If you're a Kopite you'd be worried that with a 9 day preparation for that game - and the much talked about post-Southampton defeat 'clear the air' team meeting - they looked pretty gummy in a statement game against United.
I sense they dont believe this season; and I wouldn't be surprised to see Burnley take a point at Anfield this week.
The 10 days break from Southampton was most significant. They had the easiest schedule over xmas and a second long break.
There is obviously a short and more medium term thing happening here though. Theres no doubt it's a short term hit now. However medium term, since that Watford game it's been poor. I saw something the other day that showed from when Fernandes joined United they were 3rd or 4th in the table. For most of those games they had their famed best team in the world too.
It's a medium crisis for them now which is lasting close to a year. I said at the time, that Watford game would be significant. It showed a blueprint for how to beat them, and with each week that goes by, more video evidence emerges of how to do so. Opposing players gain more confidence, and Liverpool players lose confidence.
Like Pep before him, he created a bespoke system that took a bit of time to work out. Like City it was eventually worked out and there was some re adjustment time. Unlike Pep I am doubtful he has either the ability or the humility to radically overhaul his system. He didnt at Dortmund. I also don't think they will have 100+m to bring in 2 key defenders to help change the system.
City have been in transition for 18 months, and have now re emerged as a different type of team. More solid. They will probably spend 200m+ in the summer to box the attacking side of the team. They will be back on another level for Liverpool. Throw Haaland/Lukaku/Messi at that team and its levels ahead of Liverpool and that's before the transition.
As a final aside, 18 months for City to re emerge and that is;
1) Quicker than may be expected
2) The decline was quite shallow (partly due to league composition
3) With a lot of money spent
4) With an open minded manager happy to embrace the need for change.
Liverpool have none of those. Objectively you would have to say it could be a deeper and longer dip. In a strange way, the longer Klopp drags his heels, the longer the dip will be.
I'll be frank, like with Dortmund Klopp will not be hanging around for it. I pray to God they go and get Gerrard in. Hes way out of his depth. It will be Souness MK 2.
