‘Hand it over Manchester‘ rang out from the away finish on the Etihad as Liverpool went 11 factors clear on the prime of the desk – and if the way of the efficiency was something to go by, Madrid may very well be handing over one other piece of silverware come Could too.
Regardless of the Reds surrendering 66 % of the ball to Pep Guardiola’s crew, they maintained a management within the match that has been missing in latest weeks.
Nevertheless, this wasn’t the possession-based domination from earlier within the season that ‘kills the opposition with passes’.
As a substitute, it was a management that restricted the opposition to minimal half-chances and fixed futile crosses. Liverpool went out with the target of thwarting Man Metropolis, a mission they pulled off to perfection.
A European method
Go away, hold a clear sheet and convey them again to Anfield.
That has at all times been a mantra for Liverpool groups in Europe and it has served fantastically down the years – 10 journeys to European Cup finals tells us as such.
Jurgen Klopp‘s Liverpool tended to be completely different, nonetheless. There have been no redesigns and no worry within the face of giants. This wasn’t a scarcity of respect however extra a confidence in their very own talents.
They had been definitely proper to stay to their weapons after all, conquering the continent with an unbelievable file in knockout ties as they reached the ultimate in 4 of Klopp’s first six European campaigns at Liverpool.
Diversifications had been clearly made for various opposition – it will be naive and disrespectful to the German’s workers to recommend in any other case – however these had been at all times finished with a view to making sure the Reds might play their very own recreation.
Even below Arne Slot, that had tended to be the way in which till this weekend.
What we noticed on the Etihad, although, was one other aspect to Slot’s teaching – a aspect nearer to Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool than that of Klopp.
Liverpool’s 34 % possession of their 2-0 win at Man Metropolis was their lowest on file (since 2003/04) for an away Premier League win.
Maybe it was no coincidence that our final win on the Etihad, within the 2017/18 Champions League, noticed them maintain simply 36 % of the ball.
Sunday’s triumph wasn’t a smash-and-grab, nonetheless. As a substitute, it was a managed show that restricted Alisson to only one troublesome cease.
Guardiola’s aspect, although clearly not what they as soon as had been, are capable of maintain possession effectively because of their gamers’ technical high quality.
Slot determined to keep away from enjoying Man Metropolis at their very own recreation, and it paid off.
With equally glorious people scattered throughout PSG’s squad, the Etihad efficiency might act as a blueprint for the Reds’ journey to the Parc des Princes within the final 16 of the Champions League.
Set-pieces may very well be key
Towards Man Metropolis, a set-piece acquired Liverpool off the bottom, one thing we haven’t been capable of say sufficient this season.
“If you wish to win a giant recreation then you want to have a impartial stability in set-pieces or a optimistic one,” stated Slot on Sunday.
“We scored from a set piece and that provides you such a lift for this recreation as a result of, at that second of time, it wasn’t that we had been dominating the sport.
“It wasn’t anticipated that we might rating at any second, so yeah, set-pieces are important.”
Objectives from corners was an space Benitez used to make full use of because of Sami Hyypia’s presence. If Liverpool can turn out to be pretty much as good from corners as they had been below Klopp, too, they are going to acquire one other instrument helpful for crafting wins when not at their greatest.
No recognised striker
The principle speaking level when crew information arrived on Sunday was Liverpool’s lack of a striker, leaving Curtis Jones to determine because the Reds’ most superior participant within the press.
There have been mitigating elements that led to solely two recognised forwards, Mo Salah and Luis Diaz, beginning.
Cody Gakpo had solely skilled as soon as, which means he began on the bench, and Diaz performed on the left whereas Diogo Jota wasn’t “totally recovered,” because the Portuguese put it to Slot on Saturday.
Darwin Nunez, nonetheless, was an choice, and Slot’s clarification of why he didn’t play indicated he deliberate to take a seat again from the beginning.
“I felt if you happen to play at Metropolis you need to defend quite a bit, so Darwin has had an impression at any time when we wanted him however his fundamental power isn’t defending in and round his personal field,” the top coach started.
“So, some further legs with a midfielder was then the choice we made.
“We wished to play with two wingers as a result of if you happen to solely defend you don’t have any selection, to have two wingers who’re quick and we are able to play the ball in-behind to at all times offers us a chance to create.
“Then now we have further gamers to win the second ball, I believe it labored out fairly effectively – though that they had much more ball possession than us.”
Slot’s versatility is a power
Slot’s adaptability could be one other weapon in Liverpool’s armoury.
We wish the squad to be assured in their very own potential – we don’t want them dictated to. Nevertheless, if the gamers nonetheless really feel the coach is getting the perfect from them, these tactical tweaks could be no dangerous factor if executed appropriately.
After the sport, Jones spoke about how Slot has “at all times acquired a plan for the way they (the opposition) will come and press, how we’ll go and transfer and the way don’t we go and transfer the remainder of the lads round.”
He isn’t the primary and received’t be the final to touch upon the Dutchman’s versatility.
A lot was made when Ruben Amorim arrived at Man United concerning the system he wished to play. He has caught to the fashion that labored for him beforehand, regardless of how unsuccessful for his new membership within the quick time period.
Slot’s method has been way more malleable. He was employed to get the perfect out of the gamers at his disposal and, to Liverpool’s benefit, he isn’t letting pre-conceived theories get in the way in which.
