Respect and ‘tsunami’ in an Anfield classic
Pep Guardiola had it right. “It was like a tsunami,” the Manchester City manager said as he discussed Liverpool’s raucous, raw comeback in an English Premier League contest for the ages that finished 1-1 yesterday.
And “tsunami” is the right word. It was like giant red waves crashing into sky blue City, caused by some fundamental, deep-seated kind of earthquake that rolled around Anfield.
There is also something in the fact that for all the brilliance he has brought to City, Liverpool’s home remains the one arena where Guardiola has not fully exerted his control.
There was the emphatic 4-1 win in 2021, but that was in Covid times in an empty stadium – and make no mistake that City were rattled here after finally looking like they might have tamed this proud beast. Still, it was a draw and a good point for them.
Even so, they were hanging on at he end and were perhaps fortunate not to concede a second penalty deep into injury-time which would have swung the Premier League title race significantly in Liverpool’s favour.
As the final whistle went, as Liverpool implored referee Michael Oliver to award the spot-kick, after substitute Jeremy Doku appeared to catch Alexis MacAllister with a boot into his chest, Jurgen Klopp and Guardiola shook hands. The respect was clear.
So, is that it? Is this the 30th and last meeting between these two great managers? There may be one more – possibly in the FA Cup Final – but never again at Anfield with Klopp stepping down at the end of the season.
With 10 games to go it is obviously far too close to call, with Arsenal ahead of Liverpool on goal difference and just a point in front of the champions, City. City may be third but probably remain the favourites as they search for an unprecedented fourth title in a row.
Guardiola was asked for his thoughts and noted there were 30 points to play for – City’s next opponent is Arsenal at home – and so dismissed the relevance of where this leaves the title race.
Afterwards Klopp said he had met up with his wife, Ulla, and she was “buzzing” and that was a feeling shared by everyone who was at this game and one that should not be lost in the analysis, debate, controversy and talking points. “I am so happy with the way we played today and the result is just one thing,” Klopp said, and it was probably a sentiment shared by Guardiola.
“Are we really in the race from a performance point of view?” Klopp added. “Today showed we are in the right position.”
Again, Guardiola will have concurred and this is how deliciously poised this race is as the home straight comes into view.
The heat is on. There was even the sight of Kevin de Bruyne arguing with Guardiola after he was substituted – although, in fairness, Nunez was also unhappy with Klopp, slowly shaking his head, as he was taken off. But then no player wanted to miss the action.
There was also the normally unflappable Rodri in a flap while Luis Diaz was a mixture of threat and chaos and amid all the chances, all the back and forth, as both sides went for it, he was guilty of the most glaring miss. Sent through on goal by Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian’s first involvement after coming off the bench, Diaz got his angles all wrong and sliced horribly wide.
In other matches yesterday, Tottenham crushed Aston Villa 4-0 in a battle between two teams with Champions League ambitions, Brighton beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 and West Ham drew 2-2 at home to Burnley.