Manchester City vs Liverpool: 3 takeaways from the match

#1 Liverpool’s substitutions proved to be effective

Joel Matip

Juergen Klopp made three effective substitutions in the second half. He took off Fabinho, Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold and introduced Naby Keita, Adam Lallana and Matip. Lallana’s introduction meant that Liverpool now had more creativity in their midfield. Also, Matip’s aerial prowess helped Liverpool, as he headed home Van Dijk’s cross from inside the City penalty box.

Keita also came close to scoring, as his shot from the edge of the penalty box forced Bravo into a brilliant reflex save. And, Liverpool would yet have won the match had Kyle Walker not made an acrobatic goalline clearance in the dying minutes of the match.

The Premier League champions played counter-attacking football in the second half and some through balls were played to their forwards from their own half. Sterling got hold of one such pass and hit the woodwork. That was possibly City’s only notable attacking move in the second half. And that summed up the difference Liverpool's substitutes made in the second period.