Premier League 2019-20: 3 reasons behind Liverpool's resounding win over Manchester City

#2 Lack of creativity in City’s midfield

Raheem Sterling.

It was a matter of surprise that one of the world’s best set of midfielders were devoid of creativity but that is what precisely happened yesterday. Pep Guardiola opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation with Ilkay Gundogan and Rodrigo playing as double pivot and Kevin De Bruyne deployed as the playmaker.

It was a defensive move to curtail the movements of Liverpool’s much vaunted front three, but also meant that City were lacking creativity and movement upfront. Gundogan was limited in his movements in the first half and struggled in his endeavour to play a box-to-box role in the second period. Maybe, Guardiola should have gone for a 4-3-3 formation with someone like Riyad Mahrez in the starting eleven. It would have given City more options upfront.

Raheem Sterling troubled the Liverpool defenders through the left flank repeatedly but City could not attack as much though the right wing. Bernardo Silva did not do much apart from scoring his side’s only goal.