Jurgen Klopp called his Liverpool team the mentality samples. The representation of Arne Slot is more like the physical samples.
It doesn't have the same ring. It is not that sexy either, all this runs around Leeuwerik. But while they close to a second Premier League crown, it is the warrior feature of each player who is based on this almighty charge on the finish line.
On Sunday on Sunday, Dominik Szoboszlai sank to the grass, drenched with sweat, face on grass. It was a scene that you would expect at the finish line of a marathon when the famous 'Runner's High' makes way for an overwhelming exhaustion and proud of the just completed task.
His midfield buddy, Alexis Mac Allister, looked like he had just done 12 rounds with Oleksandr Usyk. The Argentinian, with a mug Maté – the popular South American herbal tea – and a bag with a photo of him that lifted the World Cup in 2022, had a black eye and swollen cheek.
Nothing that a bag of frozen peas would not sort, but those were the battle scars that could be seen in the intestines of the Etihad Stadium, where walls are decorated with the Manchester Bee. The emblem symbolizes the hard -working unity and faith of the city.
Funnily enough, the work also acts as a suitable illustration of this Liverpool side. Mohamed Salah is the additional Queen who takes all the compliments and brings the nectar home, but for him to thrive, he needs the collective Angel of the ruthless package behind him.
Enough bees of words, but there was a buzz on Sunday evening when the Reds stars left the stadium where they had not won in the Premier League since Manuel Pellegrini City Boss was. These two teams have had a great rivalry on the pitch, but at the moment there is a seismic wave.
While some players such as Szoboszlai and Mac Allister wore evidence of their gigantic shift, some did not wear visible signs that they had just done the battle and every last drop for their team not only gave three points home, but a clean slate.
Virgil van Dijk, smelling and out as unspoiled as always, thought about getting home and getting into his home sauna. “Tunnel vision on the next game,” as he always says. The heat of his sauna stimulates muscle recovery, while the calmness helps to reset the mind.
Salah was there too, with a long chin-wag with Pep Guardiola. The relaxed Egyptian looked like he could do another 90 minutes. In his decade in England, no player Guardiola such as Salah has tormented – and even as not for Guardiola, Salah's Trophy Cabinet would be larger.
Salah is of course the most important goal scorer and Maker-but his off-the-ball-workkrate is an often unminded feature that locks lock. With 89 minutes on the clock, Trent Alexander-Arnold got a roles from the boss for jogging and not back in position Sprinten. He was replaced.
Slot constantly drives these high standards and has it since the day he arrived. In the beginning, the former Feyenoord manager may not have received the respect he earned from the English public, but he certainly convinced the team of week one. Many spoke about loving the new regime.
The backroom staff also has a big impact, from fitness coaches who know how difficult to push players, to Aaron Briggs, the technical coach who came up with the corner routine that led to the opener of Salah.
Briggs, once an analyst at City, is not the official set-piece coach, but takes this and changed the corner signs. The piece was manufactured on Saturday, although it is believed that they only scored once in the training! It is clear that they have stored the best for the matchday.
The men of Guardiola were toughly attacked, but hardly placed in a terrible representation. On the Podcast of Let Me Talk City, Clubexperts almost came into double digits when naming versions this season that were worse. It was more that the road team was too good for them.
Liverpool's victory was versatile, but the central theme was the aforementioned hard -working mentality. No one has summarized that better than the Hungary captain Szoboszlai, who ran 11.5 km (7.1 miles) and could not even hear 'we are going to win the competition' hymns because of his fatigue.
The 24-year-old is someone who threatened to put the world last season, starting in the highest style after his move from RB Leipzig, but his level fell after Christmas from a cliff. Under lock, he has been one of the unfortunate heroes of the Reds and his rare absences have been felt.
“Dom is really important to us,” said Mac Allister. 'I think you could see physically, he is really good … He can score and also help. He is doing really well and is really important to us. We complement each other really well and we like to play together. '
If you were to make a list for the most distance that a Liverpool -man dealt with this season in individual competitions, Szoboszlai would be in the top 11 seven times. He often runs more than every player, according to the statistics, and often with the same intensity for 90 minutes.
According to Opta data, Liverpool players have made more 'runs' this season (4,224) than any other team in the Tottenham competition bar. They rank fourth for most sprints that, given that they often dominate, is a surprise because players tend to run more when they chase the ball.
Curtis Jones is another who does not get the compliments he deserves, but is familiar with Slot to play in a multitude of roles. Harvey Elliott, often in the same breath as Jones in the past, did not start this season with a single Premier League match – although he is injured.
Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch have also made a formidable duo in the heart of midfield.
Apart from Salah, Liverpool does not have the certified game winners such as City who might have had De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Prime Ilkay Gundogan, even Riyad Mahrez or Sergio Aguero for the past four years. A little further back.
But the Reds do have a collective Vechtgeest that supports this title loading. Now, as when a new monarch rises on the throne, the coronation of Liverpool will be a long -term process and the last game of the season is left for three months (25 May).
Seven of their last 11 games are in Anfield and what a treat it will be for those loyal supporters who could not see them who lifted their first league title in three decades in 2020 because of the Coronavirus Pandemie. Tickets to see them do are in May as a Gold Dust.
Captain Van Dijk has sworn Anfield to make a 'terrible' place for teams, starting with Newcastle on Wednesday. There is also an opportunity, if the results go how much expect, that Arsenal Liverpool could give an honorary guard if they come to Merseyside on 10 May.
“I said after the Wolves game, that it is of course quite normal to be like that,” said the Dutch defender, referring to the fear at Anfield. 'It is a person (instinct) that some frightened feelings can be in operation, and that can still be the case.
“But I think it also helps us and them (the fans) to make Anfield terrible for the opponent.”
Whether it is at home or away, the side of Slot was terrible to play against since he first came to these coasts. There have been IFS throughout the season, but Maybes about whether Liverpool will stumble – now the only question is when, not if, they get their crowns.
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