The answer: probably! Though Liverpool looked mostly clueless through yesterday’s meeting, it may well have been because City were seemingly everywhere, winning the majority of 50/50 balls, pushing the attack up both flanks and through the middle while meeting limited resistance, and suffocating the Reds’ front line on their counter.
Yes, Torres is still recovering and clearly doesn’t have that explosive speed we’re used to seeing from him, and yes the Mascherano drama (with him refusing to play while waiting to be transfered) didn’t help at all. But maybe it was more about Liverpool’s rigid 4-4-2—that Hodgson employed so well at the cottage—that was their main undoing. Gerrard sitting back and tasked with picking up runners through the midfield is not the best use of the man’s talents (and he’s no good at it), and Pool clearly have no left back option. Ngog and Torres at the point have absolutely no chemistry, and where was Kuyt yesterday?
On the opposite side of the filed, the home team looked like a side who had been playing together for much longer than they have (considering how frequently new signings come in). And as England manager Capello watched, Adam Johnson, left at home for the world cup, created a number of real chances for the sky blues with some nice runs up the wing and some potent shots off that left foot he has. Tevez was his usually tenacious self, though somehow looked more composed yesterday. And Toure in an attacking midfield role did well distributing the ball to the wings even if he did look a little uncomfortable so far up the field.
Man City’s defense was especially tight, and while I was admittedly confused to see Lescott, who I’ve always seen play in the center, out on the left wing, the man did well getting up the sideline and delivered a couple of nice balls into the box. The rest were more than competent, and of course there is Joe Hart, who is quickly becoming the darling keeper of England. That guy is like a magnet for the ball.
All that said, City look like they could challenge for the top spot this season )and we didn’t even get into the £90M worth of players they had sitting on the bench, while ‘pool look a shambles. Fortunes are sure to turn some during the long season, but right now it’s very obvious who the best teams are.
