Nev hails ‘fantastic’ change in Liverpool tactics

Matt Stead

Gary Neville was full of praise for a “fantastic” Liverpool side as they employed slightly different tactics to beat Manchester City 4-1.

Liverpool raced into a 3-0 lead inside 31 minutes at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening as they coasted their way to a 4-1 win which saw City knocked off the top of the Premier League.

Klopp has quickly implemented his high-intensity, high pressing style since taking over at Anfield, but Neville noted a change in approach from the Reds in Manchester.

“They were fantastic,” he said on The Gary Neville Podcast on Sky Sports.

“Even before they scored, we noticed the belief and their intent to pass the ball really quickly and brightly. City couldn’t cope – they looked really sluggish in the first half.

“People talk about the frantic press of Klopp’s teams and the pressing from the front. It wasn’t necessarily all about that against City – it was all about dropping off and then springing into counter-attacks.

“The transition was devastating from Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp.

“They knew that City would spread their full-backs wide and their wingers would go wide too, meaning the two centre-backs and central midfielders could get isolated.

“The game plan was executed brilliantly. Klopp will be delighted as he’d have worked on it all week and his team have gone and done it for him.”