Barter: “Liverpool Can Exploit City’s Weaknesses After Champions League Fatigue” | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Defensive Struggles and Liverpool’s Tactical Mastery: Insights from the Stat Pack Podcast

Manchester City’s Issues and the Upcoming Clash with Liverpool

In the latest episode of the Stat Pack podcast from Anfield Index, Dave Davis and Dr. Phil Barter discussed Manchester City’s ongoing defensive struggles and their implications as they prepare for a crucial fixture against Liverpool at Anfield.

As City’s defensive vulnerabilities become increasingly evident, particularly in recent Champions League performances, Liverpool’s tactical discipline and pressing game are expected to exploit these issues.

City’s Vulnerabilities Exposed: Defensive Struggles and XG Issues

Dr. Barter highlighted that Manchester City have been conceding a concerning amount of expected goals (XG), noting that this defensive frailty is uncharacteristic for a team of their calibre: “City have conceded over 2 XG in multiple recent games, which is uncharacteristic for them,” Barter explained. “Against teams like Southampton, Brighton, and even at home to Fulham, City have allowed big chances, which could prove costly against a side like Liverpool that thrives on exploiting such weaknesses.”

Dave Davis further expanded on City’s defensive issues, pointing out that recent matches have shown a significant drop in their usual standards: “If you look at their XG numbers, they’ve been conceding 2.6 XG against teams like Fulham and Southampton. For a team that usually keeps their opponents to a minimum, that’s a serious concern.”

This drop in defensive solidity was compounded by City’s struggles to control the game, particularly in midfield, an area that has been a weak spot for them this season. According to Barter, this loss of control has been detrimental: “City have not been able to control the game the way they usually do, especially after playing midweek Champions League matches. This is where they start to lose balance, and their usual defensive solidity drops off.”

Photo: IMAGO

Liverpool’s Response: Tactical Mastery and Exploiting City’s Weaknesses

For Liverpool, their tactical shift in the second half against Real Madrid showcased how they might exploit Manchester City’s defensive struggles. Dr. Barter explained the key tactical adjustment that took place after the break: “In the second half against Real Madrid, we started attacking more centrally in the half-spaces rather than out wide. This forced Madrid’s defenders to stretch and track runs, tiring them out and opening up spaces for us.”

Davis agreed with this assessment, noting that this shift allowed Liverpool to be more effective going forward: “The shift in focus towards the half-space, especially from Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister, created a much higher threat for Liverpool. The change was evident in how we moved the ball more quickly and more effectively into dangerous areas.”

Liverpool’s second-half adjustments were backed by significant statistical improvement, as Barter pointed out: “We had our highest percentage of very high passing chains, over 15 passes in a chain, for the season. This allowed us to generate more threat and ultimately take control of the game.”

Conor Bradley’s Defensive Role and Key Performances

Conor Bradley’s performance against Real Madrid, which earned him the official man of the match award, was another highlight for Liverpool. Despite the acclaim for his attacking contributions, Barter noted Bradley’s defensive work: “Bradley had an amazing game. He was up against one of the top five players in the world, Kylian Mbappé, and managed to match his pace, recording Liverpool’s highest top speed for the night.”

Photo: IMAGO

However, Davis offered a slightly different perspective on the match’s key contributor: “Bradley had a good game, but for me, Mac Allister was crucial. His control and distribution in midfield were outstanding, and without him, we wouldn’t have created the same level of threat.”

Conclusion: A Positive Outlook for Liverpool

Looking ahead to Liverpool’s match against Manchester City, both Barter and Davis agreed that the key to victory lies in exploiting City’s defensive frailties and pressing their midfield. Barter emphasised: “Liverpool have the tools to exploit City’s defensive vulnerabilities. If we can press high and create chances from the half-space, we’ll have a real shot at a positive result.”

Davis concluded: “We can’t afford to let City settle, especially with their recent XG struggles. If we go into the game with the same intensity and tactical discipline as we showed against Real Madrid, there’s every chance we can cause problems for City’s defence.”