Liverpool response to VAR controversy clear as reaction to penalty denial speaks volumes
Klopp calls pay off
Shutting down the most feared attack in English football is a difficult task at the best of times.
So it wasn’t ideal that Liverpool stepped out against Manchester City minus four of their first-choice back five with a defence that had only twice started together before.
And, boy, did it show during a harrowing opening period in which the Reds’ understandable lack of understanding was graphically exposed as City threatened every time they went forward which, with the home side regularly coughing up possession, was often.
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The manner in which the visitors eventually found a way through, however, will have been hugely frustrating. Being out done by Pep Guardiola-inspired flowing football is on thing, being duped by a well-worked corner routine quite another.
Slowly but surely, though, Klopp’s major calls began to pay off. Jarell Quansah, preferred as centre-back replacement for the crocked Ibrahima Konate, took inspiration from skipper Virgil van Dijk with a composed display – already becoming his trademark – to help ensure Erling Haaland had few sights at goal. Salah, who was on the pitch an hour less, had more touches than the blunted Norwegian.
Conor Bradley was among Liverpool’s best players in the first half before being replaced on the hour by the impressive Andy Robertson, which allowed Joe Gomez to redeem himself after a very difficult opening 45 minutes at left-back up against Phil Foden with a much better outing on the opposite flank. If ever there was a game where Liverpool learned on the job, it was here.
VAR does it again
It seems
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