MAN CITY 3 – 0 Liverpool – MY THOUGHTS

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A victory full of resilience, heart and character. It was far from our most fluent performance of the season but it was a deserved three points and a win made sweeter by Manchester United’s defeat at the hands of Newcastle. Goals from Sergio Aguero, Yaya Touré and a clinically dispatched James Milner penalty secured the victory and it moves us clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Liverpool controlled large sections of the game and the scoreline probably flattered the Blues, but we had to battle and show our fighting qualities and we managed to produce a powerful display. Gareth Barry picked up two yellow cards for a pair of innocuous challenges but by scoring our third goal almost immediately after the red card, we ended any visiting hopes.

As touched on above, we weren’t at our best, but credit must be given to Liverpool for the way in which they controlled the midfield. Their trio of Henderson, Spearing and Adam outnumbered Gareth Barry and Yaya Touré and it meant that City completed our fewest number of passes in a Premier League game for over two years. It was possibly a consequence of the tiring fixture against Sunderland but it showed that we could still create chances despite not having a great deal of possession.

The form of our captain Vincent Kompany was another hugely pleasing aspect as he continued his return to form after a slightly below-par start to the campaign. Faced with the aerial threat of Andy Carroll, Kompany was dominant, raising his game to the challenge. He exudes such authority and leadership from the back that it can only fill the team with such confidence.

Aided by Joe Hart, who made a superb early stop from Stewart Downing, we’ve managed to record four clean sheets in five games and it is a reminder of how solid we can be at the back. Last season was about laying the foundations and we’re now showing that despite all the attacking threat we’ve added, we are still incredibly tough to break down.

Opposition View: Liverpool will justifiably think that the three goal margin flatters us, but for all their impressive midfield possession, they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. Andy Carroll was isolated up front and it was only the introduction of Craig Bellamy in the second half that added some pace and penetration.

As for the Blues, we now move on to the FA Cup tie against Manchester City full of confidence and with momentum. It promises to be a hugely enthralling fixture and one that, on current form, we should be favourites for.

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