BEAT CITY, NOW COPY THEM
GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM claims Liverpool must develop the killer instinct of Manchester City if they are to have any chance of competing for the Premier League title.
Liverpool inflicted a first Premier League defeat on City this season with Sunday’s thrilling 4-3 win at Anfield but still trail them by 15 points.
The Reds, beaten 5-0 at the Etihad earlier in the season, proved they can go head to head with City and beat the runaway leaders in a one-off game. But eight draws, coupled with two defeats, have seriously undermined Liverpool’s title prospects.
Now Wijnaldum says they must take a leaf from City’s book and kill off opponents when they have the chance. Asked if the gap should be as wide as it is between the two sides after Liverpool’s win, Wijnaldum said: “That’s the reality and you have to accept it.
“They had some difficult games but they still scored and killed the game. That is something we haven’t done. Even on Sunday we still give them a chance to come back. That’s the biggest thing we have to change if we want to compete with City.
“In our first game of the season at Watford we played well but conceded an equaliser right at the end of the game. At home to Burnley we created chances but didn’t score enough. At home we’ve had games where we couldn’t score – there’s around six points gone there already.”
Liverpool midfielder Emre Can said the win over City, the first domestic defeat suffered by Pep Guardiola’s side since last April, will send shockwaves around Europe ahead of the resumption of the Champions League next month.
“Opponents will give us a lot of respect after that performance and we will take a lot of confidence,” said Can (celebrating, left, with Roberto Firmino). “Every single player performed and did an amazing job. “But this is just one game. It’s just three points and we have to keep going.”
Can is out of contract this summer and said no decision has been made on his future, but admitted talks with Liverpool were ongoing. “My agent is looking after everything but I’m here until the summer,” said Can. “I haven’t signed anything with anyone.
“I still have a contract here and it’s an amazing club. I will give everything for this team. “What can I say? My agent does the rest.”