Champions League: First leg lessons

Defenders Slow In Transition:

The first goal had a hint of offside, but it was a fine line. You certainly cannot blame the linesman for missing it if that was the case. To argue that point is to not address the real problem in the game last night.

A lot has been made about City’s ability to transition from defence into attack. It is certainly quicker than most oppositions ability to get their defence sorted, and that’s where some of our more dominating performances have come from.

In this game we came across a side whose transition was quicker than ours. When we turned over the ball Liverpool were lightening quick in moving it forward. When they turned the ball over, in the first half in particular, they were quick at closing down.

Liverpool’s first goal was down to their quick break combined with our defenders in ability to clear the ball. Mo Salah was on hand to put the ball in the net after Kyle Walker lost the ball under his feet.

The second goal was a great strike from the Ox. A shot from distance in which Ederson seemed relaxed only a few moments before picking the ball from the net. Failure to set his feet saw the ball past him before he even thought about diving. Again, it was a quick Liverpool transition combined with City being slightly behind the ball.

Failure to close down from a whole host of City players allowed Mane to get the third goal. The only positive is that we surely cannot be that bad in a weeks time.