Liverpool, City serve up another EPL classic
LIVERPOOL AND Manchester City showed the English Premier League (EPL) what it will be missing when Jurgen Klopp walks away at the end of the season.
Anfield played host to a typically full-blooded, high-octane clash of titans in the last English top-flight encounter between Klopp and Pep Guardiola before the Liverpool manager stands down.
No wonder Guardiola says he will sleep easier when his longtime rival is no longer standing in his way.
He likened Liverpool to a “tsunami” as t he defending champions had to dig deep to survive long periods of pressure in the second half.
“Oh my God, they come from everywhere,” Guardiola said after a 1-1 draw yesterday that kept second-place Liverpool one point ahead of City in third.
Arsenal ended the weekend top of the standings on goal difference, but the Londoners’ 2-1 win at Brentford on Saturday felt like a subplot in comparison to the latest and possibly last clash between Klopp and Guardiola.
John Stones gave City a firsthalf lead and Alexis Mac Allister levelled from the penalty spot after the break.
That only told part of the story of a thrilling encounter, which saw Luis Diaz miss a big chance to fire Liverpool ahead and Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku hit the woodwork for City. In stoppage time, Klopp thought Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty for Doku’s chest-high challenge on Mac Allister, only for VAR to dismiss appeals.
Perhaps Klopp is mellowing as he counts down his final days at the club, but he preferred to focus on the performance of his rebuilt and injury-stricken team.
“For us, besides the result, the most important information is, we are right there, we go the distance. Let’s see what we get for it, but the boys fought so hard through everything to be there,” he said. “Today I saw the best 53 minutes we had against Manchester City. It was exceptional, and important as well, that we learnt that about ourselves.”
It would be fascinating to see how this team could develop under Klopp, who has so quickly rebuilt Liverpool following the departure of key players like Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino.
Few expected him to mount a title challenge so soon, let alone compete on four fronts this season, with the League Cup already secured.
A second league title under Klopp is the priority, and Liverpool showed they can go head-to-head with a City team that is defending last season’s treble of trophies – the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
Guardiola has repeatedly described Klopp’s Liverpool as the biggest challenge of his coaching career and has edged him to the title by a single point on two occasions.
The added factor this year is a third title contender in Arsenal.
“Arsenal last year came back and will stay for a long time because they are a young team with an exceptional manager,” Guardiola said. “Still, there are 10 games to go, 30 points to play for. One point difference. The important thing is, still we are there after where we came from in previous seasons, still we are there.”
SON STARS
Once, it was Harry Kane who Tottenham fans pinned their hopes to. Now it is Son Heung-min.
The South Korea forward has helped fill the void left by Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich in the off season, and yesterday he inspired Spurs to a 4-0 rout against top four rivals Aston Villa with one goal and two assists.
Fifth-place Spurs are two points behind Villa in fourth with a game in hand.
Son provided assists for Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner either side of scoring his 14th goal of the season in all competitions.
James Maddison had opened the scoring in a game that also saw Villa’s John McGinn sent off in the second half.
FOREST BLOW
Nottingham Forest’s survival hopes were dealt a blow after Andrew Omobamidele’s own goal consigned the relegation-fighting team to a 1-0 loss at Brighton.
Forest, in 17th, are just three points above the drop zone and 18th-place Luton, who have a game in hand.
Luton drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace on Saturday, thanks to Cauley Woodrow’s equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time, which could be crucial in the battle to stay up.