Liverpool were well beaten by a Man City side that were more clinical and more comfortable in the big moments of the match.
Despite being beaten 4-0 by Man City, the Reds started the better team and ended up with more possession than the hosts at the Etihad and had the same number of shots.
But crucially, the game was over by the hour mark, with Pep Guardiola’s side taking their chances and limiting the Reds to two FotMob-defined big chances across the 90 minutes.
Unusually for an away team at Man City, Liverpool had 51 percent of the possession, but the hosts were far more effective with the ball.
Although both sides had 11 shots, Man City produced 2.44 xG (expected goals) compared to Liverpool’s 1.46.
In addition, the home team had four big chances to the Reds’ two, with City also hitting more shots on target (7) to Liverpool’s five.
Mo Salah‘s chance after 14 minutes, when he was released in behind by Giorgi Mamardashvili, could have changed the outlook of the match had he put Liverpool ahead.
However, the attacker missed and as we have seen so many times this season, the Reds were made to pay by an Erling Haaland back on form.
The Norwegian is the first player to score five goals against Liverpool in a single season since Matt Le Tissier in 1993/94, Opta’s Michael Reid reported.
Arne Slot thinks “moments” are to blame
Slot has said repeatedly this season that for Liverpool to improve, they need to be better in both boxes.
It is clear that there is far more wrong with just the Reds’ finishing, but the Dutchman doubled down on the idea that Liverpool’s problems are due to failings in key moments.
“It wasn’t as if it was chance after chance after chance,” Slot commented after the match.
“So, when it’s chance after chance after chance and you concede, you start to feel like maybe we should change our game plan or our tactics.
“But if it’s moments, which it was because I don’t think there are many more chances than the goals they scored, then it’s about understanding the importance of a moment and understanding that you need to be ruthless in those moments, even if things go against you or you mentally maybe find it a bit hard that again you’re 1-0 down after 35 minutes where you felt you were at least equal to the other team.
“This has happened many times to us, so yes [a] mental [aspect] could be a part of that but it’s never an excuse because if you play in this shirt, if you play for this club, then being 1-0 down or 2-0 down is never an excuse not to put that effort in that specific moment in.
“Then it’s almost impossible to get a result if you face teams of this quality; if you let your runner go or you don’t block a shot or you don’t block a cross against players of a different level, you can maybe get away with it, but not at this level.”
A case of Liverpool not taking their chances? Yes.
Is it why the Reds have lost 15 matches this season – the most since 2014/15 under Brendan Rodgers? No.
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