Even without top scorer Erling Haaland, Manchester City was a size too big for Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool FC. Coach Pep Guardiola’s English football champions deservedly won 4-1 against the Reds.
“If you want to get something here, you have to play with eleven players,” Klopp complained after the ninth defeat of the season. “That was not the case again.”
Even before the match, the 55-year-old announced a transfer offensive in the summer. “We will invest,” said Klopp. “The club will definitely invest.” According to Klopp, only Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Cody Gakpo and goalkeeper Alisson Becker were able to compete against the high-speed football of Kevin De Bruyne and Co. on Saturday. “They could do whatever they wanted,” complained the former Bundesliga coach.
Europa League in danger
Despite Mohamed Salah’s 1-0 lead (17th minute), his team was lucky because City didn’t go for the next goal with full energy after the 3-1 lead. “We were lucky that they weren’t in such a greedy mood,” explained the ex-Dortmund coach. “The fact that they scored just one more goal is good, thank you. It could have been different.” World champion Julian Alvarez (27th), De Bruyne (46th), Ilkay Gündogan (53rd) and the outstanding Jack Grealish (74th) scored for the champion.
For Liverpool, even the Europa League is now in danger. On Saturday are Brighton
Guardiola, on the other hand, has very different plans with Manchester City. The Premier League title is not yet written off and then the club hopes for the Champions League. Bayern Munich’s quarter-final opponents showed the most beautiful offensive football against Liverpool, even without Haaland, who was still ailing. The ex-Dortmunder is expected to return to FC Southampton next weekend. “I spoke to him yesterday,” said Guardiola. “He feels well”.
