Liverpool’s impressive win against Manchester City showcases their strong start under coach Arne Slot, leaving City struggling in the league and raising hopes for Liverpool’s title ambitions.
In a recent match, Liverpool faced Manchester City, a dominant team in recent years. Liverpool’s mix of chaos and control proved too much for City, who now find themselves far behind in the title race.
Liverpool won the match 2-0, which was a kind result for City, leaving them 11 points behind Liverpool. The Reds are now nine points ahead of Arsenal, who are in second place.
Even though it’s early in December and the season is just starting, Liverpool looks unstoppable. City has struggled recently, with seven games without a win and four consecutive league losses.
Liverpool started the match aggressively, putting City on the back foot. Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who replaced Ederson, was busy from the start. Virgil van Dijk hit the post before Cody Gakpo scored from a perfect pass by Mohamed Salah just 12 minutes into the game.
The first 25 minutes reminded fans of Klopp’s best days, while the rest of the match showed how Slot has added tactical control to the talented squad he inherited. Slot admitted his team was “close” to perfection after the game.
He emphasized the importance of starting strong, saying it energizes the players and the fans. The atmosphere at Anfield was electric, with Liverpool dominating possession and shots in the first half.
Liverpool had 61% possession and took seven shots, while City didn’t manage a single attempt until 39 minutes into the game. Gakpo had as many touches in the City box as the entire City team in the first half.
Throughout the match, Liverpool made City work harder, running more than their opponents. It felt like City was struggling to keep up in what was a tough experience at Anfield.
When Liverpool won their last Premier League title in 2019-20, they had a similar strong start. They had 37 points from 12 wins and a draw, leading the league comfortably.
This season, Liverpool’s nine-point lead is their biggest since that title-winning campaign. Their performance against City was direct and aggressive, leaving City’s defenders confused and unable to respond.
Liverpool’s second goal came when Luis Diaz was fouled by Ortega after being robbed by Darwin Nunez. Salah scored the penalty, sealing the victory.
The match statistics showed Liverpool’s more aggressive approach, with a higher percentage of long passes than usual. This blend of Klopp’s and Slot’s styles has worked well for Liverpool.
Some questioned whether Liverpool’s success was due to the quality of their opponents. However, they proved their strength by defeating both Real Madrid and Manchester City with the same 2-0 scoreline.
In the closing moments, Guardiola faced taunts from Liverpool fans about his job security. He raised six fingers, perhaps indicating his Premier League titles, but also highlighting his struggles at Anfield.
City is now outside the top four in the league, while Slot enjoys a remarkable record of 18 wins in his first 20 games. Defender Joe Gomez praised both Slot and Klopp, noting that Slot is not trying to replace Klopp but is bringing his own style.
Gomez emphasized that while the start has been great, the team still has work to do. Slot’s influence is evident in the squad, and on this triumphant day, Liverpool fans celebrated the best of both coaching styles.
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