Man City made Liverpool look so vulnerable, yet that inability to properly put them down could hand the advantage back. It remains poised.
1) There are many ways to skin a cat. It just so happens that the preferred method deployed by managers in Premier League matches bestowed the moniker of ‘title decider’ was slow, meticulous and often painfully conservative. So many of the most fondly remembered such games in the modern history of England’s top flight – Manchester City against Manchester United in April 2012, Manchester United versus Arsenal in March 1998 and Liverpool at home to Chelsea in April 2014, to name a few examples – were characterised by at least one but often both teams striving not to lose rather than trying to win. It often came at the expense of genuine viewing entertainment but that was never the risk-averse priority with trophies on the line.
The shift from that to the current adventurous era has been stark. Liverpool are the common denominator: 2-2 draws against Manchester City at Anfield and the Etihad, to match the same result at Chelsea in early January when the Blues were second, have exposed their weaknesses yet accentuated their strengths. Two teams confident enough in their own ability to win, so assured of their approach that they refuse to intrinsically change it.
Perhaps there is a lack of needle between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola that prevents this from being categorised as an authentic feud, but it is historical all the same – and something that will only be fully appreciated once both have left their dynasties in far better condition than when they found them. Do not take for granted how fulfilling, refreshing and ultimately rewarding it is to have these games so consistently live up
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