Jeremy Doku was far from generous in his assessment of Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday.
The Reds claimed their first Premier League win at the Etihad since November 2015, extending their lead at the top of the table to 11 points after capitalizing on Arsenal’s loss to West Ham. Despite City dominating possession and recording twice as many shots, Alisson Becker was rarely tested, with Guardiola’s side managing an xG of just 0.63 (Sofascore).
Doku Downplays Liverpool’s Performance
Speaking to Sky Sports (via BBC Sport) after the match, the Belgian winger suggested that Liverpool were not significantly better than City.
“To be fair, if I look at the game, I don’t think they were much better than us. Two goals—one from a set piece and another from a long ball—so credit to them. We know their qualities and how they like to play in behind. They did well, and after that, it’s tough to come back against a team that defends like that.”
He added: “We played well but could have handled certain situations better. Today, we performed better against them than in the reverse fixture. Of course, there’s a points gap, but you can’t say they ran over us.”
A Bitter Take from Doku?
Doku’s comments come across as a little bitter, especially considering his strong individual performance against Trent Alexander-Arnold. However, he was unable to produce a game-changing moment for City.
Liverpool’s opening goal, courtesy of Mo Salah, came from a well-executed corner routine, while the build-up to Dominik Szoboszlai’s strike featured an exquisite pass from the Reds’ vice-captain.
If one had only heard Doku’s remarks without watching the game, they might assume Liverpool had scraped a win with ultra-defensive tactics. In reality, they played with composure both in and out of possession, delivering decisive moments of quality.
While it wasn’t the kind of dazzling display seen in their wins over Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham, or Spurs earlier in the season, Liverpool controlled the game in a different but equally impressive way.
Ultimately, Doku may have to accept that Liverpool fully deserved the victory. The 20-point gap between the teams speaks volumes, as does the widespread belief that the Premier League trophy is heading to Anfield.
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