Liverpool endured a miserable night out at the Etihad Stadium as they lost 3-1 to Manchester City in just another rainy night down the M62. It was unusual game – Liverpool were by no means poor during the 90 mins, while Manchester City did not put their strongest team out there and yet did enough to secure a resounding win. Here are three things we learned on Bank Holiday Monday.
History is not about to repeat for Liverpool
The last time Liverpool played Manchester City in the second Premier League game of the season, on a Monday night, they were managed by Roy Hodgson and witnessed their defensive midfield stalwart Javier Mascherano literally go out on strike and refuse to play for the Reds. Liverpool have flirted with bankruptcy, relegation and title-winning glory ever since; but the sale of Luis Suarez (just like Mascherano, to Barcelona) has given rise to fears that this season will be back to square one.
There is no guarantee of Liverpool competing for the title again, or comfortably finishing in 4th place; but Liverpool showed enough to prove that they can mix it with the best in the league. This was a night when whatever had to go wrong went wrong for Liverpool – Alberto Moreno making just one crucial mistake that proved costly and later picking up an injury, Glen Johnson picking up an injury late in the game, Emre Can showing some petulance that was nowhere to be seen this season, nearly getting himself sent off within the space of 15 minutes. The Reds, however, can ‘afford’ to make mistakes now – given that not many other teams go to the Etihad Stadium and come way with much anyway.
Stevan Jovetic worth the money paid for him?
Former Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic was one of Europe’s most coveted talents during the time prior to his big money transfer to Manchester City. GBP 22m looked like a lot of many to be paid for someone who was going to be 3rd or 4th choice as a striker, especially given that he would be injured for much of the 2013-14 season. The Montenegrin is not endurd the best of summers, but has carried on from hwere he left off in preseason
Manchester City still title favourites
Despite the fact that Manchester City won their second Premier League title in 3 seasons – this time, with much less of a fuss than in 2012 – it is Chelsea that have been anointed as title favourites in 2014-15 and quite understandably so. However, Manchester City’s perennial timing was the warning shot that has made everyone else sit up and text. Moreover, the changes the Citizens have made to their squad have been strategic ones, firmly made the m8deo and it is serving them well. Fernando, for example, has come in and proven to be an even better mid for a midfield was someone who could give Yaya Toure the license to roam free. Manchester United, Liverpool and others – it would need all this and moch more for current status quo to be broken.
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