My goal is to do this type of graphic for all the "big matches" this season – although I'm not yet willing to define "big matches" yet, as these take a fair amount of time to put together.
Showing posts with label Manchester City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manchester City. Show all posts
Monday, August 27, 2012
Visualized: Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City
The idea for this style of comprehensive infographic is from the incredible On Goals Scored, who did similar for the Euro 2012 final. All statistics sourced from StatsZone and Squawka.
My goal is to do this type of graphic for all the "big matches" this season – although I'm not yet willing to define "big matches" yet, as these take a fair amount of time to put together.
My goal is to do this type of graphic for all the "big matches" this season – although I'm not yet willing to define "big matches" yet, as these take a fair amount of time to put together.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City
Goals:
Skrtel 34'
Yaya Toure 63'
Suarez 66'
Tevez 80'
No matter all the differences, the end result is the same. For all of Liverpool's good play, clever tactics, and growing into Rodgers' passing system, it's another season where another two points are dropped at home despite being the far better side because of self-inflicted errors. Another season where Liverpool out-play stronger opposition but don't reap the full reward.
Of course, going toe-to-toe with Manchester City is a positive. Playing far, far better than last week is a positive. But there were an awful lot of positives from Liverpool's play in matches that they lost or drew last season. I know it's a different manager, different players, and a different system. I know that we need to be patient during Liverpool's development under Rodgers. But I still can't help but be sick of the similarities, especially in the result.
The match sure seemed to start in the worst possible manner. Well, conceding an early goal would probably be the worst possible manner, but an injury to Lucas within five minutes is a close second, clutching at his right thigh and replaced immediately, supposedly first incurred during the warm-up. Shelvey came on, playing as the more advanced midfielder, but it was far more a 4-3-3 than the previously-seen 4-2-3-1, with both Shelvey and Gerrard usually ahead of the absolutely immense Joe Allen.
Liverpool created a few early opportunities: a couple of tame Gerrard shots from distance wide of the mark and a blistering, wonderful cross from surprise-starter Raheem Sterling which Borini steered narrowly wide after getting in front of Zabaleta. But it was still a tentative opening 20 minutes, highlighted by Carlos Tevez's near-goal soon after Borini's chance, a shot from the byline trickling across the face of goal and off the far post. But from there, Liverpool were the better side, from 37-63% possession in the first 23 minutes to 49-51% at half-time. Gerrard starting roaming across the midfield more effectively, while Shelvey also drifted to the right, allowing Borini to play more centrally. The short, tempo-setting passes, highlighted by Joe Allen's 21 successful of 21 attempted after 45 minutes, became pervasive. Suarez and Borini were winning the ball high up the pitch, putting Manchester City's back three under constant pressure, while Sterling frequently tested Kolo Toure.
And in the 34th, Liverpool opened the scoring, from a set play no less. Kompany had just nearly put Gerrard's dangerous cross in the net, but Skrtel struck from the resulting corner, taking advantage of Manchester City's zonal marking – read: a flat-footed, ball-watching Pablo Zabaleta – an unstoppable header that Hart had no chance at. Incidentally, Skrtel's now scored in eight Liverpool matches. Liverpool won just four of them: against Bolton, Villa, Brighton, and Cardiff last season – although the Carling Cup final shouldn't really count because of penalties. Either way, it hasn't been the best of omens.
And it doesn't help that Skrtel bears blame for both of Manchester City's goals, the second far more than the first. After continuing in the same vein for the first 15 minutes after the restart, stifling Manchester City with controlled passing, a resilient midfield, and pressing in the opposition half, City's first equalizer was also a direct result of a Mancini substitution, as happened in last season's 2-2 draw in the Carling Cup semi-final. Jack Rodwell replaced the ineffective Nasri, shifting Yaya Toure into a more advanced position. Three minutes later, Yaya Toure scored.
Gerrard gave the ball away trying to spring Suarez on a quick counter, frighteningly familiar to the first penalty conceded against West Brom. City attacked without pace down Liverpool's left: Dzeko held possession then laid off for Milner, with Johnson following the striker into his own penalty box. Which left Tevez one-on-one with Sterling, something that should never happen, although some credit goes to City's clever movement. Reina looked likely to cut out Tevez's cross, but either Skrtel didn't hear Reina's call, ignored Reina's call, or Reina didn't call loud enough, getting in front of his keeper to weakly head the ball across goal, with Kelly unable to control off his chest, falling "fortunately" at Yaya Toure's feet, unmissable from five yards out.
But, in a show of resiliency we didn't see often last season, Liverpool were back in front three minutes later, from Suarez's brilliant free kick 25 yards out after Rodwell unintentionally blocked Gerrard's blast from distance with his arm. There's no doing the free kick justice with words. I have no idea how Suarez managed to curl the free kick around City's wall, nestled low inside the near post. But after 19 months of seeing Suarez in a Liverpool kit, I should be aware that the laws of physics often don't apply to the Uruguayan.
Unlike so many of Manchester City's opponents, Liverpool didn't sit deeper and deeper after taking the lead, which is what allowed City back into the game against both Chelsea and Southampton in the last two matches. Liverpool continued to play their football, continued to try to keep possession, blunt City, and press high up the pitch. Johnson could have won a penalty in the 73rd, tackled by Kolarov, who got ball and man at the same time. It wasn't very surprising to see Atkinson wave appeals away, though.
Then disaster struck in the 80th minute. Liverpool have become heavily reliant on the back pass by design, looking to take the sting out of the match and regroup with Reina. It's understandable that when Skrtel was put under pressure by Dzeko, he immediately thought of going back to his keeper. It's less understandable that he failed to look up before attempting the pass, delivering it straight to Tevez without a covering defender in sight, leaving the Argentinean one-on-one with Reina, rounding the keeper than tapping in. Horrific. We knew there would be bumps and bruises as Liverpool learned a "new way" of playing football, but I didn't expect those bruises to be so unforgivably self-inflicted and so painful.
From there, both teams frantically created chances in search of a winner. Shelvey whizzed a left-footed shot narrowly over the bar, Dzeko spurned two opportunities, Shelvey had another shot deflected behind by Kolo Toure, and from the resulting corner, Suarez had a shot blocked and Carroll a header cleared off the line – seemingly trying to set up Coates rather than going for goal.
So, yes, there's both good and bad. Once again, Joe Allen was Liverpool's best, unflappable in midfield, comfortable on the ball and crucially positioned to halt City attacks, which was even more crucial in Lucas' absence. Gerrard was vastly improved, more influential in a roaming role, a perfect corner for Liverpool's first goal and winning the free kick for the second. While he faded in the second half, Sterling was a lightening rod in early on, never over-awed by the occasion. Outside of one early moment where he lingered in possession early on, Coates didn't look out of place either, finally getting his chance in a big match. Kelly was vastly improved at right back, demonstrating the importance of match practice against West Brom and Hearts, while Shelvey was much more disciplined and intelligent than on Thursday. Even Skrtel was excellent outside of those two disappointing moments. But those disappointing moments were ever so costly.
Again, like last season, there's something to build on despite the result. Like last season, Liverpool raised its game against difficult opposition, demonstrating that they can "play with the big boys" but still leaving us wondering why they can't do it against the minnows. Still, for all the positives, for all the improvement – both individual and within Rodgers' style of play – the outcome also remains far too much like last season.
Skrtel 34'
Yaya Toure 63'
Suarez 66'
Tevez 80'
No matter all the differences, the end result is the same. For all of Liverpool's good play, clever tactics, and growing into Rodgers' passing system, it's another season where another two points are dropped at home despite being the far better side because of self-inflicted errors. Another season where Liverpool out-play stronger opposition but don't reap the full reward.
Of course, going toe-to-toe with Manchester City is a positive. Playing far, far better than last week is a positive. But there were an awful lot of positives from Liverpool's play in matches that they lost or drew last season. I know it's a different manager, different players, and a different system. I know that we need to be patient during Liverpool's development under Rodgers. But I still can't help but be sick of the similarities, especially in the result.
The match sure seemed to start in the worst possible manner. Well, conceding an early goal would probably be the worst possible manner, but an injury to Lucas within five minutes is a close second, clutching at his right thigh and replaced immediately, supposedly first incurred during the warm-up. Shelvey came on, playing as the more advanced midfielder, but it was far more a 4-3-3 than the previously-seen 4-2-3-1, with both Shelvey and Gerrard usually ahead of the absolutely immense Joe Allen.
Liverpool created a few early opportunities: a couple of tame Gerrard shots from distance wide of the mark and a blistering, wonderful cross from surprise-starter Raheem Sterling which Borini steered narrowly wide after getting in front of Zabaleta. But it was still a tentative opening 20 minutes, highlighted by Carlos Tevez's near-goal soon after Borini's chance, a shot from the byline trickling across the face of goal and off the far post. But from there, Liverpool were the better side, from 37-63% possession in the first 23 minutes to 49-51% at half-time. Gerrard starting roaming across the midfield more effectively, while Shelvey also drifted to the right, allowing Borini to play more centrally. The short, tempo-setting passes, highlighted by Joe Allen's 21 successful of 21 attempted after 45 minutes, became pervasive. Suarez and Borini were winning the ball high up the pitch, putting Manchester City's back three under constant pressure, while Sterling frequently tested Kolo Toure. And in the 34th, Liverpool opened the scoring, from a set play no less. Kompany had just nearly put Gerrard's dangerous cross in the net, but Skrtel struck from the resulting corner, taking advantage of Manchester City's zonal marking – read: a flat-footed, ball-watching Pablo Zabaleta – an unstoppable header that Hart had no chance at. Incidentally, Skrtel's now scored in eight Liverpool matches. Liverpool won just four of them: against Bolton, Villa, Brighton, and Cardiff last season – although the Carling Cup final shouldn't really count because of penalties. Either way, it hasn't been the best of omens.
And it doesn't help that Skrtel bears blame for both of Manchester City's goals, the second far more than the first. After continuing in the same vein for the first 15 minutes after the restart, stifling Manchester City with controlled passing, a resilient midfield, and pressing in the opposition half, City's first equalizer was also a direct result of a Mancini substitution, as happened in last season's 2-2 draw in the Carling Cup semi-final. Jack Rodwell replaced the ineffective Nasri, shifting Yaya Toure into a more advanced position. Three minutes later, Yaya Toure scored.
Gerrard gave the ball away trying to spring Suarez on a quick counter, frighteningly familiar to the first penalty conceded against West Brom. City attacked without pace down Liverpool's left: Dzeko held possession then laid off for Milner, with Johnson following the striker into his own penalty box. Which left Tevez one-on-one with Sterling, something that should never happen, although some credit goes to City's clever movement. Reina looked likely to cut out Tevez's cross, but either Skrtel didn't hear Reina's call, ignored Reina's call, or Reina didn't call loud enough, getting in front of his keeper to weakly head the ball across goal, with Kelly unable to control off his chest, falling "fortunately" at Yaya Toure's feet, unmissable from five yards out.
But, in a show of resiliency we didn't see often last season, Liverpool were back in front three minutes later, from Suarez's brilliant free kick 25 yards out after Rodwell unintentionally blocked Gerrard's blast from distance with his arm. There's no doing the free kick justice with words. I have no idea how Suarez managed to curl the free kick around City's wall, nestled low inside the near post. But after 19 months of seeing Suarez in a Liverpool kit, I should be aware that the laws of physics often don't apply to the Uruguayan.
Unlike so many of Manchester City's opponents, Liverpool didn't sit deeper and deeper after taking the lead, which is what allowed City back into the game against both Chelsea and Southampton in the last two matches. Liverpool continued to play their football, continued to try to keep possession, blunt City, and press high up the pitch. Johnson could have won a penalty in the 73rd, tackled by Kolarov, who got ball and man at the same time. It wasn't very surprising to see Atkinson wave appeals away, though.
Then disaster struck in the 80th minute. Liverpool have become heavily reliant on the back pass by design, looking to take the sting out of the match and regroup with Reina. It's understandable that when Skrtel was put under pressure by Dzeko, he immediately thought of going back to his keeper. It's less understandable that he failed to look up before attempting the pass, delivering it straight to Tevez without a covering defender in sight, leaving the Argentinean one-on-one with Reina, rounding the keeper than tapping in. Horrific. We knew there would be bumps and bruises as Liverpool learned a "new way" of playing football, but I didn't expect those bruises to be so unforgivably self-inflicted and so painful.
From there, both teams frantically created chances in search of a winner. Shelvey whizzed a left-footed shot narrowly over the bar, Dzeko spurned two opportunities, Shelvey had another shot deflected behind by Kolo Toure, and from the resulting corner, Suarez had a shot blocked and Carroll a header cleared off the line – seemingly trying to set up Coates rather than going for goal.
So, yes, there's both good and bad. Once again, Joe Allen was Liverpool's best, unflappable in midfield, comfortable on the ball and crucially positioned to halt City attacks, which was even more crucial in Lucas' absence. Gerrard was vastly improved, more influential in a roaming role, a perfect corner for Liverpool's first goal and winning the free kick for the second. While he faded in the second half, Sterling was a lightening rod in early on, never over-awed by the occasion. Outside of one early moment where he lingered in possession early on, Coates didn't look out of place either, finally getting his chance in a big match. Kelly was vastly improved at right back, demonstrating the importance of match practice against West Brom and Hearts, while Shelvey was much more disciplined and intelligent than on Thursday. Even Skrtel was excellent outside of those two disappointing moments. But those disappointing moments were ever so costly.
Again, like last season, there's something to build on despite the result. Like last season, Liverpool raised its game against difficult opposition, demonstrating that they can "play with the big boys" but still leaving us wondering why they can't do it against the minnows. Still, for all the positives, for all the improvement – both individual and within Rodgers' style of play – the outcome also remains far too much like last season.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Liverpool v Manchester City 08.26.11
11am ET, live in the US on FSC
Last four head-to-head:
2-2 (h; Carling Cup) 01.25.12
1-0 Liverpool (a; Carling Cup) 01.11.12
0-3 City (a) 01.03.12
1-1 (h) 11.27.11
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 1-0 Hearts (a); 0-3 West Brom (a); 3-0 Gomel (h)
City: 3-2 Southampton (h); 3-2 Chelsea (n; Community Shield)
Referee: Andre Marriner
Guess at a line-up:
Reina
Johnson Skrtel Coates Enrique
Lucas Allen
Downing Gerrard Borini
Suarez
Will it be Carragher or Coates who replaces the suspended Agger? Will Enrique be fit? Otherwise, the XI writes itself.
I may be seeing what I want to see in the entrails, but all signs point to Coates instead of Carragher. At 34, Carragher's not likely to play against both Hearts and City in four days. Rodgers had to have noticed how poorly Carragher coped with a high back line against West Brom, even if Liverpool were down to 10, with Lukaku embarrassing him twice, once to set up Morrison's missed sitter then eluding him to head in West Brom's third. And Coates, for all his youthful error-prone tendencies, is both quicker and taller, better equipped to cope either with Tevez's speed or Dzeko's aerial ability.
If Enrique is unavailable, I expect the same full-back pairing as against West Brom, with Kelly on the right and Johnson shifting over to the left. Johnson is far better on the right, especially going forward, and makes Liverpool far, far better when he's on the right, but he's still a capable defender on the left. None of West Brom's three goals came from his area of the pitch. And Liverpool's full-backs will be far more focused on defending against City than they were against West Brom.
Maybe there's a slight chance of three at the back – Kelly-Coates-Skrtel, with Johnson and Enrique or Downing as wing-backs – but that seems incredibly unlikely this early in Rodgers' tenure.
Otherwise, the front six should remain the same as last weel, all of them obvious choices at their positions. Suarez will continue to play as the central "striker" with Borini on the left, rather than vice versa, as I've seen suggested by a few. We'll also likely get our first glimpse of Oussama Assaidi, even if it's only a glimpse of him planted firmly on the bench. If any speedy winger is going to come on as a substitute, chances are it's Sterling after his performance against Hearts.
Manchester City remain the league favorites, remain the benchmark. They've scored three in both of their competitive fixtures this season, albeit conceding two in each. Agüero may be injured, but Tevez, Balotelli, and Dzeko remain available. Nasri was outstanding in both matches, scoring in each, assisting Tevez's opener against Southampton. More importantly, City had to overhaul a deficit in both matches, down 0-1 to Chelsea and 1-2 to Southampton. As cliché as it is, that's what champions do. Incidentally, Liverpool came back to win just four matches last season: the 2-1 Carling Cup win at Stoke, the 3-1 league win against Newcastle, and the 5-1 and 2-1 FA Cup wins against Oldham and Everton.
I'm curious to see how City deal with Agüero's absence. Dzeko replaced him against Southampton, switching from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-2-2-2, but I don't expect that to be the case tomorrow. My suspicion is that Milner will come into the side, most likely on the right, with Silva moving to a more central position. But it's not as if the league champions lack for options. City also played three at the back in the Community Shield, as they did against Liverpool in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final last season, but I doubt that'll be the case tomorrow; the back four should be Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, and either Clichy or Kolarov.
With Gareth Barry still injured, either Rodwell or de Jong will partner Yaya Touré in midfield. Both are liabilities for different reasons, whether de Jong's savage indiscipline or Rodwell's mistakes – as we saw against Southampton. Of course, I also can't forget de Jong's unfathomable goal in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final, one of just two he's scored for the club. Lucas and Allen winning the midfield battle, as Lucas did in the 1-1 draw against City last season (one of many draws that Liverpool "deserved" to win) is Liverpool's best hope for winning the match.
This is the first chance to see if last season's "best" quality continues: Liverpool's ability to raise its game against the toughest opposition. Three of Liverpool's four matches against Manchester City were three of Liverpool's most impressive matches of the season: a 1-1 draw that was only a draw because of Hart's miraculous saves, a supremely solid 1-0 away win after taking an early lead, and a battling 2-2 draw where Liverpool twice came back from a goal down to advance to the Carling Cup final. We'll just forget the 0-3 demolishment at the Etihad.
And, hopefully, tomorrow's match will make us forget about last week's 0-3 embarrassment.
Last four head-to-head:
2-2 (h; Carling Cup) 01.25.12
1-0 Liverpool (a; Carling Cup) 01.11.12
0-3 City (a) 01.03.12
1-1 (h) 11.27.11
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 1-0 Hearts (a); 0-3 West Brom (a); 3-0 Gomel (h)
City: 3-2 Southampton (h); 3-2 Chelsea (n; Community Shield)
Referee: Andre Marriner
Guess at a line-up:
Reina
Johnson Skrtel Coates Enrique
Lucas Allen
Downing Gerrard Borini
Suarez
Will it be Carragher or Coates who replaces the suspended Agger? Will Enrique be fit? Otherwise, the XI writes itself.
I may be seeing what I want to see in the entrails, but all signs point to Coates instead of Carragher. At 34, Carragher's not likely to play against both Hearts and City in four days. Rodgers had to have noticed how poorly Carragher coped with a high back line against West Brom, even if Liverpool were down to 10, with Lukaku embarrassing him twice, once to set up Morrison's missed sitter then eluding him to head in West Brom's third. And Coates, for all his youthful error-prone tendencies, is both quicker and taller, better equipped to cope either with Tevez's speed or Dzeko's aerial ability.
If Enrique is unavailable, I expect the same full-back pairing as against West Brom, with Kelly on the right and Johnson shifting over to the left. Johnson is far better on the right, especially going forward, and makes Liverpool far, far better when he's on the right, but he's still a capable defender on the left. None of West Brom's three goals came from his area of the pitch. And Liverpool's full-backs will be far more focused on defending against City than they were against West Brom.
Maybe there's a slight chance of three at the back – Kelly-Coates-Skrtel, with Johnson and Enrique or Downing as wing-backs – but that seems incredibly unlikely this early in Rodgers' tenure.
Otherwise, the front six should remain the same as last weel, all of them obvious choices at their positions. Suarez will continue to play as the central "striker" with Borini on the left, rather than vice versa, as I've seen suggested by a few. We'll also likely get our first glimpse of Oussama Assaidi, even if it's only a glimpse of him planted firmly on the bench. If any speedy winger is going to come on as a substitute, chances are it's Sterling after his performance against Hearts.
Manchester City remain the league favorites, remain the benchmark. They've scored three in both of their competitive fixtures this season, albeit conceding two in each. Agüero may be injured, but Tevez, Balotelli, and Dzeko remain available. Nasri was outstanding in both matches, scoring in each, assisting Tevez's opener against Southampton. More importantly, City had to overhaul a deficit in both matches, down 0-1 to Chelsea and 1-2 to Southampton. As cliché as it is, that's what champions do. Incidentally, Liverpool came back to win just four matches last season: the 2-1 Carling Cup win at Stoke, the 3-1 league win against Newcastle, and the 5-1 and 2-1 FA Cup wins against Oldham and Everton.
I'm curious to see how City deal with Agüero's absence. Dzeko replaced him against Southampton, switching from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 4-2-2-2, but I don't expect that to be the case tomorrow. My suspicion is that Milner will come into the side, most likely on the right, with Silva moving to a more central position. But it's not as if the league champions lack for options. City also played three at the back in the Community Shield, as they did against Liverpool in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final last season, but I doubt that'll be the case tomorrow; the back four should be Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, and either Clichy or Kolarov.
With Gareth Barry still injured, either Rodwell or de Jong will partner Yaya Touré in midfield. Both are liabilities for different reasons, whether de Jong's savage indiscipline or Rodwell's mistakes – as we saw against Southampton. Of course, I also can't forget de Jong's unfathomable goal in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final, one of just two he's scored for the club. Lucas and Allen winning the midfield battle, as Lucas did in the 1-1 draw against City last season (one of many draws that Liverpool "deserved" to win) is Liverpool's best hope for winning the match.
This is the first chance to see if last season's "best" quality continues: Liverpool's ability to raise its game against the toughest opposition. Three of Liverpool's four matches against Manchester City were three of Liverpool's most impressive matches of the season: a 1-1 draw that was only a draw because of Hart's miraculous saves, a supremely solid 1-0 away win after taking an early lead, and a battling 2-2 draw where Liverpool twice came back from a goal down to advance to the Carling Cup final. We'll just forget the 0-3 demolishment at the Etihad.
And, hopefully, tomorrow's match will make us forget about last week's 0-3 embarrassment.
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