Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini saw his side fall to a 2-1 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday
Manchester City suffered a 2-1 defeat at in-form Liverpool yesterday. In truth their display was not one of reigning champions.
The Citizens were poor in midfield and defence when the opposition had the ball and paid the price against the Reds.
Fantastic
All three of the goals in the clash at Anfield were fantastic in different ways.
Both of Liverpool’s goals came from long-range strikes superbly executed by midfielder’s Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho.
City’s goal was more of a team move with David Silva and Sergio Aguero involved in the move, before the latter played in Edin Dzeko to score the goal. Unfortunately for City they struggled to create much else in the game.
Off-day
Manchester City experienced an off-day at Anfield, which they seem to have had too many of this season. Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero looked like a threat and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet before City equalised, hitting the post with a powerful effort.
City were cut open in midfield at times, maybe just expecting to show-up at Anfield, collect the three points and go home. City were outnumbered in midfield at times in the first half and City boss Manuel Pellegrini finally realised that in the second half and put on James Milner for Dzeko.
However, even with five men in midfield, the Reds cut through the City midfield consistently and the likes of Yaya Toure and Fernandinho just could not handle the midfield players of Liverpool.
City lost last season at Anfield and maybe Pellegrini could have approached this game in a more cautious manner.
Brendan Rodgers team were in decent form and Anfield is a difficult ground to visit, but Pellegrini still chose to play two up front and the likes of Samir Nasri and David Silva, who are not the best at tracking back and defending.
They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Well I think the men in white coats will be knocking on Pellegrini’s door pretty soon, because he has made the same tactical mistake in consecutive games.
He probably is not insane, but he is certainly stubborn because he insists on playing with two up front in difficult games, when other less naïve bosses may opt for pragmatism.
Inconsistent
Manchester City’s inconsistency this season could see them finished emptied handed at the end of the campaign. They are out of the FA Cup, on the brink in the Champions League and five points behind Chelsea in the Premier League.
The Blues now have a game in-hand on City, as they did not play in the league this weekend, playing in the Capital in One Cup final and defeating Tottenham 2-0 instead.
City’s inconsistency may be down to key players such as Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero spending time out injured this season. However, City should still have had enough quality to win games against lesser opposition.
Worrying
In City’s first Premier League title winning season, centre-back Vincent Kompany was outstanding. The Belgian international became the bedrock of the City defence and was one of the players that the title win was built upon.
However, even last season Kompany did not look as solid and this season, hampered by injury his form will be worrying for City. When Kompany was at his best City would look solid and almost unbeatable in defence.
This season Kompany, alongside the unconvincing Eliaquim Mangala, has looked very vulnerable, probably not helped by Pellegrini’s persistence on leaving the Citizens light in midfield. The Brazilian pair of Fernando and Fernandinho should be giving their defence more protection.
Yaya Toure seems to struggle when playing as a two in midfield, but excels when asked to do more of a roaming role in the centre of midfield when in a three. The Ivorian was not at his best against Liverpool and City were exposed in the centre of the park.
Weaker
Manchester City have had to win the Premier League the hard way in the past, coming back from behind in both their title winning seasons. They could do it again this season, but City look weaker than table topping Chelsea at the moment.
The Blues have stumbled slightly in recent weeks, but as a team look like a better balanced outfit than City. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, no matter how controversial knows how to get results at tough places, even if it means parking the bus.
Second
Manchester City are currently second in the Premier League table and a midweek clash against Leicester looks like the ideal game to bounce back from the defeat at Anfield.
However, Manchester City are definitely playing catch-up and at odds of 6/1 to win the Premier League title this season. If they continue to produce disappointing performances like they did at Anfield then the two-horse title race may only end in one winner and that’s Chelsea.
Can Manchester City still win the Premier League title this season?
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