Review: Manchester City 3 Liverpool 0

EFFICIENT CITY BREEZE PAST 'POOL

Tonight's game against City was a chance to test ourselves against the leagues top team, a test we failed. It just goes to show that at the highest level of the game simple mistakes can cost you, sadly Pepe learned this the hard way tonight. I learned as kick off approached that Luis Suarez would not appeal his 8 match ban and issued a statement via the clubs website:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/statement-from-luis-suarez

The game was open and attacking from the first whistle a testament to both teams wanting to get the 3 points. Liverpool's first chance and arguably our best chance of the game came after 6 mins when Downing found himself through on goal with only Hart to beat but he couldn't slide the ball under the keeper and Hart saved comfortably. With what seemed to be City's next attack they had the ball near our box and with our defenders backing off Aguero who hit a hopeful shot that deceived Pepe making him dive over the ball and it was 1-0 city. On any other day that's bread and butter for our number 25, not tonight.

For all our domination of possession we failed to test the City defense throughout the entire game, besides being the better side in the first 45mins we found ourselves 2-0 down at the break. 

Predictably our weaknesses defending corners was exploited by city as they floated the ball to the near post at the 6 yard area for Yaya Toure to head the ball above and past Reina. Another goal i thought Pepe could of done better with seeing as it was right at him inches above his head.

Toure heads City 2 up as Liverpool are left wanting from corners again

The second half was much the same as the first, lots of Liverpool possession with no end product, Carroll was ordinary again but in his defense so was the service to him, often he had to come deep to receive the ball which isn't really the forte of a target man like Andy. We were given a man advantage  mid way through the second half when Gareth Barry was sent off for a second bookable offense, both of which i thought were soft.

Early bath for Barry in the driving rain in Manchester

Within minutes of the sending off we were 3-0 down. City took advantage of a tiring Liverpool defense with a great run by Toure wining City a penalty when a clumsy but soft challenge from Skrtel saw Toure hit the deck. A soft decision again but a penalty was given which was easily converted by James Milner.

Milner and Co celebrate a 3rd goal and 3 points in the bag

With a 3 goal deficit to over turn and a 1 man advantage we seemed to panic a bit, rushing our passes, crosses and generally trying to play through the City defense who were strong and handled everything we could throw at them. We dominated the rest of the game, with the odd City counter attack but never really tested Joe Hart and the City back 4. They saw the game out comfortably and left us disappointed and frustrated. A game i thought we didn't deserve to win, and kudos to City for playing the way they did.

If Kenny and Co needed any more proof of how far off we are from being a top 4 team again this game was it. Carroll was awful, Downing made some good runs but had a poor night at crossing the ball. Kuyt looked lost and confused, and overall we just weren't that good.  We play City in the League Cup semi finals next week a set of games where we really need to improve and play allot better than we did tonight if we want to get into the final.

FTK MoM: Yaya Toure

Yaya was at the center of everything good about Man City tonight. He was their puppet master and we really struggled to handle him. With a goal in his pocket he and his fans should be happy with his performance and was easily my MoM





pics: liverpoolfc.tv, mcfc.co.uk