It’s not too often you emerge from a 4-1 mauling and feel immense pride, but last night was one.
Battered, bruised and bewildered at half-time, the only question in town was ‘how many’, a question that also hung in the air during those nerve-jangling opening ten minutes of the second half.
But this group are made of stern stuff.
Lily-livered they most certainly are not, and it was that steely resolve to battle and not veer from the chosen path that saw them emerge with more than just pride intact. The warm words of Gary Neville and Jurgen Klopp meant something, and will hopefully serve as a confidence booster for the 37 games that remain.
The big fear at half-time, of course, was the longer-term psychological impact of an absolute hiding, but we needn’t have worried because behind the stern stuff and the belief in the system, there’s a young team that learns quickly.
By the time the game had entered its final half-hour, the wide-eyed bewilderment of the opening 60 minutes had been replaced with focus and determination, and a growing sense that as nightmarish as it had felt early on, this was a stage to be embraced rather than feared. And that’s what they did.
And in 92 minutes, in the crash-course from hell, Messrs Aarons, Lewis, Cantwell and Godfrey probably learnt more than they did in the whole of last season. So too the other lads who were experiencing Premier League football for the first time.
The overriding wish before it all began was that City give a good account of themselves, show the Premier League some glimpses of the football they are capable of and are then able to look ahead to the Newcastle game with confidence.
In that regardless, as point-less as it ended, I’d say it was mission accomplished.
The size of the task was enormous and while we all secretly hoped for a miracle, the fact that Liverpool have not lost in the league at Anfield since May 2017 rather puts it in perspective. So too the fact that Barcelona were on the end of that famous 4-0 Champions League drubbing.
And while we’re on the subject, here’s a selection of the Reds’ home results from last season:
12/08/18: Liverpool 4 West Ham Utd 0
27/10/18: Liverpool 4 Cardiff City 1
16/12/18: Liverpool 3 Manchester Utd 1
26/12/18: Liverpool 4, Newcastle Utd 0
29/12/18: Liverpool 5, Arsenal 1
26/04/19: Liverpool 5, Huddersfield 0
Even ignoring the fact that two of those big wins were against teams now in the Championship, there’s plenty of comfort for City, with United and Arsenal both enduring similarly difficult experiences in the glare of Anfield.
It was mission impossible, even if none of us wanted to say the words.
But even from the debris of the first half, there were some heroes to emerge, not least Tim Krul who stood tall, made some fine saves and never stopped encouraging those around him. Any lingering niggles around who should start the season in goal should hopefully now be put to bed.
He was a colossus.
Todd Cantwell too shone brightly and showed confidence and technique that not only justified his head coach’s faith, but also suggested that the rarified air of the Premier League may well be to his liking.
And let’s not forget, as traumatic as it felt at the time, City were able to hurt and get in behind the European champions, several times, and if Teemu Pukki and Marco Stiepermann’s radar had been slightly more attuned there were goals to be had.
The problem, of course, came in the transition, when City lost possession in attacking positions, and there were some basic defensive issues that would be problematic whoever you’re playing. But it didn’t feel like anything was broken, just work to be done and plenty of room for improvement, as you would expect.
Liverpool’s foot did come off the gas after an hour – Jurgen Klopp ackno9wledged as much – but by then City had found their feet and cleared their heads. To attribute the fairly even final half-hour down to just the Reds taking their foot off ignores the City improvement, helped considerably by the calming presence of Mo Leitner.
That City found the composure to play some of the football that got them to Anfield in the first place was hugely encouraging and it really does whet the appetite for what’s to come. The Premier League has now seen glimpses of what we can do and what great players we have, it’s now a case of unleashing it on those outside the top six from whom we need points.
Encouraging too is that Pukki got off the mark and that his telepathy with Emi Buendia has been undiminished by the summer months; our little slice of Argentinian footballing heaven too showing enough to suggest a productive campaign is incoming.
So, not necessarily what we had hoped for, but it was what most of us expected.
What we didn’t necessarily expect is to feel this good about what’s to come but we’re here because we’ve earned the right, and there was enough on show last night to suggest we can hang around.
OTBC
“Tricky”? Away to the European Champions, probably one of the best five club teams on the planet?
That must be the understatement of the season!
It was unfortunate that a rusty Hanley had to play – when did he last complete 90 minutes? A year ago?
It was encouraging that Godfrey in particular seems to have the ability to read the game even at this level.
I guess a lot of hopes are going to be pinned on Amadou providing a bit more bite in midfield, better protection for the back four. So let’s hope he can get up to speed quickly, fit in with an established group of players, and deliver on the pitch.
Thanks, a good read and spot on in the analysis.
I thought Krul deserved a start and he did himself proud and should start against Newcastle. I hope a game against one of his former clubs will spur him on even more.
Aarons was up against a tall, strong and fast player in Origi so it was a tough start. However, he still got forward to good effect. I’m sure he will have learnt a lot.
Felt sorry for Hanley with the own goal. It only reinforced that he is 4th choice centre back. Hope Zimbo is back soon.
Godfrey looks the part. He seems to have gained a bit of speed and strength from last season. We need to keep him fit and hope he steers clear of yellow cards.
Why was Lewis marking Virgil at a corner? Like Aarons a baptism of fire. Merging Salah was always going to be tough. He got forward a few times and looked dangerous with his direct running.
Trybull did ok. Probably needed the physicality of Amadou in front of the back four. Trybull had some chances at set pieces.
McLean put in a shift but was outclassed. He didn’t seem to do much with the ball.
Buendia already looks a Premier League player. His assist for the goal was first class. His defensive work was ok but him and Aarons were up against taller players. Is that going to be an issue in future games.
Apart from a couple of wayward shots I thought Stiepermann was not in the game much. I think he may struggle to keep his place.
Cantwell is much better than last season. He deserved his start and didn’t let the team down at all. He has a lot of competition in Hernandez and Roberts, which will keep him on his toes.
Great to see Pukki get his first goal in the Premier League. He is currently joint top scorer in the league, lol. We need to keep him fit. He looks sharp and his movement looks as good as last season. He may get 15 goals this season.
Leitner looked good when he came on. He is calm on the ball and has good ball retention and passing. I would play him ahead of McLean.
Against the top teams do we need to alter our formation to accommodate Vrancic and Leitner?
A lot of positives from the night. A lot learnt at no expense as it was very unlikely we were going to get a win or draw at Anfield.
This could be exactly like last season with a poor points haul from our first 5 games and then let’s hope we pick it up like last season and sprint up the table.
OTBC
I do have a bias, but at the end of the day I felt 4-1 flattered Liverpool. This was completely different to seasons past where it almost felt we were lucky to concede only 5.
We had 12 shots on their goal, of which 5 were on target – I don’t think anybody else did that at Anfield last season. They had 15 and 7, and got 3 goals.
OTBC
Paul
As you say Gary, a strange feeling to have been thumped 4-1 and yes still feeling immensely proud of the team.
The 1st half was harrowing at times but, even then, there was still things to be admired. And, actually, it didn’t really tell us anything we didn’t know already. We are never going to be watertight defensively, but we are going to create chances, even against the European Champions.
Stand out’s for me were Cantwell & Lewis, and Leitner when he came on. I was surprised Todd made the 1st XI, but he showed exactly why. Jamal was excellent and linked up well.
And Mo looked a class act.
Probably the most pleasing thing was that you could almost see them learning and getting to grips with things in the 2nd half. Keep our nerve and we’ll be fine!
Can’t say i enjoyed it, but it could have been much worse. I was fearing 7 or 8 goals so well done to Norwich for clamping down on Liverpool. As soon as he can Farke will replace Hanley, McLean, Trybull and Stiepermann with better options from his playing squad. Everyone will have learnt massively, including Newcastle. Big men up front, plenty of crosses in, and they will expect to be rewarded. The Pukki goal was justified reward for some stylish offensive play. Nice words from Klopp, apart from when he said “they didn’t care about the result”. He was clearly surprised that we didn’t park the bus at 4 down. Eyes are wide open now…
While few expected to get anything at Anfield, I feel we made it too easy for Liverpool – at least in the first half. The word that often gets bandied about when Norwich City defend at the top level is naive and I fear that tactics will need to be less rigid to prevent a real hiding, not just from the top teams.
That said, they will have learnt a lot – and that includes Farke.
There were positives to take from the game and that will be the key for adapting our promotion game to something with a bit more steel and objectivity.
Hi Gary
As all have mention a good read and analysis of last night’s game.
All must feel sorry for Hanley that deflection was cruel and not a lot he could have done about it.
Lewis marking Van Dyke is a strange on that possibly should have been Hanley.
Over all as you say not what was wanted but as we expected, kind words from the pundits and with city 3 down somehow we had more shots on target than Loserpool, just hadn’t got are sights set right.
Many of the teams that will be around city this season will have watched that game and taken note of the defensive lapses and sat up with surprise at our forward play.
We really need to get points on the board by the time we play Man C, if Arsenal can give them a kicking then Bruce will be really on soft ground and then all we need is Man U to do the same to Chelsea.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Total agreement with the article, Gary and the ensuing comments. I, too, thought Cantwell was outstanding, the tricks all still there, but far greater consistency. Pukki looked – well – like Pukki. How reassuring. Emi, I thought, tended to drift in and out as did McLean. Leitner seemed to have more time than the others when he made his appearance. I did find the way we passed the ball around our own box in defence a tad sphincter-puckering but I don’t think we conceded at all from doing that (and Krul’s footwork has definitely improved). For me, the big lesson has to be our midfielders finding space – by and large our passing was swift and accurate, but so often to a man who was tightly marked, and subsequently lost the ball: surely we have to find a way of dealing with this.
But – over and above everything else- our team (one of the youngest ever in the Prem?) – acquitted themselves very, very well, and can march out onto the pitch next Saturday with chests puffed out and heads held high.
OTBC ??????
We need to be realistic as well as optimistic. Too many of our players were dispossessed in possession last night. We wont have the time that we had in the Champioship. Also, our midfield was poor, allowing Liverpool to constantly pressure our defence. Unless we sort these two problems out we will have more results like last night.
Thanks, Mr G – a good read and well summed up. I cannot blame Hanley too much, he has not featured much and then finds himself in the melting pot on the most difficult game that could have been drawn for us. The Own goal is one of those things that hundreds of defenders do every season at all levels.
A lot of people ask why was Lewis marking the powerhouse of Van Dyke, that can only be zonal marking, why else would a 5ft 7in rookie be placed against a 6ft 4in monster. That system will always fail. see goals-against gives a massive clue.
It would be hard to lay blame on any player for any mistakes, for all the hype and experience surrounding Liverpool we did cause them problems and could have made a whole different reflect on the result had the aim been better.
I am so proud of my team, they have learned one hell of a lot of stuff from the first 45 mins, that will be invaluable in the coming months. No parking the bus, or holding onto a defeat. We stuck to our system and saw it will work, with a little tightening up in midfield areas.
In my mind Leitner is a sure fire nailed on first name for midfield, Stiepermann was a little off the pace, but still had 3 good shots. and perhaps shpuld have had at least one.
It was the first game, we have not got to go back there, we have thre rest of the season to claw back the goal difference, plus put into pratice what we learned.
The noise has started so I am not reading anywhere else expect here and local reports.
Yellow and Proud as hell .
Spot on analysis Gary, and I agree with your conclusion…. plus Liverpool had a touch of fortune about their first 2 goals (the second ricocheting against our players twice to let Salah in). I agree with Max – we gave it away a little too easily in midfield. I felt too that we should have brought in a central defender over the summer and look forward to seeing Amadou (met someone in the pub who really rates him – hope this is based on evidence!). Shame about Stieperman’s first two chances – both half decent – had we scored then, well who knows?
A thoughful analysis, much more than some of the detail I’ve read today.
Full of hope following that game, the players were learning rapidly before our eyes, and good to see the Liverpool defence clearly troubled at times. Sadly it has also highlited that sone of favourites might not be able to make the step up in class, but the young guard look very comfortable at this level.
Good read Gary and spot on.
Good analysis as always Gary. As we all hoped Norwich looked good going forward but as we feared vulnerable defensively. Whilst we press in the forward parts of the pitch we don’t defend well as a team. Our fullbacks are great at attacking but we find it difficult to cover for them. Buendia and Cantwell are good going forward but not adept at covering or challenging. That puts pressure on the two centre backs and Trybull as the defensive midfielder who is good with the ball but a bit slow and lightweight without it. I thought before the game that anything less than six nil would be ok so 4-1 was ok to me and Norwich looked good going forward. I am currently watching West Ham playing Man City and I much preferred watching Norwich have a go at Liverpool. The real test of course will be against Newcastle where we need to be a little tighter defensively whilst carving out the chances and taking them. Really pleased for Pukki who has looked a little out of sorts. Hope the players can keep believing and playing the exciting football that we know they can.
Good stuff Gary and some fair comments. For me the ongoing problem could be the size of our players…..Aaron’s terrific player that he is struggled against the huge Origi likewise as others have mentioned Lewis could not compete against Van Dyke, Trybull who I thought was poor looked lightweight in midfield and although not all sides are as good as liverpool most have players who are not only skillful but 6ft plus,angled crossed will be a problem if our centre halfs are by passed.