Liverpool Vs Manchester City: 2 - 2

EPL Matchday 2:

This game was expected to be a cracker of a match and it simply did not disappoint. Also, tactically this answered a few burning questions on how Liverpool and City have changed from the previous season and how this bodes for the remaining 37 games.

The starting lineups were some what surprising even if not unpredictable. The fact that Raheem Sterling hadn't been even approached for a loan and the decreasing impact of Stewart Downing even in Pre-Season told us that this was going to be his breakout season. We just didn't expect him to start so soon. Seb Coates came in over Daniel Agger, Carragher wasn't preferred due to his declining form and his incompatibility with Rodger's brand of possession football. Lucas Leiva started and was promptly injured and replaced by Jonjo Shelvey. Joe Allen started as well,but had to drop to a deeper role to cover for Lucas. Borini and Suarez started upfront.

Manchester City sprung quite a few surprises. Lescott and Silva could find place only on the bench with De Jong and Kolo Toure starting. Balotelli and Aguero started upfront assisted by Nasri who was almost in the hole, Milner providing precious little support from the right.

The formations were almost 4-1-2-3/4-3-3 for Liverpool and City in a weird 3-4-1-2. City's three man back line shuffle against Chelsea came across as the result of an injury. However, Mancini seems to have adopted it as his Plan B. Being an Italian, he surely must have noticed Napoli and The Italian team at the Euros being very successful with a three man defence. However, even if the idea may have had some merit, the personnel were simply not as required with Kolo Toure ill suited to such a role with Lescott on the bench.


Midfield Stalemate:

City had the element of surprise and lack of familiarity with a three man defence (a rarity in the PL apart from Wigan) and started well with the extra men leading to a higher defensive line. The game started well but even then it was obvious that this would be fought from the blanks with Nasri, Toure and De Jong cancelling out Shelvey, Gerrard and Allen who had to drop in to the holding role due to Lucas's injury. Samir Nasri provided some creativity with a through ball to Tevez who could only hit the post. But, barring this the midfield simply could not create.

Flanks:

Suarez, Borini, Sterling pressing Kompany, Toure, Milner, Zabaleta and Kolarov

This s where the action was. The classic dilemma of a team playing against a three man defence is for the wingers to cover the opposing wingers or the opposing wingbacks. Sterling (left) and Borini (right) got some slack due to the high defensive line that City kept and thus were able to track back against the wing backs and close them down while attacking when needed. Sterling was highly impressive in this regard with his boundless energy helping to close Milner down and attacking the very uncomfortable Kolo Toure when in possession.

With a 4-3-3 against  3-4-1-2, there was a 3 v 3 at the back, with Borini, Suarez and Sterling harrying and pressing Zabaleta, Kompany and Toure.

Liverpool's new found ball retention policy along with the ability to counter or break with surprising speed made a refreshing change from their time under Dalglish. Indeed as they grew into the game , they dominated for long periods in which City could just watch. Martin Skrtel's bullet header from a corner was just reward for their domination. City replied courtesy a defensive gaffe by Coates, who knocked the ball onto Toure's feet giving a bereft of ideas City team a foothold.

Substitutions:

After Substitutions, City revert to a 4 man defence

The customary Mancini 'push Toure up' by getting in a defensive midfielder was implemented with Jack Rodwell who sat deep with De Jong and was decent. Andre Marriner's decision to award a freekick was certainly ill deserved and Suarez took full advantage with a fantastic effort catapulting them into the lead. Mancini took off Milner for Silva but Liverpool continued to press forward. City looked clueless and were offered a lifeline by Martin Skrtrel's brain fade when he passed it to a calm Tevez instead of Reina going from hero to zero. Liverpool kept pressing but couldn't find a way through.

The 2-2 scoreline flattered City who were outplayed comfortably. However, this was a fight of two differing and new systems with City's three man back line and Pool's taste of possession football.

The conclusion ??

Mancini needs a libero type centre back ala Javi Martinez (off to Bayern,i'm afraid) if he'd like to continue this experiment. Liverpool need more time, however the signs are very encouraging. Also Joe Allen alongside Nuri Sahin/Lucas would make a fantastically technical midfield. If only Borini found his feet a bit quicker ...