Daniel Sturridge and Roy Keane didn’t hold back in criticising Liverpool’s defending for the goal that saw Manchester City go 2-0 up just before half-time on Sunday evening.
Moments after Virgil van Dijk had an equaliser harshly chalked off for an offside infringement involving Andy Robertson, City doubled their lead when Nico Gonzalez’s speculative 25-yard effort took a deflection off the Liverpool captain and wrong-footed Giorgi Mamardashvili.
It summed up the sheer lack of fortune that Arne Slot’s men endured at the Etihad, but several pundits weren’t in the mood to sympathise with the champions after that costly blow in first-half stoppage time.
While analysing the goal on Sky Sports, Keane – who branded Liverpool’s display as “dreadful” – slammed the defence for reacting far too slowly instead of stepping up from their line near the six-yard box. He raged: “Where’s the intensity? It’s just before half-time, a massive moment, and no one’s pushing out. People will say Van Dijk is unlucky; he’s not. You have to get out! Squeeze up and pressure the ball.”
Sturridge focused on the deflection off the Reds’ skipper, adding: “Tough to watch. The shot wasn’t even good, if we’re honest, but when you hit the target, these things can happen. Gonzalez could’ve done better, but sometimes you get the reward when it falls your way.”
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Gonzalez got lucky – but Liverpool switched off
Was City’s second goal pure luck, or should Liverpool have defended it far better?
Gonzalez certainly benefitted massively from the ricochet off Van Dijk – as Sturridge noted, the initial strike lacked power and looked like it was heading wide.
However, Slot will be furious at how passive his team were. Less than 10 seconds before the ball hit the net, every Liverpool player was inside their own penalty area, compared to just four City players – all of whom were marked. Yet Gonzalez still had the freedom to take a touch, shift the ball onto his right foot and shoot without any real pressure.
Why was he allowed so much space? Why did Liverpool fail to push up despite having the numbers back?
Yes, Gonzalez got the rub of the green, but Liverpool’s defensive organisation and reaction were far too slow. They made life far too easy for the 23-year-old to put City two goals ahead at a crucial point in the match.
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