London England.
With the offensive influence of the Argentine Julian Alvarez, the creativity of Kevin de Bruynethe insistence of Jack Grealish and the choral play of the rest of the Manchester City players, Pep Guardiola’s team thrashed Liverpool 4-1 and sent a message to Arsenal: the Premier League is more alive than ever.
The ‘citizens’ resolved a complicated match in style that ended as if it were a bullfighting session in the Maestranza, with the ‘olés’ of their fans in the last minutes, in which they even dared to chant a “champions, champions ” despite still being five points below the Arsenalwhich will shortly visit the Ettihad Stadium.
The script prior to the duel indicated that City had the complicated mission of overcoming a miura injured by his erratic course that, so far, has been a real roller coaster. The recovery phases of the men led by Jürgen Klopp have always been interrupted by unnecessary setbacks, such as the one who experienced last day against the Bournemouth (defeat 1-0).
That result ended a streak of Liverpool five consecutive games without defeat. It was a step back in the only objective that remains of the course: finish in Champions League positions. Even so, despite their almost weekly ups and downs, the “Reds” showed up at the Ettihad Stadium wanting to claim the respect that one of the so-called ‘Big Six’ teams deserves.
Pep Guardiola had to deal with that bull without his goal man, Erling Haaland, affected by a groin injury that has already prevented him from playing his international matches with Norway this week. He couldn’t count on Phil Fodenwho due to appendicitis for which he had to undergo surgery has seen his upward trajectory of the last month and a half cut short.
Therefore, Julián Álvarez had to cover Haaland’s absence. The task of replacing the voracious Scandinavian striker is a very difficult one. Any striker in the world would suffer hateful comparisons, but the Argentine is used to it and always complies. And, against Liverpool, he did not disappoint.
He scored a goal, the tie (1-1) and assisted Kevin De Bruyne in the second (2-1). no one remembered Haaland.
But before the appearances of the ‘Spider’, the City would suffer a shock despite almost completely dominating the game. With Rodri Hernandez ahead of the defense and with Ilkay Gündogan and Kevin de Bruyne, he formed a perfect triangle that constantly supplied Riyad Mahrez, Julián Álvarez and Jack Grealish, especially combative even in defensive tasks, in which he showed an immense capacity for withdrawal.
With immense possession, City had three approaches before the unforeseen event that caused Mohamed Salah. Gündogan and Rodri tried with two shots that Alisson stopped without problems and Mahrez brushed the goal with a free kick. However, that joy came to naught when Salah, with a perfect counterattack, opened the scoring as the game approached the twentieth minute.
The Egyptian’s blow did not affect City at all, which continued at its pace, like a steamroller to soon find a prize that it won Julian Alvarez after a beautiful collective move that De Bruyne started, Mahrez continued, Gündogan continued and Grealish finished with an assist for the Argentine striker.
With the tie in their pocket, Guardiola’s team prepared to deal the final blows after the break. The ‘citizens’ charged out of the locker room and in just one minute they found their way to victory. And, once again, with a leading role for Julián Álvarez, who left the second for De Bruyne on a platter.
But the influence of the world champion did not end there, because just a while later, he caused the third. Inside the area he made a hole, managed a shot that was providentially touched by Trent Alexander-Arnold and the rebound ended up in the boots of Gündogan, who only had to aim easily to definitively resolve the match.
The 3-1 was already too heavy a slab for Liverpool. Although he tried to get closer on the scoreboard, he was unable. City was launched and easily endured the simultaneous entry of four fresh players from the ‘red’ box (Konstantinos Tsimikas, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Darwin Núñez).
With the new ammunition for the last leg, the Liverpool It continued in nothing and even received the fourth, the work of Grealish, who took a well-deserved award after teaming up with De Bruyne.
The end of the City he scored a goal after grappling in the mud for most of the duel. It was the icing on the cake for a superb match for City, which for the first time this season added four consecutive victories in the Premier and reaches the peak of the season in top form. The ‘citizens’ smile, Arsenal trembles.
— Datasheet:
4.- Manchester City: Ederson; Stones, Akanji, Ruben Dias, Ake; Rodri (Bernardo Silva, min. 83); Gundogan, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Julián Álvarez, Grealish (Palmer, min. 89).
1.- Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson (Tsimikas (min. 70); Havery Elliott, Fabinho, Henderson; Salah (Darwin Núñez, min. 70), Gakpo (Milner, min. 83), Diogo Jota (Firmino, min. 70).
goals: 0-1, min. 17: salah; 1-1 min. 27: Julian Alvarez; 2-1 min. 46: DeBruyne; 3-1 min. 54: Gundogan; 4-1 min. 74: Grealish.
