Inspiring his City stars to now beat Liverpool will be toughest job of Pep’s bejewelled coaching career
ETIHAD STADIUM
attacking category are inevitable. With Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus on the bench, there was no-one to take up a central role, although Bernardo Silva, all five foot-nothing of him, gave it the occasional crack.
As defensively vulnerable as they were here and at Anfield, City – with Jesus struggling – badly missed a useful attacking focal point.
That will be addressed by Sheikh Mansour’s wealth.
Obviously, the Sheikh was not in attendance, even though it would have given him the chance to rub shoulders with Gianni Infantino, in the unlikely event he has a clue who the president of FIFA is.
Infantino must have been wowed by the frenetic occasion, if not the officiating. There will be no English referees at the World Cup and no wonder, if Martin Atkinson’s display is a barometer of the overall standard. He was shocking, although Ashley Young would disagree, having been allowed to handle in the area and top Aguero with a full set of studs, also in the penalty box. That was no excuse for City, having cruised into the two-goal first-half lead courtesy of Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan. Their derby downfall was the combination of uncertain defending and an incessant knack of missing chances. In the end, within the parameters of this season’s Premier League, it should only cost them the indignation of a painful defeat to bitter rivals.
It was, though, a signpost to the long-term issues that Guardiola will address. And in the short term, it is hard to see this as anything other than a crushing physical and mental blow just 72 hours before Liverpool arrive with a three-goal lead in their luggage.
Klopp (left) will probably trot out a line about the possibility of a backlash but, deep down, he will know.
He will know City looked dispirited, bedraggled and bemused when Atkinson blew the final whistle, almost too shell-shocked to take it all in. And that is why he should have been smiling from ear to ear.
He will know Mourinho and United have done him and Liverpool a massive favour.
As if they needed one.
Alexis Sanchez has provided two assists in a Premier League game for only the second time, also doing so against Newcastle in December 2014.
Sanchez has had a hand in four goals in his last two Premier League games for Manchester United (1 goal, 3 assists).