Liverpool 2 Manchester City 0 (Dec 1 2024)

[tlw content]

 

That was the most complete performance we’ve ever had against City. Granted, it’s also the weakest City team we’ve faced in many a year and they’re in an absolute mess right now, so that can’t be overlooked, but even so, given that magnitude of the game how can you not be absolute buzzing about this?

 

We’re better than City now. They’ve lost Rodri and that’s killed them, but even with Rodri we’re still much better. Previously when we’ve had the upper hand over them it felt like we had to be 100% flat out to be able to do it. This time we did a lot of it in third gear. 

 

To be able to play in two completely different ways and completely control the game in both is something that stands us in really good stead for the rest of this season. This is oversimplifying it, but you could almost say that the first half was Klopp’s Liverpool and the second was Slot’s.

 

The reason that’s oversimplifying it is because the first half is also Slot’s Liverpool of course. He wants to play like that, he just doesn’t want to do it all the time. I don’t necessarily think Jurgen’s side did it all the time either but there was always a danger that when we did let the pace drop we could be vulnerable. 

 

That’s probably why I wasn’t completely at ease in the second half. City had the ball, a lot of the ball, and a significant chunk of the game was played in our half. We’ve seen that movie before and it usually ends with them putting the ball in the back of our net. 

 

I always feel that to beat City we need to be the way we were in the first half. Smother them, use the crowd, get in their faces, run, run, run and runs some more until eventually they just can’t withstand it. That’s how we’ve had success against them and when the game slows down and they are able to breathe, it’s often a struggle for us and we have to be almost perfect to keep them out. 

 

And we have been, there have been games where we’ve withstood what they threw at us but often there’d be lots of close calls, great saves and bits of luck here and there along the way. This wasn’t that though was it? Ok, we needed one great save from Kelleher but it was 2-0 at that point and that chance had nothing to do with City playing through us, it was one lapse moment from the otherwise imperious Van Dijk.

 

So yeah, this was different to what we’ve seen before because we did the high press, in your face run all over you football in the first half and it was incredible. Then in the second we let them have the ball and said “you won’t play through us” and they didn’t. Not once. 

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[Josef Svejk]

"You’ll notice I didn’t include Chelsea there, not because I don’t see them as potential title challengers, but because I’m far from convinced they haven’t cheated to assemble the squad they have."

 

It amazes me that more isn't made of their post-Abramovich takeover. That was effectively a Tory government bailout.

[Pete]

 

[Scooby Dudek]

5 hours ago, Josef Svejk said:

"You’ll notice I didn’t include Chelsea there, not because I don’t see them as potential title challengers, but because I’m far from convinced they haven’t cheated to assemble the squad they have."

 

It amazes me that more isn't made of their post-Abramovich takeover. That was effectively a Tory government bailout.

Part 2 answers part 1.

[dave u]

Couple of things I didn't mention in the report as it was near midnight when I finished and I could barely see the screen at that point.

 

Excellent refereeing performance other than letting too much go on Mo. Happens every week and some of that has to be on the linos as they are much closer than the refs but never give anything.

 

I didn't hear a single peep from the City fans all day. Part of that is the accoustics since the stadium changed as I dont think the sound from the away corners carries very well now, but its also because City fans are shit.

 

Some fans tried to sing about Foden's ma again. Just fucking stop it. Foden has never said or done anything to warrant that and it reflects badly on us as a fanbase. Imagine our reaction if City or United were singing about Trent's ma.

 

Thankfully whenever the chant started up it got drowned out by a different chant started elsewhere in the Kop. Don't know if that was deliberate or a co-incidence, but I'm thankful for it, as we'd rightly be getting panned for that, especially when you see the bizarre reaction to the sacked in the morning chant. 

 

I've watched the game back and stand by Dom as the star man, but Gravenberch ran him extremely close. What a player he is.

[s(k)aturation]

 

Us beating City. used to be...

"100% flat out to be able to do it."

 

That's changed under Slot.

 

Shankly was "emotion"... Paisley was "stoic".

 

I see similarities.

 

Albeit early days.

 

 

 

 

[s(k)aturation]

 

... and I hasten to add Im talking absolute unjustifiable bollocks.

 

Good report, Dave.

[frankie]

Brilliant report. As another great man wrote: “all things must pass”

[Anubis]

When I saw the match report was us I gave it a subtitle - The Ballad of Darwin Nunez - so laughed my head of when I got to the 'hear me out' part. In a good natured way.

 

Good report. There is an online clip of Pep waving at the Main Stand and them weaving back which seems quite good natured on both sides. I'd pay good money to see Bernardo Silva get pummelled though.

 

Not sure they're finished though. I've seen enough horror film endings to know the antagonist is never fully finished.

[dave u]

The Ballad of Darwin Nunez.

 

Title of my sex tape.

[dave u]

42 minutes ago, s(k)aturation said:

 

... and I hasten to add Im talking absolute unjustifiable bollocks.

 

Good report, Dave.

 

I don't think it is bollocks. There's definitely a comparison to be made in terms of the contrasts, albeit its obviously early. 

[Anubis]

Clip I was talking about. Not sure if this was actually Sunday.

 

 

[dave u]

Given that Milner and Fabinho are playing I don't think it was Sunday mate!

[dave u]

He did applaud all four sides of the ground as he left the field though. Might have been sarcastic but it probably wasn't as he's done it before. He's just so weird though its hard to interpret anything he does.

[Anubis]

9 minutes ago, dave u said:

Given that Milner and Fabinho are playing I don't think it was Sunday mate!

 

Ha. Hadn't noticed that. It's quite a funny clip though.

[Anubis]

9 minutes ago, dave u said:

He did applaud all four sides of the ground as he left the field though. Might have been sarcastic but it probably wasn't as he's done it before. He's just so weird though its hard to interpret anything he does.

 

I think that if he came back with another club in the future he'd probably get a decent reception.

[dave u]

Probably, seeing as how for some utterly bizarre reason the fans are utterly unwilling to ever chant about the cheating that stole three titles from us.

 

I'd rather chop my own hands off then clap that cheating bald weirdo.

[Section_31]

Top drawer Dave, comments about Guardiola and the club being spiteful and jealous is spot on. Said before but you don't need to be a psychotherapist to figure out what's going on when Guardiola is stood there with a massive cigar on an open top bus amidst a crowd of 30.

[DaveT]

Brilliant report, both about the match and the stuff about that horrible club.

 

Guardiola did his usual stuff, changing his tactics to confuse and/or counter us and none of it worked. Nunes wide left? Pfft. Haaland seemed to spend much of the first half coming in off the left with Foden more in the middle. Rico Lewis didn't seem to know where he was playing, and Akanji was obviously briefed to add numbers and muscle to their flimsy midfield. 

 

We were fucking sensational and Cody, Virg and Mo could all have had hit-tricks. Watching it back, I'd forgotten how many chances we actually had. The Mo one-on-one, irrespective of Dom's play, he really should have scored. Seeing a view from behind the goal, Ortega left nearly two thirds of the goal unguarded. Still, all's well etc and Mo stuck away his penalty calm as you like despite their rampant gamesmanship (why do referees tolerate this!!?).

 

Manchester's finest actually did a good job, despite missing three blatant fouls on Mo in a few minutes just before half time andKavanagh twice blocking our players. No big deal, though when they're getting most of the calls right. 

 

Biggest concern is the injury situation, with only four fit forwards for 3 positions and 5 defenders for 4 positions. We need better luck on that front than we've had in recent times. Danns is back again for the u21s, I don't see anyone there defensively ready to step up, maybe Nallo at a pinch.

 

Onward and upwards.

[terry symes]

 

7 hours ago, dave u said:

Couple of things I didn't mention in the report as it was near midnight when I finished and I could barely see the screen at that point.

 

Excellent refereeing performance other than letting too much go on Mo. Happens every week and some of that has to be on the linos as they are much closer than the refs but never give anything.

 

I didn't hear a single peep from the City fans all day. Part of that is the accoustics since the stadium changed as I dont think the sound from the away corners carries very well now, but its also because City fans are shit.

 

Some fans tried to sing about Foden's ma again. Just fucking stop it. Foden has never said or done anything to warrant that and it reflects badly on us as a fanbase. Imagine our reaction if City or United were singing about Trent's ma.

 

Thankfully whenever the chant started up it got drowned out by a different chant started elsewhere in the Kop. Don't know if that was deliberate or a co-incidence, but I'm thankful for it, as we'd rightly be getting panned for that, especially when you see the bizarre reaction to the sacked in the morning chant. 

 

I've watched the game back and stand by Dom as the star man, but Gravenberch ran him extremely close. What a player he is.

 

Agreed, thought 'Copa' Kavanagh was decent. 

[stringvest]

Great report Dave.  Didn’t see the game live due to family stuff but caught up yesterday.  Agree with what you said - the whole team played well, no weak link.  Fantastic when you can say that.   Keep it going now please lads. 

[The wanderer]

8 hours ago, dave u said:

He did applaud all four sides of the ground as he left the field though. Might have been sarcastic but it probably wasn't as he's done it before. He's just so weird though its hard to interpret anything he does.

Just watched an interview with him where he said that the Mane, Bobby and Mo team was the toughest opponent any team he’s managed has faced. I defo think he has a lot of respect for us.

[The wanderer]

3 hours ago, DaveT said:

Brilliant report, both about the match and the stuff about that horrible club.

 

Guardiola did his usual stuff, changing his tactics to confuse and/or counter us and none of it worked. Nunes wide left? Pfft. Haaland seemed to spend much of the first half coming in off the left with Foden more in the middle. Rico Lewis didn't seem to know where he was playing, and Akanji was obviously briefed to add numbers and muscle to their flimsy midfield. 

 

We were fucking sensational and Cody, Virg and Mo could all have had hit-tricks. Watching it back, I'd forgotten how many chances we actually had. The Mo one-on-one, irrespective of Dom's play, he really should have scored. Seeing a view from behind the goal, Ortega left nearly two thirds of the goal unguarded. Still, all's well etc and Mo stuck away his penalty calm as you like despite their rampant gamesmanship (why do referees tolerate this!!?).

 

Manchester's finest actually did a good job, despite missing three blatant fouls on Mo in a few minutes just before half time andKavanagh twice blocking our players. No big deal, though when they're getting most of the calls right. 

 

Biggest concern is the injury situation, with only four fit forwards for 3 positions and 5 defenders for 4 positions. We need better luck on that front than we've had in recent times. Danns is back again for the u21s, I don't see anyone there defensively ready to step up, maybe Nallo at a pinch.

 

Onward and upwards.

Nallo is nowhere near ready.

[Anubis]

 

 

[Mudface]

9 hours ago, Anubis said:

 

 

 

Haha, he was in the Inside Anfield video a few times as well. A day he'll never forget.