Liverpool recorded an impressive win over Manchester City on Sunday to move 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The Reds knew they had a big chance to send out a statement to the rest of the league after seeing Arsenal unexpectedly lose against West Ham on Saturday.
With the pressure slightly off them, Liverpool put in one of their best displays of the season.
Mohamed Salah was the star of the show, but in reality there were brilliant performances all over the pitch from the Reds.
Despite surrendering most of the ball to City, Liverpool looked completely comfortable as they took a relative stroll to a 2-0 win.
Gary Neville was impressed by Liverpool’s tactics while on commentary for Sky Sports during the game, and once the final whistle had gone, Neville poured further praise on Arne Slot’s team.
Gary Neville ‘so happy’ with Liverpool tactics
City have been the best side in world football for much of the past seven or eight years. Pep Guardiola has turned them into a slick machine.
Even while having a poor season, the Citizens are capable of blowing good teams away, as seen in their 4-0 demolition of Newcastle only last week.
As a result, you need to be ready for anything against them. And speaking to Sky after Liverpool’s impressive win on Sunday, Neville claimed that it was the Reds ‘old fashioned’ adaptability which saw them home at the Etihad.
“I could relate so much to what I’ve seen today out on the pitch today,” said the Manchester United legend. “And that’s why I’ve got admiration for Arne Slot and Liverpool.”
“I’m so happy that this idea [wasn’t there] that you have to keep 70 per cent possession, we must have a philosophy of play, you can’t play deep and counter attack. Liverpool have played so many different styles of play today.
“They were so direct at times from back to front from Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold playing long passes forward then sometimes they play out from the back. They can play subtle football as well.”
“Then there’s times they played without the ball and just sat in there,” Neville adds. “Really together, compact, deep in an old fashioned what you would call ‘Mourinho masterclass’ sort of way.
“They defended set-pieces well, the centre-backs put their head on it. All the different aspects of the game that you need, I’ve seen in this one performances from Liverpool today and I can relate to it.”
Liverpool revel in complete performance
There are some out there that would have you believe Liverpool would not be worthy Premier League title winners this season.
There is an idea – perpetuating mainly from Arsenal supporters – that the Reds are an inferior team to champions of the past.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 27 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 64 | 26 | 38 | 64 |
| 2 |  ArsenalArsenal | 26 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 51 | 23 | 28 | 53 |
| 3 |  Nottm ForestNottingham Forest | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 44 | 33 | 11 | 47 |
| 4 |  Man CityManchester City | 26 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 52 | 37 | 15 | 44 |
However, Neville’s comments are a good rebuttal to those claims. They may not be the easiest on the eye or the most swashbuckling at times, but Liverpool are incredibly effective.
Slot deserves enormous credit for the way he has his team able to adapt to any tactical jujitsu opposition may try against Liverpool.
Not may teams have gone to the Etihad and controlled things quite so comfortably since Guardiola arrived in 2016. It’s time to put some respect on Liverpool’s name.
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