Few teams arrive at the Etihad Stadium these days as clear favourites but that’s precisely the dream scenario Liverpool have conjured for themselves in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Reds carry a 3-0 first leg advantage into this fixture. Both sides were involved in local Premier League derbies over the weekend but while Liverpool rested several players and came through unscathed, Manchester City had to call upon some of their stars and still suffered defeat at the hands of their neighbours.
The Citizens now hope to put the humiliation of losing to Manchester United behind them by pulling off an unlikely comeback of their own and here’s how they can go about it.
SIMPLIFY TACTICS
Jurgen Klopp has beaten Guardiola seven times in 13 meetings and it appears to have affected the Spaniard, whose system is so well-constructed that it rarely requires wholesale changes on account of the opposition’s threat.
The fact that Guardiola has given Liverpool special dispensation should be received as a massive compliment for Klopp. His tactics in the first leg were tailored to the challenge the Reds offered and while there’s nothing wrong with that, he did seem to go overboard.
He began with a lopsided formation, controversially leaving Raheem Sterling out of the line-up and playing Ilkay Gundogan as a narrow right-sided midfielder. The thought process was coherent though. The German’s inclusion meant added support in central midfield, hopefully translating to greater dominance in possession while affording Kyle Walker the licence to venture forward into vacant space.
Such asymmetry seemed also designed to direct City’s approach down the left where Leroy Sane’s pace and trickery could cause Trent Alexander-Arnold problems, with Mohamed Salah not likely to fall back as much. Meanwhile, Walker could be available in space on the right for the quick switch.
Liverpool struck on the break though and Guardiola, rather than sticking to his game plan – as complicated as it was – went further down the rabbit hole when he appeared to switch to a diamond system with Sane joining Gabriel Jesus up front.
City weren’t able to cope with the high press though and were hit again, prompting Guardiola to react again, pushing Walker further forward and reverting to a back three. As tactically aware and well-drilled as his players are, in the heat of battle, sometimes less is better.
Kyle Walker (l) with Pep Guardiola (r)
SLOW AND STEADY
Liverpool hold a healthy advantage and don’t need to start the game on the front foot. In fact, focusing on containing City would probably be the wise move. However, Jurgen Klopp doesn’t strike us as an individual who conforms to popular opinion. He’s more than happy to colour outside the lines.
As such, the Reds may fly at City from kick-off and hope to knock the stuffing out of them and their home support.
The Citizens must attempt to dominate possession early on, poking and prodding at the Reds’ defence. They can’t afford to be too ambitious from the onset and get hit in the transition, as they were ruthlessly in the first leg.
City must guard against early setback
DON’T COLLAPSE
For a team that’s been as dominant as they have in the Premier League, City have shown that they can be rattled and they were twice over the span of four days. Liverpool sliced through them in the first leg like a (red) hot knife through butter in the first half at Anfield. The Blues were then caught in the headlights when Paul Pogba initiated Manchester United’s comeback on Saturday.
As a collective, City need to be able to take one on the chin now and then rather than wildly swinging away like a punch-drunk boxer. The players need to have more composure about them and foster the ability to ride out a storm.
Perhaps they need to be afforded the freedom to go long to cope with the high press and relieve some pressure. Liverpool were repeatedly caught out by United who went long and reaped the benefits. Guardiola may have to do it through gritted teeth, but perhaps taking a leaf out of Mourinho’s book is in order?
City were rattled by United on Saturday.
