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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Connor Dunn

Liverpool and FSG ruthlessly expose Man City's £400m problem as Pep Guardiola reverts to type

Successful football clubs are meticulous in making sure any action they take ends up resulting in the best possible outcome, with as little consequences as possible.

It is one of the major reasons football managers and elite teams seemingly possess an almost otherworldly ability to foresee the future.

And when operating at such a large scale, with the hopes of millions often pinned on any decision, such preparation is vital.

However, despite all of this planning, unforeseen circumstances still come into play - leaving the mega-rich clubs to rue the benefit of hindsight, just like everyone else.

Across the last decade, there are a number of occasions where Liverpool and FSG would have loved the benefit of hindsight from major decisions at boardroom level, to transfers in or out of club and even down to team selection or on-pitch decisions like putting a penalty in the opposite corner should the goalkeeper have made a save.

Not everything is constantly flawless at Anfield - but missteps at the club are now few and far between as Jurgen Klopp undertakes a relentlessly successful pursuit of perfection.

Indeed, FSG have financed and led the club off the pitch with a very clever model that has ultimately allowed the German boss and the Reds' now revered transfer committee to buy the right players and develop a culture of success that has in turn seen captain Jordan Henderson lift the Champions League, Super Cup, Club World Cup and Premier League title in the last two seasons with Liverpool dominating all before them.

Such domination is the fundamental aim of any club. And at present, Liverpool will be the envy of much of the world's footballing superpowers.

Football heavyweights that no doubt include newly-found rivals Manchester City, who were themselves the true envy of English football until the Reds knocked them off their perch.

But what changed?

It would be foolish to suggest Liverpool's rise to take over City at the head of the domestic game could be put down to any one thing. But a certain move Pep Guardiola made in the transfer market was arguably a significant catalyst in turning the tide.

That was the decision to allow club captain Vincent Kompany to depart for Anderlecht in the summer of 2019, before replacing the experienced centre-back - who led the club to a first top-flight title since 1968 during his 11 years at Etihad Stadium, eight of which he spent with the armband.

Kompany's departure left a void in the heart of City's defence and Guardiola's failure to secure a right-sided centre-back in order to replace him, can easily be seen as a major turning point in allowing Liverpool to storm ahead in the Premier League last season and finish 18 points clear of the League Cup holders.

Guardiola used defensive midfielder Fernandinho in central defence for much of the last campaign - in favour of Nicolas Otamendi and £47.5million John Stones - while injuries to the £52m Aymeric Laporte have limited him to just 15 top flight appearances since August 2019.

City lacked any real leadership on the pitch last term and the same problem has already reared an ugly head at the Etihad this season as Guardiola's title chasers totally capitulated against Leicester City last Sunday, conceding five goals at home for the first time in 438 games.

The way in which City's defence wilted was a humbling sight and despite the routine win against Burnley in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, Guardiola - who had never previously conceded five goals in his managerial career - will be looking for a response in the Premier League when he takes his side to Elland Road this weekend.

Thinking about the fact the Champions League draw is set to take place today too, a defensive solidification will be key if City are to achieve their desperate aims of winning the competition for the first time in their history.

What must be noted here, and particularly highlighting the lack of leadership among the Etihad club, is that a capitulation that we saw happen to City against the Foxes seems unlikely to take place at Liverpool.

And that is because of the leaders they have both on and off the pitch like Henderson, Virgil van Dijk and James Milner to name just three who cajole and castigate every single player if they're not performing to a world-class standard for 90 minutes while demanding a superhuman effort at all times even if they're not in the starting XI - something Kompany would have done for City.

When City failed to replace Kompany last term it felt pivotal but nobody could have quite seen the far reaching ramifications his departure would have on the club - particularly given the world-class talent among their ranks with players like Kevin De Bruyne - but when you don't have leaders on the pitch and in the dressing room, you suffer.

Now, Guardiola has reverted back to type and spent big in the transfer market to rectify City's defensive woes.

The club have signed Ruben Dias from Benfica for £62m this summer while also adding Nathan Ake from Bournemouth at £41m, who join the £60m Joao Cancelo, £62m Kyle Walker and £52m Benjamin Mendy with the aforementioned Stone and Laporte also in the mix. Spending on defenders under Guardiola at City has topped the £400m mark.

Of course, Liverpool signed the world-class Van Dijk to transform the Reds' defence into one of the greatest in European football and City will now be desperate for Dias to do the same.

However, the point still remains.

You can be a sensational player - but if you join a side who are crying out for a leader and you fail to become a figurehead who those around can look to while you demand world-class exacting standards, then domination may still be a struggle in the never-ending bid to claim the most highly-sought after silverware.

*Do you think Liverpool will win the league this season? Have your say in the comments section below.

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