BLOCK PARTY
It was a day when defenders ruled, and Van Dijk and Lovren again proved why they’re the best
BLINK and you would have missed the moment at the end when Virgil van Dijk embraced Dejan Lovren.
There was a bear-hug, a look of relief, and a smile of satisfaction from two of the best centre-halves operating in world football over the job they had just done.
All the pre-match talk of basketball scores and attacking spectaculars ignored the subtle evolution of Liverpool since Van Dijk arrived at Anfield. They still have attacking intent of course. Jurgen Klopp still quietly despairs of those
coaches who try to strangle the life out of games. Yet they now have another way of playing and in a contest like this, where both teams were so wary, the strength of the centre-halves was a key factor.
In fact, it was a contest of central defenders because all four were truly outstanding.
John Stones has progressed under Pep Guardiola as much as any player at City, and the power of Aymeric Laporte (right, challenging Roberto Firmino) is mesmerising.
Yet Guardiola admitted afterwards that City’s game-plan faltered on the rocks of the two Anfield defenders...even if Van Dijk was perhaps slightly harshly judged to have conceded a penalty at the end.
“They are so strong,” the City boss explained. “Lovren in the final of the World Cup, Van Dijk so powerful, a top centre back.
“Our attack didn’t create too much but that is normal because they are so strong.”
It is hard to fathom, given this performance, but the reaction to Lovren’s name on the team-sheet from his own side’s supporters was hardly positive.
In fact, there was a sense of genuine anger among many that he was preferred to Joe Gomez, who was shunted to right-back.
It’s true that Gomez has struck an impressive partnership with Van Dijk, but Lovren (shackling Sergio Aguero, left) and the Dutchman are at a different level. Statistically, in virtually all areas – and chiefly goals conceded and clean sheets – they were the best pairing in the Premier League last season.
It is why Liverpool have quietly changed their game in recent months, with Klopp reducing the emphasis on what he calls heavy metal football, allowing his team to be more measured in their press and perhaps saving energy a little.
They are at the end of a ridiculously intensive period of seven games in 22 days against the likes of City, PSG, Chelsea and Napoli, it’s true, and the tactics reflect that, but maybe he is trying to save his team for a season-long title campaign.
If Liverpool are to challenge the champions they will need more games like this, where they try to pick off opponents and rely on the excellence of their two experienced defenders.
Lovren was immense, his tackling ferocious, and Van Dijk was imperious, that one mistake at the end apart.
It was fitting Riyad Mahrez fired over the penalty because the Dutchman’s performance didn’t deserve punishment.
And for all the talk of Gomez taking the Reds into a new era, this is a-defensive partnership of experience for games like this, one which Liverpool will need to be credible challengers.