Liverpool came closer than any other team this season to ending Manchester City’s 100% home record, but left the Etihad with nothing following a close and exciting game.
An excellent Liverpool performance wasn’t enough though, as goals from Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany and Negredo cancelled out Coutinho’s opener.
Below are five thoughts on Liverpool’s performance:
It’s hard to think of a better striker in the world than Luis Suarez
Though he didn’t find the net – or even finish on the winning side – Liverpool’s Luis Suarez was one of the most impressive players at the Etihad, which is one of the toughest places to visit in Europe right now. He was full of brilliant touches, of great passes and constantly drew fouls from the Manchester City defence and midfield. Unlucky not to get at least one penalty, he has also brought the best out of his fellowing attacking players, who have been infected with his ridiculous form. It’s difficult to name a better striker in world football right now.
All of a sudden Raheem Sterling is looking like one of the best wingers in England
At times in the first half, Sterling was linking very impressively with Suarez, pulling and breaking through the Manchester defence time after time. He had a perfectly good goal disallowed (wrongly for offside), and did all the work for Coutinho’s opener. Sterling seems to have the perfect combination of anticipation and speed to make the most of the Uruguayan’s flicks and creative touches. On current form, he looks well at home in this exciting Liverpool side.
Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge may struggle to get back into this Liverpool team
Crazy after Sturridge started the season in such great form – and Gerrard has also been playing well – but right now the Liverpool midfield is playing as well as it has for years, with Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Coutinho all excelling alongside Suarez. Joe Allen has also stepped his game up a considerable level.
For Sturridge to come back into the Liverpool team, either Suarez has to move from his central role, or Sturridge himself will have to play out wide. For Gerrard to come in, Henderson or Allen would have to be dropped.
This is the match that showed why Liverpool can win the year this league
The Reds came closer than anyone else has to breaking Manchester City’s 100% home record. For spells of the game Liverpool outplayed the Citizens, and it took a goalkeeping error, and a awful offside decision, to stop them from getting a result. If they don’t lose too much heart from this loss, Liverpool should view every other fixture this season as winnable.
Skrtel’s set-piece marking is a risky business
For the second week in a row Skrtel was very lucky not to give away a penalty. The Slovakian is going to have to be careful with his man-marking technique, as at some point he is going to give away a penalty and possibly earn a red card.
image: © ekilby
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