Pep Guardiola has spoken about Liverpool’s ‘unbelievable’ ability to transition play, as they proved during their 2-2 draw against Manchester City on Sunday at the Etihad.
The Man City boss referenced Liverpool’s second goal, which involved Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, and how they have scored such a goal ‘a thousand million’ times during these past five or six years under Jurgen Klopp.
Even though there was so much on the line yesterday, both teams didn’t take a step back in playing a high line, leaving a lot of space in-behind their defence and getting at the throat of their opponents.
Those in blue did get the better of it in the first half, including scoring two goals, but Liverpool turned it up after the break, with that fast transition resulting in Alexander-Arnold feeding Salah in the pockets, who played a brilliant well-weighted through ball to Mane, whose darting run wasn’t matched and he slotted home.
Nonetheless, this is what Guardiola had to say about Liverpool playing a high line and the second goal they scored yesterday, as he told Premier League Productions (10/04/22 at 6:50 pm).
“If you see Liverpool, they are so tight and so high,” said Guardiola. “The spaces are in the sides and in-behind.
“In the middle, it’s almost impossible except in some parts. We tried to make more switch of plays and more runners because they are high.
“They are exceptional in that movement to regain the ball quickly, then the threat in the transition it’s unbelievable, just look at the second goal.
“Alexander-Arnold put the ball inside, more control inside, Salah in that moment and then Mane attack. How many times have they done this? A thousand million in these five or six years. But they still do it because they are really good.”
Whilst yesterday’s game didn’t produce a winner, their FA Cup showdown this Saturday at Wembley certainly will.
Both teams have Champions League second-leg knockout matches sandwiched in between.
But, it going to be interesting who plays in the FA Cup semi-final because, whilst that result won’t have a direct impact on the Premier League title race, the winner of that game could take that momentum back into their league matches.
Either way, it seems as though the duo will be heading towards another final-day shootout to win the Premier League title.
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