Michael Owen correctly predicted that two Liverpool players would seriously worry Pep Guardiola as the Reds took on Manchester City. The duo combined for the first equalising goal.
Liverpool went to Manchester City on Sunday – a display of arguably the two finest football teams on the planet. There’s elite talent in every single position for this one, which actually makes it difficult to predict the matchwinners.
Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen did pick out two players ahead of the game, though. He focused on a combination in the Reds’ side, believing they’d give Pep Guardiola something to worry about.
Diogo Jota was the focus of his attention – Owen is clearly a big fan of the forward.
“The timing of his runs is absolutely brilliant,” Owen told Premier League Productions. “Very, very dangerous in the air. So as soon as that ball goes to Trent [Alexander-Arnold], his eyes will open wide and he’ll be thinking ‘right, where can I run?’.
“When you’ve got a combination like that, the timing of his runs, the delivery of Trent, that’s certainly something Pep Guardiola will be checking, working on and trying to prevent.”
Manchester City vs Liverpool
Well, you’ve got to credit Owen for this one as Liverpool got their equaliser through that exact combination. Though, it was admittedly with Jota’s feet this time.
Andy Robertson clipped a ball to the back post and it was Alexander-Arnold arriving to meet it. He opted not to shoot, however, and pulled it back for the waiting Jota.
It was a fantastic pick-out and exactly the kind of movement Owen was talking about. Jota found space in a packed box – a skill of his that makes him a magnificent poacher for Liverpool.
And it’s combinations like this that do make the Reds so strong. Be it Robertson and Mané on the left or Thiago and Fabinho in the middle. Jurgen Klopp has built a side that clicks together wonderfully well.
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