Pep Guardiola desperately searched for answers on the sidelines of Allianz Stadium in Turin as his Manchester City side slid towards their seventh defeat in ten games in all competitions on Wednesday night. The modern Manchester City have not experienced this level of crisis and Guardiola has never faced this scenario ever in his stellar managerial career. This is unprecedented for both the club and the manager. However, what could Liverpool learn from this? A lot actually.
Manchester City have been the dominant team in English football since Guardiola arrived on these shores in 2016. They have won six of the last eight Premier League titles and only became the second English team to win the treble of the Premier League, the Champions League and the FA Cup.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side ran them close for a few seasons but only had one Premier League title to show for their relentless efforts in those years. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side found out in the last two years how difficult it is to keep Manchester City away from the summit of the Premier League.
However, the script has completely flipped on Manchester City. They have a win, two draws and seven defeats to their name in the last ten games across all competitions. No one would have believed that the reigning champions would go on such a horrible slump at any point at the start of the season.
Manchester City have the financial resources to repair the damage in the next two transfer windows. However, Liverpool can learn a lot from the slump and ensure this doesn’t happen with them in the coming years.
The Reds must learn from the crisis at the Etihad
Injuries have definitely played a big part in Manchester City’s downfall this season. Rodri’s knee injury has completely destroyed their midfield balance and Manchester City have had too many issues in their backline as well.
However, one of the biggest reasons is the club’s reluctance to replenish the squad in the last couple of years. Players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Kyle Walker and Ilkay Gundogan seem they have spent one season too many in the Premier League.
These players have been the pillars of Manchester City’s success but it seems they do not have the legs to keep going in a relentless league like the Premier League. Their poor form coupled with the injuries has robbed Manchester City of the spark they have had in the last few years.
Liverpool could face a similar crossroads in the coming season or two.
Can you name the team Liverpool sold these players to?
Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah have been the stalwarts of their success and are still major players for the club.
Liverpool are trying to tie down Van Dijk and Salah on new deals and are expected to offer fresh terms to Robertson at the end of the season.
However, father time catches up with everyone. Van Dijk and Salah are showing no signs of slowing down but decline at this age is often decline as we have seen with the Manchester City stalwarts.
Liverpool must hold on to Van Dijk and Salah but they must not shy away from planning ahead and bringing in potential replacements while the duo are at the club.
Manchester City have shown this season that emotions could often blur decision-making and Liverpool must be ruthless if they feel they need to usher in a new era.
