Grealish sends transfer hint
If Liverpool ever wanted to know the benefit of signing a £100m England international midfielder, it was made painfully apparent here.
With one goal and an assist, not for the first time in his career Jack Grealish proved a significant thorn in the side of the Reds and, after a slow start to his time of Manchester City, demonstrated the value of his eye-wateringly expensive purchase.
City, of course, can afford the odd transfer market misfire, such are their riches. But with Grealish they are now gaining bang for their buck.
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It will surely be food for thought for Jurgen Klopp and Fenway Sports Group in particular as they press ahead with plans for a much-needed – and undoubtedly expensive – midfield revamp in the summer.
Teams much worse than City have exposed Liverpool’s engine-room malaise this season, and the lack of available options meant Fabinho and Jordan Henderson both started here at the base of a reshuffled 4-2-3-1.
While neither played particularly poorly, it was again obvious they have moved beyond the best that saw them help knock City off their perch just three years ago. They can still play a role in future seasons, but need help.
Now, are there any £100m England international midfielders who might be able to do a job?
Jota takes forward step
So continues Diogo Jota’s achingly long wait for a Liverpool goal. But, after a season of such frustration, there were at last signs of encouragement.
The Portuguese hasn’t found the target since the Reds were last at the Etihad in the Premier League when securing a 2-2 draw almost 12 months ago.
He wasn't close to altering that face here. Jota, though, posted his most impressive display since the reverse fixture back in October that ended with him leaving on a stretcher with a calf injury that ruled him out of the World Cup.
Employed on the left flank, the forward pressed and scurried to good effect, and it was his break through the middle and subsequent lay-off that prompted the opener for Mohamed Salah. The goal for Jota will surely come if he maintains this level.
Salah, meanwhile, has now become the first Liverpool player to score in four different games against City in a single season, with his strike also making him the Reds’ leading marksman away from home in the Premier League, surpassing the previous best of 55 first set by Michael Owen.
Liverpool may be wildly inconsistent, but the Egyptian King’s ability to deliver remains reassuringly constant. That’s now 23 for the season.
No defence for defence
There was a recurring theme throughout the five-match unbeaten Premier League run earlier this year that rekindled hopes of Champions League qualification for Liverpool. They didn’t concede a goal in any of them.
That, however, appears to be the exception rather than the norm for Klopp’s side, who have now shipped three or more goals in nine matches this season.
Yes, clean sheets at the Etihad have been rare for Liverpool. But the Reds boss was correct to point out the passiveness of his players that contributed to all four City goals here. If individually there were failings across the board – Alisson Becker the notable exception – more concerning were the collective shortcomings that made matters far too easy for Pep Guardiola’s side.
They can’t be allowed to linger, especially with a trip to Chelsea – a team who have struggled for goals all season – next up on Tuesday.
If Liverpool start leaking unnecessarily at Stamford Bridge, it’s not just the top four that will be in peril. Reputations are now at stake in the back four.
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