Liverpool ended Manchester City’s 23-match winning streak on Saturday and became the first side since Everton to take a point in a treble at the Etihad.
The performance itself was a mixed bag, but getting a point from Pep Guardiola’s side is no easy feat and fans will likely be pleased with the result. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s second-half performance was particularly promising, with the vice-captain key to restoring parity after City’s opener.
It starts at 12:30At first glance, Jurgen Klopp’s disdain for the midday kick-off proved justified. Because the match against the champion was not the successful match that was promoted. Looking at Liverpool’s performance, the Reds started the game slowly and their high pressing was ineffective against City’s excellent ball-developers.
In fact, Liverpool have had three successful top-flight exchanges in all competitions (Markstats), while City have had 10. This left the likes of Alexis McAllister exposed, with the Argentine forced to cover wide spaces, something the midfielder had previously struggled with.
Klopp insisted he could play as a defensive midfielder when World Cup winners Liverpool were compact, but that was not the case against City. Given Liverpool’s approach to the ball, their attacking threat was surprisingly limited.
The Reds averaged just 0.36 xG and had just 38% possession. (bank points). By comparison, when Liverpool beat City 1-0 at Anfield last year, they had 46% of possession despite a defensive game.
With Liverpool’s new midfield made up of excellent ball players and strong athletes, it was disappointing to see the back three struggle against City’s attacking pressure.
Curtis Jones in particular was disjointed in possession and the Scousers were uncharacteristically poor in their own half and indecisive in the middle and final three. The midfielder completed 22 passes in the first 45 minutes, completing 86% of his passes (Divan Report). That wouldn’t be a bad result for most players, but it was the lowest of Liverpool’s midfielders.
Given Jones’ role in midfield is to maintain possession and keep Liverpool in check, it’s fair to say his performance was not up to the standard he previously set against Aston Villa and West Ham. However, this is perhaps understandable given that the midfielder has not been active in the Premier League for a long time.
Another reason why Liverpool did not play effectively was the reversed role of Alexander-Arnold.During the season, the vice-captain often moved into midfield when Liverpool had the ball, but his degree of inversion varied.
For example, in Liverpool’s recent games (especially against Brentford and Nottingham Forest), Alexander-Arnold refused to play centrally under heavy pressure, preferring to go wide in the first phase of preparation. The defenders are free to move into the final third or centrally when there is less direct pressure, but at least they provide some width.
For the games against Bournemouth, Brighton and Saturday’s game against Manchester City, Alexander-Arnold was promoted alongside Mac Allister in the first training session. This tactic was not always successful.
The 25-year-old has struggled with set-up duties from deep midfield at times, and the increased pressure he faces as a central player has reduced his ability to create from deep.
The vice-captain faced similar problems on Saturday, with his best creative moment of the first half coming after he charged wide after recovering the ball in the right-back area.
Alexander-Arnold’s wider role
Liverpool showed a sluggish performance in the first half but improved slightly in the second half. Key to this improved performance was Alexander-Arnold’s position.The vice-captain is likely to look closer to the touchline and half-space rather than moving into the central area at the start of training.
In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, the Scouser commented: “I’m sure [Bernardo Silva marking him] was the plan.
“Silva’s diligent defending caused major problems in midfield, but the defender found a solution in the second half: “It was about catching the ball in a different way… trying to leave a bit more to go forward.” . .”Alexander-Arnold’s wider position in the pack gave him more space and allowed him to participate more in Liverpool’s attack.
For example, according to Opta, Liverpool’s number 66 attempted twice as many shots for Manchester City in the second 45 minutes (13) as Manchester City’s first 45 minutes (6).
As he showed against City, Alexander-Arnold is at his most creative and influential when he finds space wherever he can. While some have pointed out that the Scouser’s goals have come from central areas, his best performances this season have come in games where his opposition role is not as tight.
After the game, Klopp told Sky Sports: “It helps if [Trent] can be on the right sometimes. There is a hiding place and [he] can have a big impact on the game from there. “If Liverpool can further enhance his vice-captain’s role both centrally and out wide to get the most out of him, the Reds could benefit greatly. It’s fair to say Liverpool weren’t at their best on Saturday.
Manchester City had the upper hand for a long time and had a few good chances. But getting a point against City is a good result and denying the champions maximum points at home could be a crucial step this season if United are to challenge for the title.
