Pep Guardiola accepted that his side of Manchester City was third in the last third part in the third third, when they fell against a 2-0 defeat in Liverpool on Sunday.
The hosts actually had more shots (16 to eight) and shot on goal (five to four), but the first half goals of Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai sent the men of Arne Slot 11 points free from second place Arsenal.
City was indeed on average only 0.03 expected goals per shot, which suggests that the opportunities they created were of low quality.
Guardiola explained the approach he tried to use against the leading Reds and admitted that they had to be a touch more clinical when it mattered at the Etihad Stadium.
“We played very well. Maybe we missed more productivity in our shots, but we played against a fantastic team. Maybe it was 50-50 in the early 50-50 and we could not convert,” he said Sky Sports.
“In the second half they defended very deeply. We did something that we did not try for many games, where we brought them to their box and tried to beat there.
“The tactic would arrive in the last third part and the name rule and it happened a lot, but we didn't score. We missed the next bit a bit and with crossing it is almost impossible to do it because of their size. We couldn't do that Find the next step “
20 – Manchester City now follows Liverpool with 20 points – most they have been behind the competition leaders at the end of a day since July 14, 2020, when they last did not win the title and Liverpool won the last itself. Return. pic.twitter.com/uypa1zqeir
– Optajoe (@Optajoe) February 23, 2025
Guardiola has now lost 10 times against Liverpool, the most he has been defeated by an opponent in his coaching career, although in all competitions this only represented a second defeat for the Reds at Etihad.
Nedereer leaves City in the fourth and 20 points on Drift of Liverpool, the most that they left the competition leaders at the end of a day since July 14, 2020, when they last did not reach the title and the Reds Triumph.
Guardiola acknowledged that his side is “far away” from where they should be.
“If you lose, you have to lose the way we lost today. I have seen many things that this club has a bright future with the players we have,” he added.
“Besides Kevin De Bruyne and perhaps Nathan Ake, all players are so young. What the club decides the next year for the future, there will be a bright future for this club in the coming years.
“Everyone knows that a part here will be here for the older players next season, but we have to build for the next step. There is a matter of time. Even with the amount of absence we have, we played well.
“We are far away. We will see in the future. What we have done in previous seasons is good, but now we love them. We have played with personality that was really good.”
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