Pep Guardiola’s safety-first approach handed the initiative to Liverpool and they seized it with vigour on another momentous European night at Anfield
This was the wrong time and place for making concessions. The team coaches were re-routed away from the King Harry pub on safety grounds by Merseyside Police but Manchester City were still ‘welcomed’ to Anfield with bottles, flares and a public apology from Liverpool. Pep Guardiola made one of his own, sacrificing the penetrating speed of Raheem Sterling for the more measured influence of Ilkay Gündoğan, but that backfired, too, as Liverpool blitzed the runaway leaders of the Premier League in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
Only Jürgen Klopp held firm with his tactics and approach. Only his team delivered.
Related: Liverpool’s stunning first-half salvo leaves Manchester City’s hopes on rocks
Related: Police injured as Manchester City team bus attacked outside Anfield
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