Liverpool Match Report

Manchester City's title chase took a big blow on Sunday as they suffered only their second away defeat of the season away at Anfield. Manual Pellegrini's men were outclassed 2-1 in an enthralling match which saw 3 goals worthy of winning any match. Both teams had full strength squads despite both their mid week European escapades with Liverpool notably the more underprepared team after their 120 minute tie at Besiktas on Thursday.

As anticipated both teams started fast with City having the upper hand on most of the early exchanges. Liverpools high tempo pressing game was match by City's slick football and passing within the first 15 minutes of a frantic tie. Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren was the weak link in the team during the opening passages of play but himself and his two defensive partners both got better and better as the game progressed. Despite a mammoth tie on Thursday night it was Liverpool who looked the more lively and fresh team largely due to their squad of young players. It was from this energy Liverpool grew into the game and started to become a threat to the blues. Usual reliant defenders Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta both looked a shadow of their formers selves with both being caught several times in the first half. It was again a Kompany/Mangala mix up that allowed Liverpools first chance when Phillipe Coutinho picked out a pin point through ball into space for new signing Adam Lallana. Lallana was clear but good covering from Mangala applied enough pressure to force the Liverpool man into a weak shot. 

Minutes later and Liverpool again caused City problems as Zabaleta again was slow and beleaguered in shutting down Coutinho's cross, allowing a cross for Lallana to control and finish emphatically from a tight angle only for the former Southampton man to be adjudged offside. Warning signs for City were flashing bright as Liverpools 5 man midfield's pressing of City was too much to handle for the Blues as Liverpool took control. A catalogue of errors led to the Liverpool goal with Pablo Zabaleta being caught too high up the pitch as Fernandinho pass back to Kompany was underhit and the big Belgian was then caught out with a poor clearance and Liverpool broke. The ball was picked up and played out left to Henderson who had space and time, with Zabaleta in no rush to track back, the Liverpool captain took a touch out of his feet and unleashed a ferocious strike high into the right corner of Joe Hart's goal who had no chance.

With Liverpool a goal up, City had to regain control of the game with solid possession and when City began to regain control of the game their work was rewarded. Continued possession led to a fine ball into David Silva who knocked the ball onto Aguero. The little Argentine then picked up the ball and darted inside running along the edge of the Liverpool box and played a beautiful reverse pass in behind the defence for Edin Dzeko to cooly finish first time low into the corner. 

City felt rejuvenated but again after the goal gave possession and control back to Liverpool who got a foot back into the game not long before the half time whistle was up. A extremely poor first half for City was recovered with a simply sublime goal. Kompany and Zabaleta had both had one of their worst halves of football in a blue shirt. Both men looked tired, worn and already beaten. It is becoming a common occurrence that Kompany has again made a costly mistake and performed at 20% of what he is capable of. A god in the eyes of Pellegrini's but his mortality has been exposed massively over the past season. Calls from many City fans on social media to drop him and give Demichelis/Mangala an opportunity together. A brave call and one a tough manager must make and one I believe to be essential if we want to rediscover his old form. Will Pellegrini ever drop him? Does he have the bottle to actually go through with it? Or is the man just too nice to hurt someone's feelings? 

Both teams emerged from the second half with a point to prove. City's defence looked a lot sharper and more compact with Liverpool not given as much time and space as they had in the first half. City again controlled early exchanges with Aguero heading over the Liverpool bar just 25seconds into the second half. Both teams tried to break down the other but again Liverpool took control, there was no sign of any tiredness from Thursday night, but it was City who looked tired and out of ideas. Liverpool began to take full control of the game, breaking down City's midfield with ease as balls from the defence were carving open the two city centre midfielders. It became a reoccurrence every time Liverpool had possession as I myself lost count of the amount of times Coutinho or Sterling picked up the ball between the midfield and back four of City and was allowed to drive at the defence. Liverpools hard work and possession was rewarded with 15 minutes to go when in form midfielder Coutinho picked up the ball in an identical position to Hendersons earlier and curled a beautiful shot into the far corner of the goal. Another sublime, sensational finish from the little Brazillian had all but surely won the game for Liverpool. 

City barely caused a single problem for Liverpool in the second half with all subs being thrown on to try and change the game but to no avail as Liverpool held on and could have won by more when another City mistake from Yaya Toure left Daniel Sturridge through on goal but dragged the shot wide. Liverpool held out and recorded another big win in their challenge for top 4 whilst City's title charge had reached an almost certain end. 

A superb performance from the whole Liverpool set up from the start saw the Reds reach 5th and City fall just 4 points ahead of Arsenal making worrying reading for City fans. Credit has to go to Coutinho, the little Brazillian has run the Liverpool team in recent weeks. Being so young it is such an exciting prospect that he can only get better with experience and game time and has the potential to be up there with some of the best players in the world. I have always been a City optimist but after such a poor season it is hard for me to feel like the title is still an option. Falling further behind Chelsea and getting ever closer to the chasing pack. I feel it is time for City fans to wake up and concentrate on those who are slowly catching us rather than focussing on Chelsea any longer. 

Liverpool made a massive leap in their challenge for Top 4 whilst City were exposed again this season and have struggled to hit any consistency this year. With the Premier League chase all but finished and Champions League hopes hanging by a thread it is looking likely City will not gain any silverware this year and many are calling for Manuel Pellegrini to be out of a job. There is little optimism surrounding City right now and the end of the season and a chance to rebuild and regroup is looking like a preferred option for City fans right now instead of being embarrassed anymore this season. 

Report by David Hartley. 

Let me know what you think about the game, about City's season and if there is any reason to be optimistic right now? Tweet me on @davidhartley95. 

Liverpool vs Man City - Match Preview

After Tuesday nights embarrassing display at the hands of Barcelona, City are looking to bounce back from their lesson in football quickly with a vital result away at the hands of Top 4 chasers Liverpool.  With Anfield a tricky place to go too and City without a win their in the last 4 meetings there, City fans can begin to plan for a potential set back to their title chase with leaders Chelsea. Liverpool are again the in-form team going into Sunday's game having gone unbeaten in the Premier League since their 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford on the 14th December, City fans can be wary about the threat that Liverpool pose regardless of where they currently sit in the Premier league table.

With City currently dipping in and out of form in all competitions at the moment this could be a perfect time for Liverpool to continue that unbeaten run and get one over their enemies of last seasons title race. Liverpool famously losing to Chelsea and drawing to Crystal Palace saw their chances of a Premier League title slowly 'slipping' away whilst City's experience in coming from behind at the end of the season once again proved vital in securing their 2nd League Title in 3 seasons. 

City fans can take some hope from the fact that they have had two days more preparation over the Reds with City's Champions League game being played on Tuesday with Liverpool playing Besiktas on Thursday night. City also have the returning Yaya Toure back playing after serving the last game of his Champions League ban on Tuesday night meaning the City powerhouse will be refreshed and prepared for Sundays clash.

After last years enthralling game at Anfield in which Liverpool ran out 3-2 winners, City will be looking to provide sweet revenge by winning at Anfield for the first time in 3 seasons as well as shortening their gap with Chelsea to just two points with the Blues not playing this weekend due to their Capital One Cup Final tie against Tottenham. A City win could kick start a decent run of form for the blues who need to apply pressure on Chelsea if they stand any chance of catching them at the top of the table. After a fine display away at Stoke and at home to Newcastle, City fans were treated to glimpses of the City of the title winning seasons before being taken down a peg or two by Barcelona on Tuesday, this is a perfect opportunity to win a big game and boost the confidence and rediscover City's winning form ahead of a close title run in. 

Both teams go into Sunday with full strength squads, barring any Liverpool injuries on Thursday night, and both desperate for a win to keep up the pace with the teams around them meaning we may be in for another spectacle similar to that of last years meeting. City can go into the game with a statement and point to prove to Chelsea that they will not let up in their pursuit for the title whilst Liverpool need a win to provide massive impetus and intent on the back of a crucial win away at Southampton in order to cement their position as a huge contender for the last two Champions League places.

With a win being crucial to both teams the game at Anfield is shaping up to be a vital game in the seasons of both clubs and we hope that the game lives up to its billing.

Liverpool predicted Line up: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Markovic, Henderson, Gerrard, Coutinho, Ibe, Sterling, Sturridge. 

City predicted line up: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala, Clichy, Fernandinho, Toure, Silva, Nasri, Dzeko, Aguero. 

Predicted Score: Liverpool 1 - 2 City 

CSK-EY??

CSKA Moscow at Home? Easy 3 points? Nothings ever easy the City way!

As I come back from another Champions League home game I am yet again sat feeling let down, disappointed, annoyed, frustrated and even more puzzled and bemused as to what it is City are doing so catastrophically wrong that we cannot perform in Europe?

Again, it was the typical adage of 'typical city' by making things hard for us in the first place. Conceding at home to CSKA Moscow within the first five minutes is a shambles (admittedly I missed it because the Club somehow managed to mess up my tickets so badly which didn't contribute to the enjoyment of the evening).

In typical Toure fashion he managed to rescue City again from a terrible start to the game but after that goal we sat off, there was no desire from the players to get on the ball, to put in a challenge, to press the ball. Like the Derby on Sunday we allowed them time and space on the ball and just invited pressure on ourselves once again which is not what we should be doing. Jovetic worked hard in the first half but had to keep dropping so far deep he was becoming a CDM to collect the ball and with little movement from Aguero (who I have to say tonight and against United didn't work hard enough and didn't perform!) and the rest of the forward players we created little chances and looked unlikely to score at all!

City again tonight look tired, besides James Milner who I believe was City's Man of the Match. Again he was undoubtedly the best player on the pitch, the most hardworking player I have ever seen, he battles, chases, runs, creates chances, tracks back. He does it all, the most industrial player to wear the City shirt since he arrived at the Club. Incredible talent, extraordinary work rate and attitude and I think it is time for the footballing world, from players, fans and pundits to give the man the credit he deserves for what he does for the team. Not a big name to the fans of the world, just a little lad from Leeds, but to City fans he is one of the most important players we have.

All the City players just looked drained and laboured on the ball, there was no energy, no linking up of the play, no movement by any of the forward players. Everything was very slow, the ball wasn't moved around with any pace which allowed Moscow's banks of 4/5 to sit back, re-group and soak up the pressure when we should be using the ball whilst they are out of shape and shifting it at pace to break them down before they have a chance to get themselves set by City never looked like doing that. They allowed Moscow the time to re-organise themselves before City got anywhere near their box and if they ever got that far the lack of creativity and movement heavily highlighted the significant loss of not having David Silva in the team. In my opinion, the best player to ever put on a City shirt could make chances out of nothing and find the most tightest of angles and spaces which is something we massively lacked in the final third tonight.

City again didn't help themselves, Fernandinho getting sent off was a shambles with the second booking looking like the player ran into him and fell over rather than a foul being committed led to City chasing down their goal disadvantage with 1 less player. Only then for Toure to push an opposing player, in almost frustration, which inevitably led to a straight red for the Ivorian then leaving City with an even bigger task of 9 v 11 whilst also seeing Kompany limp and hobble for the last 10 minutes which should sound alarm bells in every city fans head if our leader is injured. Playing the last 10/15 minutes with two players down, an injured Captain/Defender and James Milner, Clichy and Zaba all dead on their feet, City's nights work was almost already over and it looked unlikely anything was to ever come of it.

Whilst we are around the issue of Refereeing, one thing that angers me is how we jump straight on to a Referee and put the blame for the defeat on the referee. Yes there was plenty of questionable decisions made tonight, Fernandinho's second yellow? Was there a penalty shout for City towards the end? But one thing that gets me is that before Toure's red, a CSKA player was sat on a yellow and committed a fairly hefty challenge which was then given as a second bookable offence and the player had to go although the referees 'confusion' led to a different player receive the booking and the culpable offender let off the hook. I have always been against this 'Anti-UEFA' stance as I think City feel the whole world is against them and UEFA only punish us. I still believe that that view is a bit far fetched and they are not just out to get us but I do feel there is something that is not right over at UEFA and FIFA. With mistakes like that being made regularly and very very questionable refereeing decisions being made across all games, I start to doubt and wonder how intricate, complex and deep buried the secrets and potential 'corruption' of UEFA and FIFA is, it is becoming alarming and quite scary how the governing body of a sport has a power over the game but is then abusing this power to corrupt matches and try influence the game to their preferences.

So what is the problem for City in Europe? I begin to wonder whether the mentality and belief of the players psychologically just isn't right, players go into games looking dejected and without hope? Or is it the tactics? Pellegrini has used this 4-4-2 system all season and it doesn't seem to be working. With teams knowing to set up two banks of 4 and counter City, we struggle to break down teams that do this and we never have a Plan B? If we cant play our intricate passing and walk it in then we have no other option of how to break down teams. I still struggle to believe that Pellegrini has yet to realise that he cannot play Yaya alongside another CM in a flat two, Yaya isn't a holding player, he doesn't play well there. I believe we should have Fernando sitting by himself in a 4-1-2-1-2 system or a 4-2-3-1 with Fernando sitting with Fernandinho or Milner and let Yaya play in that Number 10 role just off the striker in the hole because this is where he wants to be. He's an attacking player, he loves to get forward, to make chances, to score goals and this is something we are not utilising this year.

I want opinions of fellow blues out there to get in touch and let me know what you think? Does Pellegrini know how to compete in Europe? Does he need to go or should he stay? What is the cause of our European demise?

Thank you guys for reading and please share this article onto your Social Media sites and get discussion going amongst Blues going.
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