Following their League Cup final defeat to Manchester City a mere three days ago, Jurgen Klopp’s rampant Liverpool side exacted their revenge on a blustery Anfield night in the Premier League.
It was the response sought by many in Red, following a bitterly disappointing penalty defeat to Manchester City at Wembley, as Liverpool completed an emphatic Premier League double over the side many heralded as Premier League favourites.
Klopp’s fiery Liverpool side came out with a point to prove, as they heaped the intensity on a flustered Manchester City side from the outset.
It was evident from the first 25 seconds of the game that the £50 million pound man Raheem Sterling would not enjoy his return to Anfield, after Jon Flanagan’s steely challenge set the tone early on. City would not get anything easily.
Through all the intensity and movement Liverpool were showing, they could not find a way past Joe Hart, until Adam Lallana’s low, long-range striker skidded past the gloveman and buried into the bottom-right-hand corner as Anfield bellowed in joy.
And it got better. James Milner got onto the end of some fantastic build-up play from Lallana and Firmino, and Liverpool’s lead was doubled on the 41st minute, with Milner scoring against his former side.
City pulled out the stops, throwing on Wilfried Bony for the despondent Sterling and Kelechi Iheanacho for Fernandinho as they attempted to haul back the two-goal deficit.
However, Liverpool would secure their most impressive win at Anfield to date, with a third goal courtesy of Roberto Firmino;\ and some more fantastic work from Adam Lallana in the build-up, securing an emphatic 3-0 victory on 57 minutes in front of the Kop.
“Boom”
Jurgen always says it best, doesn’t he? In an inevitably gleeful post-match interview, Klopp summed up the thoughts of many of the Liverpool faithful with one word: “Boom!” It was a day of celebration on the fields of Anfield Road as the German Ulsterman once again showed off what he is capable of on his day. In a season which has many in Red looking eagerly towards a fruitful summertime, the emphatic victory will provide both a measure of redemption for Sunday’s loss, and a real sense of anticipation over what this manager can do when he’s got his way with the squad.
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City fall flat on a day of opportunity
If there was ever a time to be a wistfully regretful Manchester City fan, it would be today. Losses suffered by the league’s two title favourites of North London meant that City could exert pressure on the top three, and even go on a run that could see them snatch the Premier League title for themselves. With the hope of repeating history – City won the Premier League and Capital One Cup with a run of nine wins and two draws in 2013-14 – the result means Pellegrini’s men are left defending their fourth Champions League spot; their ambitions for the title now seemingly null.
A tale of two managers
If Klopp received the cold reality of a cup final loss at Wembley on Sunday, today he was sending his Premier League salutations to the departing Manuel Pellegrini, whose Premier League goals aggregate against the German now stands at 1-7 over two fixtures. Pellegrini will now pass over to Pep Guardiola a Manchester City side in need of refreshing, after three consecutive Premier League defeats. It is the first time City have suffered that unwanted streak since 2008.
CAPTION THIS | What’s #MCFC boss Manuel Pellegrini thinking here? #LIVMCI #BPL pic.twitter.com/5l34eo3J7a
— Outside90 (@Outside90) March 3, 2016
Firmino and Can dominant, while fringe players stake their place
If two players embody the aura of Klopp, it is the Brazilian pressing machine and the domineering German midfielder. Firmino’s touches and prowess on the ball are matched by his ability to run and control space off of it, while Can took on much of the game as the lone midfield steel in the centre of the park.
Both were immense, but the show belonged to the figures of Milner and Lallana, both of whom staked their place in Jurgen Klopp’s future plans. In a week where a shifting of ‘dead weight’ from the Liverpool squad (see C. Benteke) was touted, Lallana’s pressing and Milner’s intensity certainly endeared them to Klopp’s prospects.
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