Man Metropolis’s 4-0 win at Wolves confirmed they’re up for a Premier League title chase – however the best way they did it had Jamie Carragher questioning whether or not Pep Guardiola’s recent method has been influenced by Liverpool.
After Metropolis dropped off their standard requirements final time period, Guardiola introduced in Pep Lijnders as assistant coach, Jurgen Klopp’s former deputy at Liverpool.
With Metropolis enjoying an offside lure at Molineux and scoring on the counter-attack, Carragher believes Lijnders “is having a big influence on Guardiola”, noting the similarities with the model Lijnders and Klopp favoured throughout their time collectively at Anfield.
A excessive line
Defensively, Man Metropolis repeatedly pushed as much as attempt to catch Wolves offside – and did simply that when Marshall Munetsi headed in through the first half. That plan was even executed near the midway line, with Metropolis’s backline stepping proper up excessive as Wolves tried to play the ball forwards.
“I couldn’t believe what I saw, the players were all jumping high up to try and catch the Wolves players offside,” stated Carragher instructed Monday Evening Soccer.
“This is very Liverpool-like. It made me think how much influence is maybe the new coach having on this team.”
Whether or not it was Liverpool-inspired or not, fellow Sky Sports activities pundit Gary Neville applauded the efficiency of Man Metropolis’s defence to maintain such a disciplined line.
“It’s really good play,” he added. “To get a back-four unit in sync like that, it takes some doing. It’s really good play from [centre-back] John Stones.”
Quick counter-attacks
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Issy Christiansen and Jamie Redknapp analyse Tijjani Reijnders’ Manchester Metropolis debut after the brand new signing was concerned in three of the 4 targets
Carragher additionally famous similarities between Metropolis’s efficiency with Liverpool’s menace on the break beneath Klopp.
Tijjani Reijnders’ objective got here from a swift transfer up the sector, with Guardiola making some extent of celebrating with Lijnders within the aftermath.
“The amount of counter-attacking goals that Liverpool team would score with [Sadio] Mane and [Mohamed] Salah, breaking forward,” stated Carragher. “When I looked at the goal from Reijnders… not maybe a Pep Guardiola goal.
“Of course, Pep Guardiola’s teams have scored plenty of counter-attacking goals in the past. But what really stood out for this one was the type of goal it was. They win it and then they’re off.
“Lijnders – Guardiola offers him the thanks, the hug. Now we do not know precisely what that is for, however I do not assume it is a coincidence with a number of the issues that I noticed within the sport that he, as a coach, is having a giant affect on Pep Guardiola.”
Pep Guardiola embraces his assistant coach Pep Lijnders after Man Metropolis rating towards Wolves
Afterwards, Guardiola himself stated Metropolis have been making an attempt to be higher with attacking breaks than they have been final season.
“It’s a weapon that we want to use this season – when we’re getting the ball, attack quicker than maybe before.”
Pep adapting once more
Whether or not it’s a Liverpool inspiration from Lijnders or not, it appears clear Guardiola has as soon as once more reimagined his Man Metropolis aspect.
Carragher says the serial winner recognised the shift in model within the Premier League away from managed, affected person build-up right into a extra dynamic method – and has responded.
“What Pep stated final season, when he was speaking about the place the sport was going, he was really saying, ‘it is not likely my soccer’, the soccer that was seen of groups within the Premier League. Transition, end-to-end soccer.
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Wolves and Manchester Metropolis
“I think he mentioned Brentford, he was talking about Bournemouth, he wasn’t just talking about the real top teams. How many teams in the Premier League were playing like that.”
Metropolis have proven they will have success enjoying that manner too. After studying from their rivals, they appear like they are going to be critical contenders for the Premier League crown as soon as once more. That is a view shared by Neville.
“Watching that game on Saturday, it was a little bit, ‘Oh, did we just forget about the obvious?’ Pep Guardiola, if he loses a title, he’ll win it back,” stated Neville.
“He wins titles nearly every single year he’s coached in his career, and when you saw Reijnders on Saturday, you think of Rodri to come back in, you think of Stones and [Ruben] Dias, [Erling] Haaland up front… that’s a spine and a half, that’s a title-winning spine, it’s a treble-winning spine with a manager who’s prolific.
“Metropolis, simply off what we have seen on Saturday, in the event that they preserve their gamers match, they might be actually in enterprise.”
