Chapter 449: A Revolutionary Change—Guardiola's Three-Center-Back System!
"Stay alert, stay focused, don't get complacent!" Klopp frequently shouted from the sidelines to remind his players to maintain their high energy levels and not get carried away by their early lead.
This Manchester City team is incredibly resilient. If given a chance, they can indeed equalize the score. Having faced Lin Quan and Guardiola in the Bundesliga, Klopp would never underestimate these two.
Moreover, it was still early in the game. An early lead has both advantages and disadvantages. The good part is that it greatly boosts the players' confidence, allowing them to relax and handle the rest of the game. The bad part is that it gives the opponent plenty of time to mount a comeback, and an early big lead might lower the players' vigilance, making them feel overly secure.
If they start to believe the game is already won, their fighting spirit could wane. They might stop running and pressing as hard as before. Klopp's tactics rely heavily on players covering a lot of ground. If they slow down and start strolling around, his high-pressing strategy wouldn't work. Engaging in a positional battle with Manchester City would be suicide—few teams in Europe could do that, and Liverpool isn't one of them.
Initially, Klopp's reminders didn't seem to catch the players' attention until Manchester City, led by Lin Quan, launched a counterattack. In the 32nd minute, Kanté intercepted a pass and played it back to Kroos, who then sent a long ball to the wing, finding Lin Quan. Lin Quan received the ball, dribbled past Liverpool's full-back Moreno, and shaped to shoot.
Liverpool's center-back Lovren and midfielder Lucas were drawn towards Lin Quan, leaving City's attacking midfielder De Bruyne unmarked in the middle. Lin Quan decisively passed to De Bruyne and made a run into the box. De Bruyne, understanding Lin Quan's movement, delivered a penetrating through ball that slipped between Lovren and Lucas.
Had either Lovren or Lucas kept an eye on De Bruyne, they might have intercepted the pass. But they were focused on Lin Quan, giving De Bruyne the chance to make the lethal pass. Lin Quan received the ball comfortably inside the box and calmly slotted it under the advancing goalkeeper, Mignolet, into the net.
Mignolet sat on the ground in frustration, turning to see the ball nestled in his net. He pounded the grass angrily. Being nutmegged is embarrassing for any player, especially for a goalkeeper, as it usually results in a goal. But there was little Mignolet could do. Facing a one-on-one with one of the world's best forwards was always going to be a tough challenge.
As Lin Quan scored, the Etihad Stadium erupted in cheers. If the first 30 minutes left Manchester City fans feeling despondent and disoriented, questioning if they were even in the right stadium, Lin Quan's goal reassured them that they were indeed watching their invincible Blue Moon.
Led by the hardcore fans, over 40,000 City supporters began to sing the famous club anthem, "Blue Moon," in unison. Lin Quan didn't waste time celebrating. He quickly retrieved the ball from Liverpool's net, high-fived De Bruyne on his way back, and placed the ball in the center circle, ready to restart the game.
Lin Quan's goal reignited the crowd and revitalized City's players. They weren't about to let Liverpool walk away with an easy victory at their home ground, especially not with such a humiliating scoreline. No team is invincible; City's unbeaten streak would eventually end, but they wouldn't go down without a fight.
Seeing his players' spirits lifted, Guardiola, who was about to shout instructions from the sideline, swallowed his words. There was no need for a pep talk; Lin Quan had already done the job, igniting his teammates' fighting spirit. Now, all they needed to do was execute the game plan.
However, Guardiola wasn't idle. He began meticulously studying Klopp's tactics for this game, looking for a counter-strategy. As the game restarted, the intensity on the pitch was palpable. Manchester City's goal had jolted Liverpool's players back to attention, reminding them not to underestimate their opponents despite their lead. City had unparalleled attacking power, and that goal was a stark reminder.
Liverpool knew a three-goal lead wasn't safe, especially not against City, who were now just two goals behind. They resumed their initial game plan, pressing and running aggressively, challenging every ball, and maintaining high energy levels. Even if they couldn't win every challenge, they'd at least disrupt City's rhythm and delay their play. If an opponent held onto the ball too long, multiple Liverpool players would converge, pressing and attempting to regain possession, launching immediate counterattacks.
This high press and quick counter strategy kept the game's pace incredibly fast. Both teams created numerous chances, frequently breaching each other's final third and getting shots on goal, making for an exhilarating spectacle.
"This might be the most intense and entertaining match in the Premier League so far this season!" remarked Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler to his partner, Andy Gray.
The first half saw both teams competing fiercely, yet there were surprisingly few fouls. City committed only two fouls, while Liverpool had five, and just one yellow card for Liverpool's midfielder Lucas, who fouled Lin Quan.
"Indeed, this game is so entertaining probably because it's an English Premier League match being played with a mix of Bundesliga and La Liga styles," Andy Gray commented, a statement many fans agreed with. Klopp's tactics resembled his time at Dortmund, while Guardiola's City mirrored his Barcelona's possession style.
Of course, both managers had adapted their past tactics to suit the Premier League's pace and the evolution of modern football. This blend of English physicality, German intensity, and Spanish technique made for a fascinating match.
"Andy, who do you think will win?" Martin Tyler asked, seizing a brief pause in the action, a question on many viewers' minds.
Andy Gray pondered for a moment, knowing it was a tough call. "It's hard to say, Martin. Both teams are playing at such a high level. But if City keeps this up, they have the firepower to turn this around. Liverpool, on the other hand, just need to hold their ground and capitalize on their chances. It could go either way."
The excitement and uncertainty in the air were palpable, setting the stage for a thrilling remainder of the match.
"It's hard to say. Liverpool has a two-goal lead, but their opponent is Manchester City, a team with Lin. Plus, they're the Premier League and Champions League champions for the past two years. They obviously have a higher ceiling and overall strength. If it weren't for that deadly own goal at the start, I'd have favored Manchester City more!" Andy Gray, who had once misjudged the situation, had now become a staunch supporter of Lin Quan. Whenever he commented on a Manchester City game, he couldn't help but sing Lin Quan's praises.
Hearing his partner's words, Martin Tyler smiled and said, "Yes, I think many fans felt the same way before the match, favoring Manchester City. But Klopp and his players reminded us that football is unpredictable. No matter how strong you look on paper or how many past honors you have, it doesn't guarantee success on the field."
"That's the beauty of football, isn't it?" Andy Gray nodded in agreement. "But I want to say, never underestimate the heart of a champion. Manchester City is no longer the noisy neighbors Sir Alex Ferguson once called them. They're a top team in world football, a true powerhouse!"
Liverpool fans scoffed at Andy Gray's remarks. Does Manchester City have a champion's heart? Doesn't Liverpool? When it comes to legacy, who in the Premier League dares to boast in front of Liverpool? (Aston Villa, sit down.)
After 25 years without a title, Liverpool's hunger for the league championship is unimaginable to most. In terms of fighting spirit and desire to win, Liverpool would not lose to anyone. So, let's see who truly shines on the pitch!
In the final moments of the first half, both teams had chances to change the score but missed them. In the 38th minute, the Reds successfully counter-pressed, and Coutinho made a brilliant pass, but Liverpool's winger Sterling missed a one-on-one chance, letting Manchester City off the hook. Two minutes later, Agüero's shot from a tight angle hit the post and bounced out, giving Liverpool fans a scare.
If either of those chances had gone in, the game would have been very different. If Sterling hadn't missed, the score could have been 1-4, and even a strong team like Manchester City would find it extremely difficult to score three goals against Liverpool. If Agüero had scored, the score would have been 2-3, significantly boosting City's morale and dampening Liverpool's spirits. In that case, Manchester City could have come out in the second half and potentially equalized or even taken the lead.
But unfortunately, both teams missed their golden opportunities, and the score remained 1-3 at halftime. During the break, Guardiola didn't criticize the player who scored the own goal. Instead, he calmly explained his tactics to the players. "Liverpool's active movement is making it very difficult for our midfield to operate, and it's hard to get the ball to our wide players."
On the tactical board, Guardiola marked Liverpool's player positions, pressing tactics, and defensive formations from the first half. Manchester City lacked a traditional target man, and Agüero wasn't the type of center-forward known for his aerial prowess or physicality. City's strength lay in their wide play, with the world's best winger, Lin Quan, on their side. Guardiola naturally wanted to exploit this advantage fully.
City's only goal in the first half came from a combination between De Bruyne and Lin Quan on the wing. However, Liverpool's players increased their pressing on City's midfielders, making it difficult for them to pass the ball to Lin Quan. This forced Lin Quan to drop deeper to receive the ball. When Lin Quan dropped back, it became much harder to launch an attack as Liverpool's defense had already set up, making it difficult to break through.
Moreover, Liverpool's active movement created numerical advantages in certain areas, meaning any slight delay in City's attack would lead to multiple Liverpool players converging and pressing, which could result in losing the ball and being counterattacked. Most goals in football come during transitions between attack and defense. When teams face off directly, even weaker teams can hold their ground against stronger ones by defending with a complete formation.
Guardiola remembered how Barcelona struggled against Rubin Kazan, a team not particularly strong but excellent at parking the bus. Despite Barca's attacking prowess, they couldn't break through Rubin Kazan's defense and even lost 1-2, a shocking upset. A similar situation occurred when Spain faced China in a friendly. Despite dominating possession, Spain only scored in the 84th minute against a resolute Chinese defense.
Liverpool's tactics frustrated Manchester City, forcing them to attack head-on against a solid defense while Liverpool's counters often faced an incomplete City defense. If not for Van Dijk's heroic performance, City might have conceded more goals. Klopp had certainly brought something special to Liverpool, proving his success with Dortmund wasn't a fluke.
Unable to think of a perfect solution to Klopp's tactics, Guardiola decided to focus on his strengths. Since Liverpool's pressing restricted City's midfield, he decided to bypass the midfield and directly involve the full-backs and wingers. However, this was difficult to achieve with a traditional formation, so Guardiola introduced a three-center-back system.
Guardiola didn't know it then, but this adjustment marked the beginning of a revolutionary new style of play.