This Sunday, the Premier League offered us a clash between two big names who have been playing in very different atmospheres since the start of the season. On the one hand, Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool sought to put themselves back in the race for the podium while dealing with several major offensive absences (Isak, Gakpo, Szoboszlai). On the other hand, Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City was at the top of the Premier League on a sparkling dynamic of five consecutive victories, despite a turbulent international break due to the verdict on 115 financial fair play violations between 2009 and 2018.
Finally, the first period greatly disappointed in terms of play. Hampered by an unusual technical imprecision for such a poster, the 22 players struggled to get the debates going. Between stupid ball losses, missed crosses and crushed shots, clear chances were rare, with Alisson and Gianluigi Donnarumma almost never being called upon. The defenses took precedence over attacks lacking inspiration, like Semenyo in difficulty on the City side. In the end, the two teams returned to the locker room with a logical goalless draw and the spectacle was not there.
Manchester City finally had fun at Liverpool
Returning from the locker room, Manchester City came back with better intentions thanks to profitable tactical choices and winning coaching. After several consecutive alerts and the decisive entry of Jérémy Doku in the 54th minute, the Cityzens took Liverpool by the throat. In the space of three minutes, Doku became the decisive passer for Erling Haaland’s victorious volley (0-1, 65th), just after Ryan Gravenberch penalized his team by collecting a second yellow card (62nd). Reduced to ten, the Reds sank in stride when Doku scored the break goal with a sublime strike into the top corner, sealing the visitors’ perfect shot (0-2, 68th).
Disorganized and exhausted in numerical inferiority, Andoni Iraola’s men no longer found the resources to react and ended up giving in a third time. In the 78th minute, at the end of a collective sequence of masterful fluidity initiated by Doku and enhanced by a backheel from Joško Gvardiol, Rayan Cherki stunned Anfield with a hook followed by a surgical right strike (0-3, 78th). This resounding success allows Manchester City to continue their flawless record with an eighth consecutive victory in all competitions and to establish their domination at the top of the Premier League with 18 points. The Skyblues will now turn their attention to the Champions League and the clash against PSG on Wednesday (9 p.m.). Conversely, Liverpool conceded their first setback of the season and remained stuck in 7th place with nine points, missing the opportunity to get closer to the podium before the European deadlines. As a reminder, City hosts PSG next Wednesday in the Champions League.
