Man Metropolis’s 4-0 win at Wolves confirmed they’re up for a Premier League title chase – however the best way they did it had Jamie Carragher questioning whether or not Pep Guardiola’s recent strategy has been influenced by Liverpool.
After Metropolis dropped off their common requirements final time period, Guardiola introduced in Pep Lijnders as assistant coach, Jurgen Klopp’s former deputy at Liverpool.
With Metropolis enjoying an offside entice at Molineux and scoring on the counter-attack, Carragher believes Lijnders “is having a giant affect on Guardiola”, noting the similarities with the fashion Lijnders and Klopp favoured throughout their time collectively at Anfield.
A excessive line
Jamie Carragher demonstrates the excessive line Man Metropolis performed with at Wolves
Defensively, Man Metropolis repeatedly pushed as much as attempt to catch Wolves offside – and did simply that when Marshall Munetsi headed in through the first half. That plan was even executed near the midway line, with Metropolis’s backline stepping proper up excessive as Wolves tried to play the ball forwards.
“I could not imagine what I noticed, the gamers had been all leaping excessive as much as try to catch the Wolves gamers offside,” mentioned Carragher informed Monday Night time Soccer.
“That is very Liverpool-like. It made me assume how a lot affect is possibly the brand new coach having on this crew.”
Whether or not it was Liverpool-inspired or not, fellow Sky Sports activities pundit Gary Neville applauded the efficiency of Man Metropolis’s defence to maintain such a disciplined line.
“It is actually good play,” he added. “To get a back-four unit in sync like that, it takes some doing. It is actually good play from [centre-back] John Stones.”
Quick counter-attacks
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Issy Christiansen and Jamie Redknapp analyse Tijjani Reijnders’ Manchester Metropolis debut after the brand new signing was concerned in three of the 4 objectives
Carragher additionally famous similarities between Metropolis’s efficiency with Liverpool’s menace on the break beneath Klopp.
Tijjani Reijnders’ objective got here from a swift transfer up the sector, with Guardiola making some extent of celebrating with Lijnders within the aftermath.
“The quantity of counter-attacking objectives that Liverpool crew would rating with [Sadio] Mane and [Mohamed] Salah, breaking ahead,” mentioned Carragher. “After I seemed on the objective from Reijnders… not possibly a Pep Guardiola objective.
“After all, Pep Guardiola’s groups have scored loads of counter-attacking objectives previously. However what actually stood out for this one was the kind of objective it was. They win it after which they’re off.
“Lijnders – Guardiola provides him the thanks, the hug. Now we do not know precisely what that is for, however I do not assume it is a coincidence with a few of the issues that I noticed within the recreation that he, as a coach, is having a giant affect on Pep Guardiola.”
Pep Guardiola embraces his assistant coach Pep Lijnders after Man Metropolis rating towards Wolves
Afterwards, Guardiola himself mentioned Metropolis had been attempting to be higher with attacking breaks than they had been final season.
“It is a weapon that we wish to use this season – once we’re getting the ball, assault faster than possibly earlier than.”
Pep adapting once more
Whether or not it’s a Liverpool inspiration from Lijnders or not, it appears clear Guardiola has as soon as once more reimagined his Man Metropolis aspect.
Carragher says the serial winner recognised the shift in fashion within the Premier League away from managed, affected person build-up right into a extra dynamic strategy – and has responded.
“What Pep mentioned final season, when he was speaking about the place the sport was going, he was truly saying, ‘it is probably not my soccer’, the soccer that was seen of groups within the Premier League. Transition, end-to-end soccer.
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Wolves and Manchester Metropolis
“I believe he talked about Brentford, he was speaking about Bournemouth, he wasn’t simply speaking about the true prime groups. What number of groups within the Premier League had been enjoying like that.”
Metropolis have proven they’ll have success enjoying that method too. After studying from their rivals, they appear like they are going to be severe contenders for the Premier League crown as soon as once more. That is a view shared by Neville.
“Watching that recreation on Saturday, it was just a little bit, ‘Oh, did we simply neglect in regards to the apparent?’ Pep Guardiola, if he loses a title, he’ll win it again,” mentioned Neville.
“He wins titles practically each single 12 months he is coached in his profession, and once you noticed Reijnders on Saturday, you consider Rodri to come back again in, you consider Stones and [Ruben] Dias, [Erling] Haaland up entrance… that is a backbone and a half, that is a title-winning backbone, it is a treble-winning backbone with a supervisor who’s prolific.
“Metropolis, simply off what we have seen on Saturday, in the event that they maintain their gamers match, they could possibly be actually in enterprise.”
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