The chasm between two sides evident in Man City’s 4-1 victory over Liverpool.

Manchester City vs. Liverpool: A Chasm Widens Between Two Powerhouses

Manchester City’s staggering success under Pep Guardiola has been shadowed by their fierce rivals, Liverpool, for years. Jurgen Klopp’s side has always been the team to watch in the rear-view mirror, pushing City in Premier League title races and inflicting painful defeats in the Champions League and FA Cup. However, in a thoroughly chastening 90 minutes at Etihad Stadium, Guardiola’s men defeated Liverpool 4-1, showcasing a vast superiority that has become a chasm between the two pre-eminent powers of recent years.

Although Liverpool had scented a chance when City’s team-sheet did not feature striker Erling Haaland and with Phil Foden out after appendix surgery, it was downhill for Liverpool from the moment City produced a magnificent team display to run out easy winners. Guardiola himself describes Liverpool as “the biggest rival I have had in my career. The team where we have always struggled to find a way.” Still, City did not encounter any such struggle this time, with Guardiola’s tactical switch pushing John Stones into a slightly more advanced midfield role, working like a charm.

At the heart of City’s dominance, Jack Grealish made a selfless contribution that may have changed the face of the game. His whole performance was summed up by scoring City’s fourth after setting up Alvarez’s equalizer. While Liverpool made a case that Rodri could have been shown a second yellow card in the first half, their midfield looked overpowered and out-run well before the final whistle. Klopp’s team now seems to be in decline, displaying classic symptoms of a once-great team on a downward curve.

Liverpool’s main priority now is securing that top-four finish, given their awful form of late. Klopp’s team has to recover quickly to achieve it, namely by Tuesday at Stamford Bridge. However, at season’s end, the team that has thrilled fans over the last few years will need re-assembly as City’s vast superiority will have hurt them desperately, indicating a vast task to get back in sight in that mirror again.



Original Post Link