EPL 2017/18: Manchester City 5-0 Liverpool, 5 Talking Points

#2 How good were City actually and how much should be read into this defeat for Liverpool?

Liverpool were obliterated by a ruthless Manchester City after a red card to Sadio Mane.

The scoreline for the match does indeed read 5-0 but does it indeed represent everything that transpired down there on the pitch? For the first 35 minutes of the game, even the most ardent supporters of the two teams would agree that the match was extremely evenly poised with a nice ebb and flow to the proceedings.

One red card to a key player and the equation was thrown entirely off balance. City made the numerical advantage count in the ruthless way that only the most prize fighters can. If they continue in the same vein, one can see them quite realistically challenging for the title come May of next year.

Liverpool, on the other hand, deflated the same way a balloon or a tyre would with one little pin prick. Granted the loss of your best player so far this season is no mere pin prick, the much vaunted Liverpool attack and midfield would have been expected to at least show a semblance of a fight.

Today was the opportunity for somebody other than Sadio Mane to stand out and unfortunately, whether it be for Klopp’s tactics in the second half or some other reason, this team which works so well together when everybody is fit and fine seemed to collapse like a massive yet poorly put together Jenga tower.

Liverpool better learn how to adapt to adversity fast or no matter how good they are in an ideal situation, this season could well turn out to be similar to all their seasons for the last 27 years; without the league trophy in their cabinet.