Fixtures between Manchester CityAnd LiverpoolThese were the most important games of the Premier League over the last half-decade, although they’ve usually felt very different to yesterday’s clash at Anfield.
First because there were always battles between first- and second teams, but this time Liverpool was in the middle.
Second, because systems battles were often very different.
The classic versions of Pep Guardiola’s City and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool were both 4-3-3.
Guardiola liked to tweak, and Klopp used sometimes a fourth attacker. However, the goal scoring threat from wide forwards was the most prevalent theme. Guardiola used two direct attackers most memorably. Raheem SterlingLeroy Sane. Klopp would use Mohamed SalahSadio Mane
However, Sunday’s situation was quite different. The three players mentioned above are no more at these clubs. Last-man-standing Salah was used more as a centre-forward.
Here’s a snapshot of the systems.
Guardiola used a back trio with a box in the middle, and then Joao CanceloAnd Phil FodenIn the broad positions
