Guardiola: We had to stop Liverpool
City manager feared hosts’ attacking threat Klopp describes Nations League as ‘senseless’
‘If it is an open game, you don’t have one chance, not even one per cent of a chance’
Pep Guardiola explained why he chose not to go toe-to-toe with Liverpool as he compromised his attacking principles to secure a point at Anfield.
Manchester City’s surprisingly conservative tactics would have been validated with victory but for Riyad Mahrez’s penalty miss.
To say the Spaniard “parked the bus” would be stretching the point. Yet, having claimed he would never change his philosophy before the trip, Guardiola conceded he had to change after previous experiences.
“If it is an open game at Anfield, you don’t even have one chance, not even one per cent of a chance,” said the City manager.
“We controlled it through Riyad, Bernardo Silva and the guys to give the extra pass. It’s important because, up and down, I’m pretty sure they are the best team in the world in these transitions, offensive, defensive. In that situation, they are much better than us.”
City had less possession than in any game under Guardiola. It was also the longest they had gone without a shot on target during his reign – 62 minutes. Guardiola felt that curbing his instincts was necessary to curtail Liverpool’s front three.
“I am so comfortable with the performance. They didn’t have one shot on target,” said Guardiola. “Doing that at Anfield, that is so complicated. That is why, OK, we miss a bit in front, a little more creativity and pace to finish the action, but it is not easy because they are so strong and good.
“Lovren – final of World Cup. Van Dijk is a top central defender. Gomez is in incredible form. The goalkeeper. We cannot forget against which team we compete.
“We controlled much better than in the past and with the second balls, on which they are masters. Don’t lose the ball in dangerous positions because when you lose the ball there, they counter-attack with Firmino, Mane and Salah.
“It is a point. We were close, more than ever to winning here, but it is better than last season, we didn’t lose. We tried to be ourselves all the time and we competed well.”
Jurgen Klopp was equally content with the draw after emerging from a hectic fixture schedule in which Liverpool played Tottenham, Paris St-germain, Chelsea (twice), Napoli and City.
“It was an unbelievably intense period. Our fixtures were just crazy and you can never moan about it when you are in it. Now it’s over so I can moan about it,” said the Liverpool manager.
“Playing these teams is really difficult and I am happy with the results we got. If somebody had told me after eight match days you have 20 points, I would say with that fixture list, ‘I’ll buy it, let’s start with the ninth match day’.
“The boys have to play Nations League games – the most senseless competition in the world. We hope they come back healthy and play these ‘easy’ competitions, the Premier League, the Champions League. It’s tough times for the boys.”
Klopp felt Liverpool showed they were closer to City’s level in yesterday’s draw than his previous victories last season.
“We played City very often and they are just outstanding. In no game we played so far, the game was level like it was today,” he said. “Even when we won 3-0 at home, 4-3, 2-1 at City, over the full match it was never like this. For both teams it was intense and both showed respect for the other team. Don’t lose the ball in the wrong moment, otherwise you have problems.”
James Milner suffered a hamstring injury but Klopp said it was too early to know how serious it is.