Following Liverpool’s 4-1 loss to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, Ian Doyle provides his opinions on the Reds.
Grealish makes a transfer suggestion
Here, it was blatantly obvious that Liverpool would benefit from bringing in a £100 million England midfielder.
With one goal and an assist, Jack Grealish proved to be a major ᴘᴀɪɴ in the Reds’ side, not for the first time in his career. Despite a slow start to his tenure at Manchester City, he justified the ᴇxᴏʀʙɪᴛᴀɴᴛ cost of his ᴘᴜʀᴄʜᴀsᴇ.
City, of course, can afford the occasional transfer market error due to their affluence. Yet thanks to Grealish, people are now getting more value for their money.
It will probably cause Jurgen Klopp and Fenway Sports Group to reconsider their plans for a significant and expensive midfield revamp in the summer.
Teams that are significantly lesser than City have exposed Liverpool’s vulnerabilities in its engine room this season. Because there were no other options, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson both started at the base of a modified 4-2-3-1.
Although neither of their performances being particularly strong, it was once more obvious that they had improved from the best, which had seen them help overthrow City just three years earlier. Despite the ꜰᴀᴄᴛ that they can still contribute in later seasons, they require support.
Are there any English midfielders who are worth $100 million who could be able to step in?
Jota advances forward
Diogo Jota is still yet to score for Liverpool, which is an agonizingly long wait. But after such a depressing time, at least, there were promising signs.
Since the Reds’ last Premier League game at the Etihad, where they gained a 2-2 draw, almost a year ago, the Portuguese has not scored.
He was not near altering his expression. Jota, however, gave his greatest performance since he was helped off the field during the rematch in October due to a calf ɪɴᴊᴜʀʏ that kept him out of the World Cup.
The striker was effectively utilized on the left flank, pressing and scurrying, and Mohamed Salah’s opening goal was the result of his break into the centre and subsequent lay-off. Jota will surely accomplish his aim if he continues to perform at this caliber.
Meanwhile, Salah has now established record-breaking status by being the first Liverpool player to score four goals versus City in a single season. His goal also surpasses Michael Owen’s previous mark of 55 points for first place and makes him the Reds’ best scorer outside of Anfield in the Premier League.
Even if Liverpool may be wildly unpredictable, The Egyptian King’s capacity to deliver is comfortingly consistent. The season’s total now stands at 23.
There’s no defense in defense
Dreams of qualifying for the Champions League were rekindled earlier this year when Liverpool went undefeated in five straight Premier League games. They didn’t permit a goal to be scored in any of them.
It seems to be the exception rather than the rule for Klopp’s club, who have already given up three or more goals in nine games this year.
At the Etihad, Liverpool hasn’t exactly kept many clean sheets. Nonetheless, the Reds boss was correct to point out that his team’s inaction contributed to all four City goals in this encounter. Alisson Becker was a notable outlier from the squad’s general underperformance, but what was more concerning were the collective mistakes that handed Pep Guardiola’s team an unfair advantage.
They cannot continue, especially with a trip to Chelsea on Tuesday, a team that has struggled to score goals all season.
If Liverpool start to ʟᴇᴀᴋ heavily at Stamford Bridge, more than just the top four will be in ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ. Reputations in the back four are now in jeopardy.