‘Hand it over Manchester‘ rang out from the away finish on the Etihad as Liverpool went 11 factors clear on the high of the desk – and if the way of the efficiency was something to go by, Madrid might be handing over one other piece of silverware come Might too.
Regardless of the Reds surrendering 66 p.c of the ball to Pep Guardiola’s crew, they maintained a management within the match that has been missing in current weeks.
Nonetheless, this wasn’t the possession-based domination from earlier within the season that ‘kills the opposition with passes’.
As an alternative, 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 strategy
Go away, preserve a clear sheet and convey them again to Anfield.
That has all the time 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 totally different, nevertheless. There have been no redesigns and no worry within the face of giants. This wasn’t an absence of respect however extra a confidence in their very own talents.
They had been actually proper to stay to their weapons in fact, conquering the continent with an unbelievable document in knockout ties as they reached the ultimate in 4 of Klopp’s first six European campaigns at Liverpool.
Variations had been clearly made for various opposition – it could be naive and disrespectful to the German’s workers to counsel in any other case – however these had been all the time finished with a view to making sure the Reds might play their very own recreation.
Even beneath 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 p.c possession of their 2-0 win at Man Metropolis was their lowest on document (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 p.c of the ball.
Sunday’s triumph wasn’t a smash-and-grab, nevertheless. As an alternative, it was a managed show that restricted Alisson to only one tough cease.
Guardiola’s aspect, although clearly not what they as soon as had been, are capable of maintain possession properly due to 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 might be key
In opposition to Man Metropolis, a set-piece bought 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 that you must have a impartial steadiness in set-pieces or a constructive one,” mentioned Slot on Sunday.
“We scored from a set piece and that offers 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 very important.”
Targets from corners was an space Benitez used to make full use of due to Sami Hyypia’s presence. If Liverpool can grow to be nearly as good from corners as they had been beneath Klopp, too, they’ll achieve one other device 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 educated as soon as, which means he began on the bench, and Diaz performed on the left whereas Diogo Jota wasn’t “absolutely recovered,” because the Portuguese put it to Slot on Saturday.
Darwin Nunez, nevertheless, was an choice, and Slot’s rationalization of why he didn’t play indicated he deliberate to sit down again from the beginning.
“I felt should you play at Metropolis you must defend quite a bit, so Darwin has had an impression each time we would have liked him however his essential power isn’t defending in and round his personal field,” the pinnacle 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 should you solely defend you don’t have any alternative, to have two wingers who’re quick and we are able to play the ball in-behind to all the time provides us a possibility to create.
“Then we’ve got further gamers to win the second ball, I feel it labored out fairly properly – though that they had much more ball possession than us.”
Slot’s versatility is a power
Slot’s adaptability may be one other weapon in Liverpool’s armoury.
We would like the squad to be assured in their very own potential – we don’t want them dictated to. Nonetheless, if the gamers nonetheless really feel the coach is getting the perfect from them, these tactical tweaks may be no unhealthy factor if executed accurately.
After the sport, Jones spoke about how Slot has “all the time bought 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 gained’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 model that labored for him beforehand, regardless of how unsuccessful for his new membership within the brief time period.
Slot’s strategy has been much 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.
