Liverpool overpowered, outclassed and dismissed by Man City in cruise control

Brendan Rodgers decided on two changes from the side victorious over Southampton with Moreno coming in for Janvier Manquillo and Joe Allen coming in for the lack lustre Lucas Leiva. Glen Johnson moved across to take over the right back position in a Liverpool team looking to prove that there was life without Suarez and that we belong among the elite. It left the question of could we cope with City's power especially in midfield.

City started well in the first few minutes controlling possession with Dzeko getting an early snap shot from a Cliché cross which was easily snaffled by Mignolet. Gerrard then unleashed a glorious pass from halfway finding Sterling in the box, who superbly chested and hooked a spectacular mistimed volley wide.

Moreno showed early signs of his exciting attacking prowess bombing on down the left and causing consternation with an excellent early cross which was sliced clear. Liverpool were now dominant in terms of possession with Sterling looking lively on the right and drifting in, but for all our possession we were struggling to create chances. Liverpool were finally able to manufacture a chance through the individual brilliance of Sturridge. He brilliantly collected a cross on the left of the area and from a standing start left Kompany for dead before shooting powerfully at Hart.

Has Suarez really left?

On the half hour city began to impose themselves on the game with Nasri and moreover Silva stepping up to dictate matters. Even so, City were not creating much, but in possession began to target the Liverpool left side and it was that which paid dividends just before the break as Gerrard failed to track Stevan Jovetic run into the area forcing Lovren to head to Moreno who on his heals failed to detect Jovetic creeping in behind to smash City in front. It was a disappointing end to a half which we'd control for half hour.

City started the second-half the on the ascendency with Yaya Toure beginning to get himself into the game alongside the controlling influence of Fernando adding power to the finesse of their creativity players. It was only a matter of the time before the second goal arrived and when he came it was a stunning. After a period of controlled possession City changed gear slipping the ball through the middle where Jovetic flicked the ball brilliantly on to Samir Nasri surging run. The French International returned the compliment by clipping the ball back in for Jovetic to superbly clip the ball in on the half-volley.

Liverpool needed to hit back and Moreno almost created a chance with a surging run down the left, only just failing to find Henderson when the easier pass would have been to roll the ball across in for Sturridge hovering in the six yard box.

The game was over in explosive fashion with Aguero scoring within 23 seconds of entering the fray (substituting Dzeko). The striker ran onto an inch perfect pass from Navas behind Lovren and coolly slotting home, although Mignolet will be disappointed to be beaten at the near post.

Liverpool managed to get on the score sheet through Sturridge industry regaining the ball and pulling off an excellent cross with the outside of his boot enticing Rickie Lambert to get first goal of his Liverpool career. Unfortunately, he headed straight at Hart with Zabaleta turning in the rebound. Minutes later Lambert had a great chance to score, but chose to square the ball across for Sturridge enabling Kompany to clear.

In a disappointing evening Glen Johnson looks to have picked a thigh injury which will keep him out for some time and we can only hope that Moreno's ankle injury is no more than a small jolt.

Rodgers needs to find a way to get more support to Daniel Sturridge because at times the striker looked isolated having to fashion out chances for himself. He also needs his midfielders to hit their straps in terms of shots on goal and creating clear cut chances.

The defence needs work.  The lack of cohesion particularly on the left side between the centre-halfs was there for all to see and Rodgers and his coaching team will have to earn their stripes before the Spurs game particularly with Javier Manquillo odds on to return after Johnson's injury.  His three defensive buys and Can in midfield were bought to sure up the leaky defensive side of the game, yet we've already let in four goals in two games.

It's disappointing, but this is a Liverpool team in transition and it's how we move on from here with Lallana and Balotelli yet to join in and Markovic, Moreno, Manquillo, Lovren and Can needing time to blend in and adopt the Rodgers philosophy.  Against Spurs we need to find a cutting edge and if we don't even as early as it is questions will begin to be ask.
 
Teams:
Man City: 1 Hart, 5 Zabaleta, 22 Clichy, 42 Y Touré, 4 Kompany, 26 Demechelis, 8 Nasri, 6 Fernando, 10 Dzeko (Aguero – 68 mins), 35 Jovetic (Fernandinho – 80 mins), 21 Silva (Jesus Navas – 65 mins)

Substitutes: 3 Sagna, 7 Milner, 11 Kolarov, 13 Caballero, 15 Jesus Navas, 16 Sergio Aguero, 25 Fernandinho

Liverpool: 22 Mignolet, 2 Johnson, 18 Moreno, 8 Gerrard, 37 Skrtel, 6 Lovren, 14 Henderson, 24 Allen (Can-75 mins), 15 Sturridge, 31 Sterling (Lambert -79 mins), 10 Coutinho (Markovic-60 mins)

Substitutes: 1 Jones, 4 K Toure, 9 Lambert, 17 Sakho, 19 Manquillo, 23 Can, 50 Markovic

Referee: Michael Oliver
Attendance: 45, 471