Man Metropolis’s 4-0 win at Wolves confirmed they’re up for a Premier League title chase – however the way in which they did it had Jamie Carragher questioning whether or not Pep Guardiola’s contemporary method has been influenced by Liverpool.
After Metropolis dropped off their ordinary requirements final time period, Guardiola introduced in Pep Lijnders as assistant coach, Jurgen Klopp’s former deputy at Liverpool.
With Metropolis enjoying an offside entice at Molineux and scoring on the counter-attack, Carragher believes Lijnders “is having a giant affect on Guardiola”, noting the similarities with the type Lijnders and Klopp favoured throughout their time collectively at Anfield.
A excessive line
Jamie Carragher demonstrates the excessive line Man Metropolis performed with at Wolves
Defensively, Man Metropolis repeatedly pushed as much as attempt to catch Wolves offside – and did simply that when Marshall Munetsi headed in throughout the first half. That plan was even executed near the midway line, with Metropolis’s backline stepping proper up excessive as Wolves tried to play the ball forwards.
“I could not imagine what I noticed, the gamers have been all leaping excessive as much as try to catch the Wolves gamers offside,” mentioned Carragher instructed Monday Night time Soccer.
“That is very Liverpool-like. It made me assume how a lot affect is possibly the brand new coach having on this workforce.”
Whether or not it was Liverpool-inspired or not, fellow Sky Sports activities pundit Gary Neville applauded the efficiency of Man Metropolis’s defence to maintain such a disciplined line.
“It is actually good play,” he added. “To get a back-four unit in sync like that, it takes some doing. It is actually good play from [centre-back] John Stones.”
Quick counter-attacks
Issy Christiansen and Jamie Redknapp analyse Tijjani Reijnders’ Manchester Metropolis debut after the brand new signing was concerned in three of the 4 objectives
Carragher additionally famous similarities between Metropolis’s efficiency with Liverpool’s risk on the break underneath Klopp.
Tijjani Reijnders’ aim got here from a swift transfer up the sector, with Guardiola making a degree of celebrating with Lijnders within the aftermath.
“The quantity of counter-attacking objectives that Liverpool workforce would rating with [Sadio] Mane and [Mohamed] Salah, breaking ahead,” mentioned Carragher. “Once I regarded on the aim from Reijnders… not possibly a Pep Guardiola aim.
“In fact, Pep Guardiola’s groups have scored loads of counter-attacking objectives up to now. However what actually stood out for this one was the kind of aim it was. They win it after which they’re off.
“Lijnders – Guardiola offers him the thanks, the hug. Now we do not know precisely what that is for, however I do not assume it is a coincidence with among the issues that I noticed within the sport that he, as a coach, is having a giant affect on Pep Guardiola.”
Pep Guardiola embraces his assistant coach Pep Lijnders after Man Metropolis rating towards Wolves
Afterwards, Guardiola himself mentioned Metropolis have been attempting to be higher with attacking breaks than they have been final season.
“It is a weapon that we need to use this season – once we’re getting the ball, assault faster than possibly earlier than.”
Pep adapting once more
Whether or not it’s a Liverpool inspiration from Lijnders or not, it appears clear Guardiola has as soon as once more reimagined his Man Metropolis aspect.
Carragher says the serial winner recognised the shift in type within the Premier League away from managed, affected person build-up right into a extra dynamic method – and has responded.
“What Pep mentioned final season, when he was speaking about the place the sport was going, he was really saying, ‘it is not likely my soccer’, the soccer that was seen of groups within the Premier League. Transition, end-to-end soccer.
Highlights from the Premier League match between Wolves and Manchester Metropolis
“I believe he talked about Brentford, he was speaking about Bournemouth, he wasn’t simply speaking about the actual high groups. What number of groups within the Premier League have been enjoying like that.”
Metropolis have proven they will have success enjoying that approach too. After studying from their rivals, they seem like they are going to be severe contenders for the Premier League crown as soon as once more. That is a view shared by Neville.
“Watching that sport on Saturday, it was slightly bit, ‘Oh, did we simply neglect in regards to the apparent?’ Pep Guardiola, if he loses a title, he’ll win it again,” mentioned Neville.
“He wins titles practically each single 12 months he is coached in his profession, and while you noticed Reijnders on Saturday, you consider Rodri to come back again in, you consider Stones and [Ruben] Dias, [Erling] Haaland up entrance… that is a backbone and a half, that is a title-winning backbone, it is a treble-winning backbone with a supervisor who’s prolific.
“Metropolis, simply off what we have seen on Saturday, in the event that they preserve their gamers match, they could possibly be actually in enterprise.”
