Liverpool reach semi-final as Man City's Champions League dreams go up in smoke
The thunderstorm came just as Jurgen Klopp had predicted, a torrent of pressure from Manchester City that must have felt overwhelming at times, but when it was all over there was the proverbial golden sky of Anfield lore, and for the third time this season, Liverpool had done it.
That is to say they had beaten the team once considered unbeatable to claim a place in the Champions League semi-finals, having first kept their heads while Pep Guardiola’s team unleashed hell upon them for the first 45 minutes.
City played every moment of that first half as if it was the last minute of the last game of football of their lives and somehow, with heroic defending, and a little fortune, Liverpool were still in a position to win the game, and the tie after the break.
When did the weather change? It might have been when Guardiola was sent off at half-time for telling the Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz that he had been wrong about the decision to disallow what would have been City’s second goal on the night, from Leroy Sane.
Guardiola was right in that respect, it should have stood, but perhaps wrong to challenge a Spanish referee whom he knows brooks no dissent. Sent to the stand in the second half, City had lost their forceful touchline presence, although that was only part of the reason they faltered.
Man City vs Liverpool player ratings
They had scored after just two minutes, Gabriel Jesus finishing a move of ruthless precision and, from then, City’s intensity was such that it was all Liverpool could do to keep the door closed against the gathering storm. It came down their right predominantly, where Sane and David Silva outnumbered Trent Alexander-Arnold and the ball was whipped into the area, where Liverpool were obliged to take their chances.
At the time it felt the goals were inevitable but while City, and Kevin De Bruyne, were masterful in getting the ball out to that left wing, they could never quite dominate the Liverpool box in the same way – where Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren were outstanding. Perhaps if that Sane goal had been allowed to stand before half-time, it might have been a different English team in the semi-finals, but once Liverpool reached the break, the game was never the same again.
Klopp has taken Liverpool to the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2008 in only his second full season at a club which is only the ninth-richest in Europe. He may yet draw the conquerors of Barcelona, the Serie A team Roma, who, so far, are the great trespassers in this game of the wealthy. Yet the Liverpool manager’s achievement is also extraordinary when one considers they sold arguably the club’s best player, Philippe Coutinho, in January and have just about broken even in spending since Klopp’s arrival in late 2015.
To win this game, Liverpool needed a man capable of seizing the moment and none are more accomplished in that art than Mohamed Salah, whose 39th goal of the season was a classic. Before half-time Klopp had tried to release some of the pressure by putting the Egyptian in a more central role and when the ball broke loose in the City area with 11 minutes of the second half played, Salah was once again in the right place at the right time.
Man City 1 Liverpool 2 (1-5 on agg) | Views, news and analysis from Champions League second leg
There was another for Roberto Firmino, gifted to him by Nicolas Otamendi, and by then many of the City fans who had raged at the secret Liverpool supporters among them celebrating Salah’s goal, took it upon themselves to leave. If the failure to convert all that first-half possession – a share of 71 per cent – had been a glitch in the Guardiola matrix then Otamendi represented nothing more than sheer, galling incompetence, and they have had a gut-full of that at City in years past.
City had been broken, a gale that was all blown out, a crowd that no longer believed something magical might happen. Liverpool had emerged from the bunker of their defensive position after half-time and drew the surprising conclusion they were still very much in this.
Originally the question had been by how many they could afford to lose, the outcome was they won home and away by the handsome aggregate of 5-1. From his second-half position in the stand alongside lieutenant Manel Estiarte, Guardiola rubbed his head in frustration.
There was a penalty he felt he was denied when Andy Robertson challenged Raheem Sterling in the first half. Firmino might have been given a second yellow for a challenge on De Bruyne seconds before the Salah goal. Later Guardiola would recall the half-time conversation in which he explained to the official his error, and it did not sound the kind of exchange that gets a manager dismissed, although we only had one version of it.
This was the third defeat for Guardiola in a week, and it would be no surprise if Tottenham Hotspur make it four at Wembley on Saturday. He rejected the notion the intensity of City’s season has caught up with them and asked whether it was not the case that all teams had fluctuations in form. Yet this was the side who were supposed to be impervious to the usual weaknesses that stalk lesser teams.
Liverpool and Roma through
There was a foul by Sterling on Van Dijk in the build-up to the City goal and, from the Dutchman’s wayward pass, City’s response was rapid. From Bernardo Silva’s interception they moved the ball from Fernandinho to Sterling and then a cross to Jesus, who finished first time with his right foot.
By the time Sane’s goal was disallowed – he had been in an offside position but the ball had ricocheted off James Milner – Liverpool had only just survived two near misses from Bernardo. It was Sadio Mane who broke the defensive line brilliantly for the first goal, darting past Aymeric Laporte and forcing Ederson to dive at his feet. Then Salah slipped past Ederson and chipped Otamendi. The second was given to Firmino, whose finish was superb.
Only in the 66th minute had Sergio Aguero come on, the club’s greatest-ever goalscorer a Plan B on a night when they needed goals. Guardiola likes to say that just as he chooses how to win so it could be said he chooses how to lose and whatever he hoped to do, Liverpool had the answer.
Liverpool and Roma through
Pep Guardiola absolutely lays into Antonio Mateu Lahoz
"Well it's a tough game, congratulations Liverpool first of all, we'll be back stronger next season. Our result in Liverpool was so tough, we did it scored the first one, we scored the second one but the decisions from the referee, the goal at Anfield was offside for Salah, the second goal the ball came off Milner. I said congratulations to the team for what you have done, you have to be perfect and the decisions well. But nothing.
"That competition is so important, it's the same from the last game against United. The most incredible penalty I see in my life but Martin Atkinson didn't want to whistle, these decisions make the difference.
"In the right moment we missed the right decisions.
"I said it was goal, I didn't insult him. I was right, I was correct. He's a special guy, he likes to be right, he likes to be special.
"I know what happened in Monaco last season when it was 1-1 when yellow card for Aguero, I know him from Spain he likes to be different. When everyone sees a thing he wants the opposite. He's too much to send [me] off because I didn't say a wrong word."
Guardiola words
Guardiola: "I said it was 'a goal' at half time. That's why he sent me off. It's different to go to HT 1-0 not 2-0, it's different when Salah's first goal at Anfield is offside. These are the things that influence things. Big congratulations to Liverpool, top team top manager."
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) April 10, 2018
Jurgen Klopp post-match
"I am [delighted[. It was quite difficult, again it was quite clear especially with the start, this wonderful goal we served on a plate but honestly I expect something a little like that and then you have to react the right way. I liked how we react but City took all the risk so we needed a bit of luck and disciplined defending formation. I thought we had to be much more compact, if we give them these second balls they're already in the right places, what can I say, I have nothing to criticise!
"He took all the risk. It was his decision. It's easy to say Liverpool won so City were wrong but it wasn't, they could have had two or three. It was clear if we won a ball we'd have an opportunity. The last situation in the first half is how you do the counter-attack, it's not the Champions League about perfection, it's about the result and character, mentality, attitude and we created that again. Not our best football game but I thought deserved in the end.
"You have to learn from the game. I have no problem conceding but if it happens you have to react. But we were still moaning, having little fights, that's not the attitude you should have. If they want the ball they have to kill you and in a few moments it was too easy.
"We needed to be more compact, we shouted like crazy that we had to push up, there were plenty of things we should have done better but then the second half we show up to win the ball. We needed to start new, that was clear, and we used the momentum for us. We knew we scored one goal and the atmosphere is really different."
Can Liverpool win the whole thing?
I cannot wait for Guardiola's post-match interview
It's going to be the spikiest thing you've ever seen, if he even comes out to do one. Mikel Arteta might be busy tonight.
Player ratings
Man City vs Liverpool player ratings
Liverpool reaction
James Milner
"They're a good team, we knew that, we couldn't get out needed to put on pressure but it shows how we went in the second half, put in a performance and got the result.
"In a way maybe it woke us up. To go 1-0 down early on got the crowd up but second half we got hold of it slightly more.
"We wanted to improve, we didn't get high enough. We wanted to get about them second half and defended well. "
Mo 'media trained beyond belief' Salah
"That goal was on time for us, they were pressing very high. We came back and got the result and that's the most important thing.
"I changed my position many times, but we play as a team and we are happy with the result.
"I said many times I play for the team, try to help win the game and get the points, that's the most important thing for me."
I can only imagine if you said, 'Mo, do you like chairs?' it'd be:
'yeh I like them, they let you sit down but the most important thing is we're a team and we got the result'
Steven Gerrard heaps praise on Van Dijk
"With van Dijk they've found a big piece of the jigsaw. They've always looked threatening but they've had a weakness and Van Dijk has lifted Lovren, helped the two full-backs and even helped the goalkeeper."
Liverpool thank the fans
Klopp joins his players in celebrating with the travelling fans. Man City fans stream out of the ground.
FULL TIME
And that's it! Liverpool are through to the semi-final!
90 mins+2
City are still attacking but everyone knows the game is up. Liverpool have played this superbly!
90 mins
Danny Ings comes on to replace Mo Salah.
88 mins
City really need a big striker if they're ever going to make use of the never-ending crosses being sent into the box. Aguero is a magic penalty box player but he's not going to turn anything in past a defence made of giants like Lovren and Van Dijk. That's before you consider that most of the crosses are being blocked at source!
Manchester City crosses
86 mins
City fans have started to leave the Etihad.
A flare went off after Salah scored and the pictures are really cool.
84 mins
City cannot find a way around or through the Liverpool defence. They're now playing an insanely deep 5-4-1 and nothing the forwards are trying seems to work.
Klopp looks pretty relaxed on the touchline too.
82 mins
City haven't given up (well...) and work the ball around the final third. It's whipped to the back post, laid to the penalty area... and Gundogan comes into smash it! Blocked.
Jesus tries to link with Aguero but they give the ball away, Gundogan brings it forward and Sane is in! He rolls it back inside and Gundogan puts it in the back of the net!
Offside. It's really tight again!
Firmino comes off for Ragnar Klavan. If everyone is behind the ball they might as well be actual defenders.
80 mins
City now only need to score five goals in the remaining 10 minutes to reach the semi-final.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!
Liverpool goal
That's it! Otamendi has made a horrible mistake, handing the ball to Firmino on the edge of his own box. Firmino has a free run into the box and then slots it low into the bottom corner. Brilliant finish!
Man City 1 - 2 Liverpool (Roberto Firmino, 77 min)
77 mins
More Man City pressure but still Liverpool defend in numbers and get everything clear. There's no space for City to work in, they just can't create.
Sane gets lucky as the ball drops to him, then chips to the back post and Alexander-Arnold puts Aguero off.
75 mins
Liverpool are 15 minutes away from the semi-final, unless Man City can score four goals in that time. It's not happening. Nobody's taking charge, De Bruyne keeps shooting from range or chipping hopeful balls into the area, and Liverpool look good on the counter. Plus, they're defending with a lot of bodies - there's no space for City to get at! Klopp has absolutely nailed his setup here.
Man City vs Liverpool shots on goal
Gundogan comes on for Bernardo Silva.
72 mins
Laporte tries a shot from range but it's deflected over. Van Dijk gets it away. The Etihad is a whole lot quieter than an hour ago.
70 mins
Liverpool still look pretty comfortable here! City are static and tentative, Liverpool look well drilled and are starting to control possession. City don't have the same energy they had in the first half and without that high press there's more time on the ball.
Possession: Man City vs Liverpool
68 mins
Aguero is straight into the action! He darts onto a loose ball and tries a clever toe poke across the goal from left/centre of the area but can't get it on target.
Sane and Oxlade-Chamberlain have collided as The Ox's standing leg falls down onto Sane's Special Area as gravity brings him to earth when contesting a header. That looks ever so slightly painful but he's fine to play on.
66 mins
And now Van Dijk is shown a yellow card for trying to get Sterling off his back - literally. The forward landed on him after going down under pressure from a sprint.
Here comes Aguero! David Silva off, Man City's all time top scorer ON.
64 mins
63 mins
Sterling carries the ball towards goal, goes down under a challenge from Salah... and again the referee doesn't see anything in it.
City are moving the ball around slowly and allowing Liverpool to get into their defensive shape. They won't score that way!
62 mins
Liverpool have just turned on the style a little bit here and are beginning to threaten on the attack. Jesus comes forward and cuts in from the right, De Bruyne takes on the shot from 25 yards but drills it low down the centre of the goal. The goalkeeper kneels down and picks it up.
60 mins
City now have to score four goals to reach the semi-finals. That is surely impossible. The Etihad's bubble has burst.
GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!
Liveprool goal
LIVERPOOL HAVE SCORED! Wouldn't you just know it!? Seconds after Firmino looks to have gotten away with one, City are pulled apart. Laporte doesn't do anything like enough because he's trying to make sure he doesn't foul Mane as the forward dribbles into the box. The goalkeeper is taken out of the game and then Salah is cool as ice and dinks a little chip over the defender into the empty net!
Man City 1 - 1 Liverpool (Mohamed Salah, 56 min)
56 mins
Liverpool are doing well to keep the ball in City's half... but De Bruyne's on the counter! He's away... and Firmino takes him down again! That must be a red card for a second yellow! But the referee doesn't even think it's a foul! I want to see a replay of that before making my own mind up on it.
54 mins
That's what Guardiola did to get sent off. He said some things in Spanish too, which probably didn't help.
53 mins
Robertson is breaking to a striker position to track and press the Man City player on the ball. I don't know where that boy gets his energy but jeeeez he has a lot of it.
Mikel Arteta is in charge of directing play from the manager's technical area now.
51 mins
De Bruyne can shoot... but scoops a pass over the top towards Sane's run! The goalkeeper claims it.
City are taking their time with buildup now and have Liverpool pinned back in their own box.
Only Mo Salah isn't in that little red box.
49 mins
Liverpool have had more of the ball so far in this half than for most of the first. Mane gets in behind the defence but Fernandinho steams in and wins the ball off him with a strong challenge.
City manage intercept near their own box and try to break. De Bruyne carries the ball out from deep.
47 mins
Can City get the crowd going again early on? They've definitely got some fairly animated supporters in there.
Imagine being forced to sit with all your bosses because you'd been bad at work. Imagine.
KICK OFF 2
kick off 2 man city
We're back, Pep-less. The referee has a smile on his face.
Some stats for you
Man City vs Liverpool shots on goal
Possession: Man City vs Liverpool
The offside goal
So. Karius punches, it comes back off Milner and loops over the defence, and Sane turns the ball in. You can see Sane is onside by my (incorrect) line at the time Milner touches it... but Milner is a Liverpool player anyway so it doesn't even matter! No wonder Pep is furious.
Guardiola has been sent off!
The referee has sent Guardiola to the stand for the second half! The action doesn't stop!
Pep's anger stems from the offside goal that should have been allowed. He had a goal disallowed by the same referee the last time he had him in charge of a game.
City average positions
Average touch positions (half time)
I like it. The thing is, Liverpool are doing really well here and have an answer to everything thrown at them so far. City keep going down that left channel and it isn't yielding genuine goal scoring chances yet - it's mostly long range efforts which have troubled Karius.
I can only imagine how knackering that must have been for the Liverpool players. Like sitting in a shed listening to torrential rain, knowing - just knowing - that the roof is about to fall in. Except they're running really fast and jumping around rather than just sitting.
Guardiola races onto the pitch
Guardiola, who has previous with this referee, runs onto the pitch at half time and angrily drags his players off, doing the "Shhhhhh!" gesture to the ref. The Etihad is bubbling ready to spill over at the moment!
HALF TIME
45 mins +1
Firmino does well at halfway, carries the ball and Salah is played in on the right! Otamendi throws himself at a header to get rid. Liverpool keep coming and Salah threads in Oxlade-Chamberlain... he goes around the goalkeeper! But blasts over from wide in the six yard box!
Miss: Man City 1 - 0 Liverpool (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 45 min)
44 mins
What a tackle by Sterling. He chases Mane, slides in and wins the ball cleanly before tapping it to his side and letting teammates work their magic. Liverpool have everyone defending almost inside the penalty area!
GOOOOAAAAAA---- OFFSIDE!
And just for a second it looks like it's 2-0! Sane turns the ball into the net as Karius punches and it's put back into the area but the linesman says Sane's offside!
42 mins
OOOOOOOOOCHA! What a hit! Bernardo Silva almost makes it 2-0 with an absolutely brilliant long-range effort! Again, he moves onto his left foot and from 20 yards launches an effort at goal which comes off the post!
41 mins
Again City attack the left channel but Sterling's cut back misses everyone. They keep doing the same thing over and over but aren't learning from it... is there really gold to be found on the Liverpool left?
40 mins
BERNARDOOOOOOOOO puts it wide of the top corner. He cuts onto his left foot inside the penalty area and smashes the ball at goal, just putting it a little wide of the target.
Liverpool come forward now! Salah has the ball! But he's chipped it onto the heads of the City defenders. That was Liverpool's first real bit of attacking possession... all game.
38 mins
City are really targeting the left side. Everything is going through Sane at the moment!
Manchester City crosses
The crossing isn't working just yet but at some point the dam has to burst!
37 mins
Liverpool decide to abandon the short goal kick and hit it long. Karius takes his time, Bernardo does well to evade his marker and pass back to Ederson, who launches it. City are on the attack again, focusing all their play down the left channel.
Silva is in the box on the left, pulls the ball back across goal but Jesus is ahead of it... and nobody else is there to take advantage.
34 mins
Liverpool win a corner and take their time heading up to the City end of the pitch of it. City win the ball back too easily and break away... and De Bruyne carries it past the halfway line. He's got chasing defenders... and Firmino takes him down.
Another yellow card. Firmino goes in the book!
33 mins
Sterling goes down in the area but again the referee doesn't care. Sane tricks his way past Alexander-Arnold again on the left - they're scared of him.
Sterling takes his turn to dance into the box, fools Robertson but then goes down way too easily under attention from the defender. Poor form, Mr Sterling.
31 mins
Silva is wide left, sends the ball into the xis yuard box and the goalkeeper punches. It lands with Bernardo, who goes onto his left foot (of course) and fires a shot at goal which hits Milner's arm. Never a penalty, but of course Bernardo goes 'penalty!' and shouts angrily at the referee, earning himself a booking.
This referee loves a yellow card. That's four already!
29 mins
City might have all the possession and the momentum but Liverpool are defending really well. If it weren't for Van Dijk not playing to the whistle after that tussle with Sterling earlier, they'd be 0-0.
Alexander-Arnold is booked for clothes-lining (gently) Sane, who skins him with a brilliant shoulder feint.
27 mins
De Bruyne has another shot from range as Bernardo cuts inside and tees him up.
Attempt Saved: Man City 1 - 0 Liverpool (Kevin De Bruyne, 26 min)
Look at the difference in passing between the two. All City. Liverpool want to go forward but give the ball away every single time.
Man City vs Liverpool
26 mins
De Bruyne lifts a pass over the top of the defence from the right halfspace but Sane is offside. It's a tight call.
Offside Pass: Man City 1 - 0 Liverpool (Kevin De Bruyne, 24 min)
Klopp has called Milner over to try and fix the shape a bit for Liverpool. They're being dominated in midfield and there's always someone free for the pass. City win another corner, well defended by Alexander-Arnold.
Fernandinho leaps to attack the cross but it's headed out for a throw. City come forward again.
24 mins
These are two of the different shapes we've seen so far for City. It's really fluid. Otamendi and Fernandinho are switching positions very occasionally too, covering as the other closes down the man on the ball.
23 mins
City go to a back four to win the ball from a goal kick, pass it forwards and Sane wins a corner. He's causing trouble down that left wing.
Robertson does well to come across and help out down the same channel as Silva looks to creep in onto a high pass over the top.
21 mins
Possession: Man City vs Liverpool
20 mins
City are in the Liverpool box again! It's crossed to the back post, Bernardo is creeping in but won't win the aerial battle - and doesn't. City keep the pressure up, Liverpool are being battered here - can they hold on?
17 mins
De Bruyne passes to the edge of the box and Sane hits it! Blocked... and Silva is offside from the short corner.
16 mins
Lovren catches Sterling on the edge of the box, and it's a poorly timed, largely needless foul. City have a free-kick wide left.
14 mins
Van Dijk heads away as the ball is crossed in from wide left, Firmino works really hard to try and keep the ball but loses out to firm tackle on the touchline. Man City keep up the pressure and have the crowd right behind them.
Sane swings in from left again but once more, Van Dijk heads away. Ederson comes 30 yards off his line, has to pass to Otamendi... and Mane has really caught him here! Otamendi is howling and rolling around the floor. Ederson faces up to Mane, the players are all going nuts and the referee has to sort it out.
Mane gets a yellow for the tackle. Ederson gets one too.
The replay shows... that Mane didn't mean anything bad at all there. He just slipped and caught Otamendi a bit.
12 mins
11 mins
Liverpool have a corner, go back and Alexander-Arnold whips a ball from deep into the area. That's a decent cross and he's unlucky nobody gets on the end of it.
City have possession back and look to pass from the back... and Mane has won it off Walker! The high press works again! City recover and then De Bruyne holds off Firmino before knocking the ball out of play by mistake.
9 mins
Sane comes down the left, plays a clever little heel-chopped pass to Silva, who finds De Bruyne. The crowd yell 'SHOOOOT' and he obliges, but is leaning back and digs underneath the effort, sending it flying into the crowd.
Bernardo Silva is being made to drop deeper as an auxiliary right-back when Liverpool get into City's half.
7 mins
It looks like it is the 3-2-4-1 for City. De Bruyne and Fernandinho are deep midfielders. Liverpool are a little rushed with the ball and could do with slowing things down.
5 mins
Van Dijk wanted a foul for a late tackle from Sterling. There wasn't much in it to be fair and really, as Steve McManaman has just said, he needs to play to the whistle.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL!
goal man city
OH WOW! It's happened already! Van Dijk wants a foul, the referee plays on and Sterling has the entire right wing to run into! He attacks, takes the ball and fires a perfect pass to Jesus who can't miss. What a start!
Man City 1 - 0 Liverpool (Gabriel Jesus, 2 min)
2 mins
City go forward from the start. Mane goes in with a heavy challenge on De Bruyne, catching the Belgian (accidentally) on his foot within the opening few seconds.
De Bruyne stands over the free-kick. It's swung in... City players attack it... but the ball is cleared by the Liverpool defence. As if you hadn't guessed, it's a very attacking start from City.
Liverpool are pressing high! Otamendi has to go backwards as he's surrounded.
KICK OFF
Man City kick off
Here we go. This should be exciting.
THE CHAAAAAMPIONS
City fans are booing the theme tune quite loudly.
Let's get pumped!
Here come the teams!
Not quite as menacing as at Anfield
This is Embarrassing
Would rather have bottles thrown at mepic.twitter.com/gKX5hqmIGS— UtdHQ_ (@UtdHQ_) April 10, 2018
Obviously the bottle throwing and general nonsense wasn't cool. But. Buuuuuuuuuuut
Gary Lineker on whether Guardiola over-complicates things
"I had an experience with Johan Cruyff where I questioned it sometimes. I got an impression he did things to prove himself."
Absolutely love when ex-players reveal the information inside their heads that we cannot possibly know. Rio Ferdinand adds this:
"He's the most innovative coach of our generation. He's going out there thinking he has to score five. We think he needs three, he wants five. The danger is Man City have nothing to lose, that's a danger. If he's tuned them in that way they're a very dangerous opposition."
Tactical preview
Pep's put a bit of a spanner in my pre-match thinking here, but a lot of this is still valid. Why not have a wee read?
Manchester City vs Liverpool tactical preview
That's where I've seen it before!
Guardiola's been doing his research - it's the front cover from Inverting the Pyramid!
(great book, by the way).
Glenn Hoddle on the atmosphere in Manchester
"It's a weird atmosphere. There's no energy in here like I thought there would be."
In the Liverpool changing room
I think this is it
I've had a think and based off what Guardiola just said, I'm pretty sure it's a 3-2-4-1, or 3-6-1, which is very, very Johan Cruyff. Old Ajax teams used to lineup like this and it depends entirely on fluid movement and understanding of positions. If City's players get it right, they will all swap places all of the time, with the shape moving and altering constantly.
The strategy will be the same. Keep the ball, press high and fast, wait for opportunities to score rather than giving the ball away with silly shots from distance. Fernandinho can join a back four when needed in defensive phases and also probably when City have the ball. When he does fall back it means Laporte and Walker can go wider, allowing Sterling and Sane to move inside the pitch.
It'll look different in every different bit of the pitch. If there is a hint of hesitation or indecision, Liverpool will find space and we know they can punish it. Klopp's team is one of the most entertaining, deadliest outfits in Europe! Isn't this so much better than one team parking the proverbial bus?
We should probably wait and see first!
The managers pre-match
Pep Guardiola
We have to attack. We need to score goals, we try to play with quality upfront and Fernandinho can play as a central defender.
Sergio had two training sessions, he played some minutes but we believe he's not ready for 90 minutes.
We have to try to play to create the chances, that is all the targets of the managers!
Jurgen Klopp
"If you see the lineup of Man City that is a message, very offensive!"
Build-up
Liverpool will be delighted with that
There will be so much space down the channels for Liverpool to counter-attack - it's an incredibly forward-thinking team sheet from Guardiola. The hope must be that Sane and whoever's on the right are so high up the pitch that Sane and Salah have to drop back to help defend, rendering them mostly useless. If City can control possession in the Liverpool half, it should mean - in theory - that Klopp's team can't get out of their own half, City can turn up the pressure and score the goals they need.
Rio Ferdinand has just suggested that Liverpool players will be delighted when they see that lineup. The strikers in particular will feel like they have a forest-sized amount of space to play in.
�� @aguerosergiokun on the bench for #MCFC.... the #LFC back 4 will be delighted!!!! #UCL
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) April 10, 2018
Frank Lampard on Guardiola's setup
If he's playing poker, he's all in! He's shown immense trust in his players, in his back three there.
How will Man City lineup?
I'm not sure about this one - it's about the most attacking lineup I've ever seen in a Champions League quarter-final.
Clearly Ederson is in goal (that might not even be the case) and I think it's a back three of Laporte, Walker and Otamendi... which seems mental against Liverpool's front three.
Then De Bruyne and Silva must be the central midfielders... but they'll go forwards to attack and join Sterling, Sane, Jesus and Bernardo Silva near the Liverpool box. That leaves Fernandinho on his own.
It seems like a 3-1-2-4 (or possibly an homage to the old 2-3-5 of early 20th century football) at least in attacking phases anyway, but that is not incredibly defensively strong. Guardiola is really going for this one, whether forced into making this selection by those available or because he has some mad plan. Either way it's going to be exciting to see how they cope with Salah, Firmino and Mane who will be one v one against that back three.
Liverpool starting XI
Salah starts!
Tonight's side...#MCILIV#UCLpic.twitter.com/4zO1pE2SuB
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 10, 2018
Man City starting XI
The teams are in!
How we're lining-up tonight! ��
City XI | Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva (C), Sane, Sterling, Bernardo, G Jesus
Subs | Bravo, Aguero, Kompany, Foden, Gundogan, Zinchenko, Delph#cityvlfc#mancitypic.twitter.com/rdWCEYwniX— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 10, 2018
HERE WE GO!
Hello everyone! Welcome to our liveblog for this - potentially - classic Champions League match between two brilliant teams. I cannot wait for this one to get started.
The teams should be with us soon and we can see how both managers will approach the game but we all know it's going to be good, right? Liverpool won't sit back and defend, Man City have to go all out to get those goals in a burst of momentum and everything points towards goooooaaaaaals galore.
You'll be pleased to know the Liverpool bus arrived without a Mad Max-like reception from the home fans:
Will that quiet welcome unsettle Liverpool players? It's almost too calm...
