there is a still a chance to catch them, but playing the way we are, it’s a long shot. We saw last season how there can be twists and turns towards the end of the campaign but we must improve drastically if we are to capitalise on any red blip.
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Disappointed not to have won this as we should have, deja vu from earlier in the season, but cant begrudge City a point especially with that finish from Aguero, but Reina’s time must now be up.
Hopefully City will win the title, it would be a travesty if that lucky overrated long ball garbage in Salford were to be gifted yet another title due to other clubs lack of consistency.
Good luck.
Gutted LFC didn’t win but it will be a hard pill to swollow if whisky nose wins another title and we were the ones to hand it to him. Fair assessment btw. Good luck hope you guys get the title.
Great insightful comment there George.
Silva is a player with incredible creativity to create opportunities out of nowhere but he is definitely not a player to do the dirty fight for balls. He needs to be surrounded by other midfield players namely our DM to do the demolition job and midfield fight to win balls, wear and tear the opponent.
He was substituted because he was being bullied and pushed off the ball left and right with no protection from our DMs.
This brings up our DMs. Garcia and Yaya are a million light years away from being a DM player. you need a player there with pace, and stamina that can pester the opposition continuously and can cover the end to end field in a matter of seconds to keep opposition on their toe much like Ramiries in Chelsea. Garcia’s lack of space made him play too deep close to back 4 not to caught up by surprise with pace of Saurez or Sturridge and that overwhelmed Barry to do the dirty work, even my MOM Milner’s help was of no avail. The fact that there was no Blue shirt by a mile close to Gerrard when he took his shot speaks volume of how deep our DMs were playing.
Despite people’s objection to Yaya, I have already missed him because his occasional runs would give opponents something to think about not to venture forward so blatantly as Liverpool did.
Lack of tempo and pace is like a disease, it dose not matter what sort of opponent we play [QPR, Liverpool, etc], we are finding it harder and harder to help ourselves.
Unless we can build a vibrant, high-stamina, high-tempo, balanced midfield that can sting other midfielders and win the battles and balls, we are going to find it harder and harder to get results.
As a Liverpool fan, I have mixed blessings about yesterday, we outplayed City for long parts of the game but never really looked comfortable at the back. Sturridge looks a cracking buy and looks to be linking up superbly already with Suarez with less selfish play each week which has marred his previous clubs. Future looks promising with a couple of additions in the summer.
As for City, they have unfortunately failed to impress me most times I watch them. That’s not a dig but I worry the money they spend isn’t being spent wisely. One thing we have is that Rodgers has a plan about what he wants whereas the scatter gun buying of City seems misdirectioned. You seemed to be bailed out by moments of genius from Aguero or others but lack the cohesive force to work as a team.
Just my thoughts rather than abuse.
U are so true.Your words are spot on.
No cohesiveness and no teamwork.
Understand if Liverpool fans were disappointed with the result, you were by far the best team.
Sturridge thanks for not celebrating,this champion once was a Citizen, amazing.
U Kops will be back sooner rather than later,
to my fellow Citizens keep fighting, that is what champions d, they sont give up.
CTID
I can not wait to have the red-nosed clown and his red bitches from across the City of Manchester as a mid-table team and fight with Liverpool and Chelsea for tiles in years to come. They have been the luckiest bastards I have even come to know, this season they have had 27 come-back points while being absolutely shit in majority of them
yeah whatever in your dreams.
United’s ability to win even when they’re playing rubbish is what’s made them champions year after year. Liverpool and Man City need to develop that tenacious attitude to compete. After yesterday, as a Liverpool fan, I’m disgruntled and encouraged in equal proportion…Great to see four superb goals from four superb players though.
There are 3 completely fair comments from Liverpool fans on here, and its very refreshing. Considering they themselves are currently not quite where they probably deserve to be both in terms of this season and their history, the magnanimous views they are conveying are good to see. Most pleasing of all, not one mention of money.
Unfortunately the title is close to being over, utd will drop points but we are not playing well enough to take advantage if and when they do. We need that turn of the corner we saw last year after Arsenal to happen from now, or the trophy may as well be taken to old trafford before the end of this month.
City Fans always have been objective and have class. Great article, and the posts are honest. For some reason you never ever get this from UTD fans, why i dont know, they have been the best team for years, however in the main their fans have no dignity or class, and are bitter!! over what, who knows! Liverpool played very well yesterday, we also have another 5 young lads to come through yet, so the future is looking good. I like BR, however you have to give thanks to Raffa, he changed the youth set up. Good luck City, come on you did it last year!
Aguerrrrrooooo!! wow what a ridiculous goal that was. Aguero and Messi will tear up the world cup in 2014–those two together will be unfair
Also, Sturridge was unbelievable. Never knew what all the fuss about him leaving was, but he definitely opened my eyes in this one. He looks like a great fit at Pool
If Kolorov does that semi Cruyff back heel trick AGAIN whilst ambling down the wing I will gnaw my foot off!
He has been doing the move in every single game religiously with no other [alternative] move that I believe no one is gonna fall for it anymore.
A word for two maligned defenders. Nastasic is clearly not match fit, I’ve seen him week in, week out and he’s miles quicker than he was yesterday. Garcia, apart from the woefu misskick that contributed to the goal, didn’t do much wrong. Even then he wasn’t helped by the fact that the rest of the defence had been dragged about by good Liverpool movement.
Silva didn’t have his best game but he still put in a superb shot, saved by Reina and a lovely dink over the top that a better forward than the somewhat pedestrian Dzeko would have collared and hammered into the net.
I’ve been a City fan since 1954 and I still can’t get over how quick some of us are to get on players’ backs. We really should cop on.
Re Sturridge, Mancini is already on the record saying “Can’t believe we let him go”. His potential has always been obvious, but, if he has a bad spell and he gets dropped his head goes down. Rogers beware! Appreciate the fact that he didn’t celebrate when he’d scored but should also point out that the little git was only too happy to try and con a penalty. seems inconsistent somehow.
As for Liverpool’s goal, it was certainly a foul but Dzeko could have contributed more by getting to his feet and back-tracking rather than doing a dying swan act and bollocking the assistant.