My thoughts are pretty much the same as most of everyone else's for the first half hour. It was a really strange start to the game actually. City sloppy in possession, we were sloppy in possession, but some good chances where Salah could and maybe should have done better. We were in the game as much as City and it could've gone either way.
With regards to Mane's red card. Those saying it wasn't a red card, Mane knows 100% sure he is NEVER getting there first, no chance. It's not even a 50-50, not even close. If you really want to do something there, try to head it or just bump into the keeper. Eyes on the ball doesn't matter, accident or not doesn't matter, you do NOT go to a ball like that. Of course he doesn't want to hurt anyone and yes it's an "accident", but still a red card.
It's all easy to blame the manager for the starting line-up after the game has finished. Funny thing is that other than Klavan and perhaps Trent, it is was the exact line-up everyone would've started with. It would've been Lovren's third game in 6 days if he had started today's game. We need to rotate, we've got loads of games coming up. We contained City with a back four of Milner - Klavan - Matip - Clyne last season. Is that back four so much better than today's? Not at all. No one could have predicted the sh*t show that was going to happen. Klavan has done well in the majority of games he was called upon last season, even against City at home on new year's day last season where he had Aguero in his pocket all game. Trent has done well in high pressure games against Hoffenheim. It was the right call by the manager. The whole defence and midfield, other than Moreno who seemed to be the only one trying, was poor today. Matip was all over the place too, but as Bigmick said, he doesn't seem to get any of the blame.
Then the start of the second half, it was clear what the plan was. Those saying the manager had given up on the game, not sure what makes you think that. We reverted to three at the back with Can, who we know is capable of playing there. Wingbacks Moreno and Trent, both have plenty of pace so we would be able to get forward quick enough on the counter and one of the few ball carrying midfielders we have in Alex. Yes it was a sh*t game to make his debut in, but he's a professional football player, F**k fancy debuts. I'm sure he'll get a "nice" home debut at Anfield. Salah would've been worthless if he had to start his runs with the ball from that deep and we'll need him in the following games as we're missing Mane. So again, the manager's plan for me was right, it was the right call. The execution by the players on the other hand, was poor. We ended up being too open in the middle. Henderson, Wijnaldum, Milner later on, all were chasing shadows, didn't sit deep enough and we were never able to get our men with pace on the ball running at their back three.
Just to be clear: there are no excuses for rolling over like that and shipping 5 goals, even with 10 men, but try looking at it a bit more objectively instead of just coming out with the usual stereotypes. Just embarrassing to see that everyone had their knives sharpened and ready to get them out once we would lose a game again.
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