As you were
Much like the last time we played City, another thrilling game between two top teams finished 2-2. I’ve mentioned this before but credit to both teams and managers, they never play for a draw in these fixtures, both teams try and win and for the neutral, they always serve up a good game.
Into the bones of it then. If I had one criticism of this team, it’s that we’re too often slow starters these days and once again fell victim to that first half. We looked nervous, sloppy passing all over the pitch but particularly from defence and midfield. I lost count of how many times Fabinho gave the ball and way and even the usually unflappable Van Dijk was on the receiving end of a blast from Robbo after kicking the ball straight out of play, in what should have been a routine pass.
I thought De Bruyne cut through our midfield too easily all game as we struggled to get to grips with the Belgian. His goal took a lucky deflection but we’d already had the warning sign when Ali made a great save to deny Sterling in the opening 5 minutes. I must admit to being concerned in the opening 20 minutes as City seemed to be creating chances with ease.
You can never write us off however and we were level not long after. One fullback to another, knock back from Trent and that man Jota again, in the right place at the fight time. For all the furore around Salah’s contract, it’s Jota’s goals that have kept us in the running for all the trophies these past couple of months.
Big improvement second half I thought and the game was far more even. Brilliant assist from Salah to Mane, hopefully it will do the Egyptian’s confidence a bit of good as he’s been well off the boil recently and we’ve nothing but big games now until the end of the season.
In the end, I think a draw was probably a fair result yesterday but what does it do to the title race? Very little is the answer, it’s as you were. The only difference is that the title is no longer on our hands but it changes very little. We needed to win every game before and that’s still the case. Whether we can do it or not and whether it will make any difference in the end remains to be seen but we’re still right in it when nobody else has even got close to City in recent years.
There’s little time for analysis however as we prepare for our second leg at home to Benfica, which you would expect us to get through comfortably, bringing a two goal lead back to Anfield but there can be no room for complacency and then City again in the FA cup on Saturday. Talk about potentially a season defining week! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though, one game at a time. Walk on!
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