FROM THE ETIHAD STADIUM—Manchester City were as fresh as Liverpool were leggy in their Sunday afternoon duel. City had a cutting edge in Erling Haaland where Liverpool weakly brandished only blunt weapons. They had a back-up No. 6 to the absent Rodri in the excellent Nico González where Liverpool really have only Wataru Endo as cover. They fielded a wide player in Jeremy Doku as electric as Mohamed Salah looked without any spark, but the crucial difference was that Pep Guardiola had a better plan than the man in the opposite dug-out.
Arne Slot was as comprehensively out-thought by Guardiola as Liverpool’s players were outfought by City’s. Tactically, Guardiola’s side were smarter than Slot’s pedestrian, slow-reacting visitors, controlling the centre and varying the speeds and angles of their attacks. Liverpool walked blindly into an ambush.
Liverpool, and Slot, had no answer, which all led to one question: what has happened to the champions? The midweek Champions League victory over Real Madrid was meant to be a reboot for their stop-start season. But Slot’s right-back, Conor Bradley, simply could not handle the flying, dribbling Doku as he had done so effortlessly in taming Vinicius Junior. Liverpool’s lauded central three of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were over-run and overwhelmed.
What a contrast to the corresponding fixture last February when Liverpool toyed with the champions, City. Salah was as irresistible as he was almost invisible this time out, and the Africa Cup of Nations, starting on December 21, offers a convenient opportunity to assess other players on the right to the Egyptian.
Liverpool’s defence was as organised and resolute last February as it was scrambled and lacking in concentration and assertiveness now. Even such experienced defenders as Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson, both international captains, got mixed up positionally at one damaging point. What will also alarm Liverpool’s loyal following is that their players lacked the hunger of City’s, that desire to reach the second ball. Van Dijk needs to call another team meeting. Liverpool, and Slot, must not let their domestic season slide.
What a Difference Nine Months Make
By the end of their last collision here, Liverpool fans were serenading the growing rows of empty blue seats with “we’re going to win the league”. They left the Etihad 11 points clear, soaked by the rain, but brimming with joy, and all but taking the Premier League trophy home with them. Fast forward nine months, 23 Premier League games on, and the roles are totally reversed. Liverpool are going backwards compared to the rapidly accelerating City. The masters were schooled. Liverpool left east Manchester and might have left their trophy there. Arsenal will have other thoughts, and are four points clear of second-placed City, but will be very aware that Guardiola’s men mean business.
Writing Liverpool off is a dangerous business. When Alexander Isak is fully fit, Liverpool will have a serial finisher upfront. When Florian Wirtz adapts to the physicality of the English game, Liverpool will have a playmaker blessed with balance, vision and technique. Wirtz currently resembles a boy at a new school entering a rough playground for the first time. He will find his way, and stay the course amongst the flying boots, but it will not be a quick process. Wirtz needs time in the gym. He needs patience. He needs a split-second longer on the ball, which he simply will not be granted in England.
Wirtz started on the left, but ran into the combative (legitimately) Matheus Nunes. When Wirtz did put in a burst of pace, and swept the ball between Bernardo Silva and González, he was flattened. Welcome to the Premier League. Wirtz looked lightweight yet resembled a heavyweight against Real. Maybe Liverpool left something on the field at Anfield on Tuesday. It was an emotionally draining occasion because of all the heated narrative surrounding the returning Trent Alexander-Arnold. Liverpool have so much history with Real, too.
Maybe Slot erred by not tweaking the team here, starting the more battle-hardened Cody Gakpo on the left instead of Wirtz. Maybe Liverpool also lacked strength in depth with Jarell Quansah sold to Bayer Leverkusen when Ibrahima Konaté has struggled this season.
Liverpool will point to a controversial incident when 1–0 behind. Van Dijk’s headed effort was ruled out for an alleged offside by Robertson when he clearly wasn’t “directly” (as the law dictates) in Gianluigi Donnarumma’s eye-line. Otherwise Liverpool lacked any punch in attack.
It was also impossible to look at Liverpool’s bench and have much sympathy for Slot. He had more than £200m worth of talent in reserve as well as gifted youngsters like Rio Ngumoha. Liverpool fans may mention the absence of Alisson, injured, yet Giorgi Mamardashvili is 25, has played 33 times for Georgia, and is good enough to have saved an early penalty from Haaland. Mamardashvili has been well-chosen as Alisson’s long-term successor. He also denied Spain’s Ferran Torres (for Georgia) and Real’s Vinicius (for Valencia) also from the spot in 2025. Now Haaland. Not for long.