Manchester City - Liverpool, goals, summary and result: Pep's dance for the least desired title premiere

07/02/2020 - 13:00

• Clarín.com
• sports

That Liverpool have managed to get more than 60 points from Norwich or Bournemouth, the bottom of the Premier League, is impressive but could have been imagined. What no one would have believed is that between the two best teams in the most attractive tournament in the world there would be more than 20 points of difference. And soccer made the numbers ridiculous again.

From that thorn that nailed Manchester City to Liverpool in the last season and that crowned the whole of Pep Guardiola until these times, it was a stairway to heaven for those of Jurgen Klopp, local monarchs after 30 years of drought and again champions of the Champions.

One of the jacks that were presented to the Reds until the end of the tournament was to cross the aisle that the City players armed him in the previous match at the Etihad Stadium. It was a strawberry to the coronation with greater anticipation in the First Division of England. Liverpool achieved it seven dates before the end of the season and broke the record of five days held by Manchester United (2000-01 and 2012-13) and Manchester City (2017-18).

To start, each one could capture their game and it was Liverpool who looked most comfortable. Those of Klopp, with defensive firmness a great work of bilge to control the rival forwards, obtained a return with the fast exits. Deep and cross shipments to make Salah, Mane or Firmino run. The Egyptian had the first clear chance with a shot from the door of the area that hit the left post of Ederson.

But the one who hit first was the local in a difficult maneuver to see: a Liverpool player losing a hand to hand in the area: it was Joe Gomez against Sterling. The defender was poorly outlined, he let the attacker turn, who at the slightest touch threw himself into the area and the judge charged a penalty. It was Kevin De Bruyne, the best of Guardiola's, who made it 1-0 from twelve steps with a dry shot to the right of Alisson Becker.

And the goal broke the molds. They exchanged roles. Although the game maintained parity, City (did not have Agüero, injured, and Otamendi entered the complement) began to break loose. He managed to use the favorite recipe of those of Klopp, that of having a field forward and looking to get from area to area in just a couple of touches.

GOOOOOOOOL OF THE MANCHESTER CITY, STERLING DOES THE SECOND! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wi9cHlvQWi

The perfect example was 2-0. One of those goals that Liverpool scored by dozens. With his own medicine he celebrated Pep's team and drew a perfect counter. Accuracy in speed: Gabriel Jesus who pivots and opens spaces, Phil Foden who shoots the diagonal and assists, and Sterling who in the fire zone does not hesitate and nails it down.

If the first goal had pushed Manchester City to cheer up, the second definitely released him, welcoming him to the best of his game. And there it was a complete repertoire, made in Guardiola.

And if the 2-0 looked like a usual goal by Klopp's, the 3-0 can be found in the best functions of Pep's Barcelona. A wall on the edge of the area, footballers who come from their position for the benefit of the team, play at a touch. Aesthetics at the service of football.

Pfff the goal that Foden just scored ... touch and touch, made in Guardiola. Manchester City's third in this first half, surprises Liverpool.pic.twitter.com/63cCs8EGyI

It was Foden who crowned the great play. And he built it himself. He first combined with Guendogan and then invited De Bruyne to another wall. He went in search of the right pass from the best assistant in the Premier and defined crusader.

Five shots to the goal added the City; Liverpool had four, including one to the post and another hand to hand that the goalkeeper deactivated. But the difference in effectiveness was huge. As much as to go to rest with an unthinkable win.

And the complement was a great match. Back and forth, without midfield, with clear arrivals at each advance. With Liverpool within a shot of a hopeful discount and soon, on the brink of a historic defeat.

The formula was repeated. A leg always appeared to block the ball from entering the home goal. And the opposite occurred opposite: the definition of Sterling, who seemed to go wide after another great move by De Bruyne, found Chamberlain in a hurried crossing that ended up going 4-0 against.

It is insisted: there were neither four, nor three, nor two goals difference if it is only about analyzing the game. They could have been 2-2 quietly.

But it is soccer. And what Guardiola suffered many times this time became a sweet consolation against the champion. 

Liverpool won't even be able to charge a hangover. It will be difficult to explain how he played a good game, had half a dozen clear scoring chances and ended with a thrashing. It will be a matter of turning the page and enjoying everything that has been achieved.

With the contest already defined, City already has the Champions League qualification almost in its pocket for the tenth consecutive season, although its participation in UEFA competitions remains tied to whether or not a sanction is confirmed against it for having infringed Financial Fair Play rules. 

For Liverpool there is one more step, from the statistics: to exceed the record of points achieved by a champion team in the Premier League: the 100 achieved by the City of Guardiola in the 2017-18 season. It continues with 86 units and there are 18 at stake.