Five lessons from Coutinho-inspired Reds win at Anfield.
With Liverpool beating Manchester City at Anfield for a second season running, here’s a look at five lessons learned from this potentially pivotal Reds victory over the reigning Premier League champions…
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Liverpool news
1) Man City’s title bid is over
It seems like every time Chelsea hand Manchester City a way back into the title race, they fail to take full advantage, and it is the same again this week. With the Blues drawing with Burnley last weekend and playing against Tottenham Hotspur in today’s Capital One Cup final, City had a real chance to pile some pressure on the current leaders, who can now make it an eight point lead if they win their next league game. One feels Jose Mourinho’s men surely won’t mess it up from here, with City putting in a pretty poor defence of their title.
2) Liverpool look good for top four
With Arsenal and Manchester United looking uncertain, it seems like in-form Liverpool are steamrolling their way to a Champions League place with a tremendous second half of the season. Brendan Rodgers’ side are playing with belief again after a difficult start, and showed today how close they are to the big boys as they will hope to be among the genuine title contenders again next season.
3) Coutinho is the best player of 2015
For a while considered a skillful youngster with plenty of potential, Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho surely now has to be regarded as the real deal and one of the best players in the Premier League? The Brazilian has been world class since the turn of the year, looking one of the team’s most improved players in their recent run, and showing his big-game ability today with a stunning goal to win the game for the home side.
4) Kompany is in serious decline
As good as Liverpool were today, it’s fair to say Manchester City are almost playing with ten men these days as they continue to field their totally out-of-form club captain Vincent Kompany. The Belgian defender may have been one of the best in the world only a few years ago, but now he is becoming a liability in a staggeringly quickl decline. Surely he won’t last much longer after also being so badly at fault in the defeat to Barcelona in midweek?
5) Henderson looks captain material
Sent off in this fixture last season to miss Liverpool’s title run-in, which they ultimately lost to Manchester City, the midfielder responded in inspirational style with a stunning opening goal and commanding display. Henderson has been tipped as the favourite to succeed Steven Gerrard as captain, and he filled in superbly in this big game today, taking the armband in Gerrard’s absence and looking like one of the team’s best players alongside Coutinho.