Pep Guardiola stored holding up six fingers. The Liverpool followers had been in delirium and the Liverpool gamers had been jigging and jiving throughout the turf, and his personal gamers had gone over to applaud the travelling help, which is admittedly the least anybody deserves after making an attempt to journey throughout northern England on a Sunday.
Nonetheless Guardiola stored holding up six fingers: proudly, nearly incredulously, as if discovering the idea of fingers for the very first time. What did all of it imply? The variety of defeats since they final received a sport? The place wherein they most desperately require reinforcements in January? The variety of touches, over 90 minutes, that Erling Haaland had within the ultimate third?
A brand new empire could but rise, however this one is finished. And earlier than we speak what-nows and what‑nexts, we should always in all probability dwell slightly on the sheer concussive pace of the collapse. A collapse that as just lately as a fortnight in the past was believed not simply unbelievable however inconceivable. Ought to we be extra shocked {that a} dynasty this impregnable can principally implode in three weeks? Or extra shocked on the feat of sustaining a dynasty this impregnable in a world the place they’ll implode in three weeks?
Maybe the final word measure of the requirements Manchester Metropolis have set over the previous 4 seasons was what occurred after they briefly let these requirements slip. No one observed how briskly the Titanic was going till it stopped. No one realised simply how bloodthirsty the chasing pack was till it lastly discovered one thing to devour. And on a riotous Anfield afternoon, it was Liverpool who got here to eat.
No mercy and no brakes. They rating early, the dazzling flourish to an electrifying opening act wherein they basically disdain the concept anyone would possibly need to withstand them. Metropolis barely do. Manuel Akanji stands off Mohamed Salah, Kyle Walker loses the run of Cody Gakpo and proper initially of the transfer Trent Alexander-Arnold nails an unbelievable 70-yard lengthy cross that – remarkably – is not going to be his greatest 70-yard cross of the half. However he does so from the bottom of midfield with completely no stress on him: 5 Metropolis gamers shut, however none keen to have interaction.
This isn’t ways. You can’t remotely conceive of a state of affairs wherein Guardiola would need his gamers to face off in that state of affairs. However both they can’t or they won’t, and both method the buck nonetheless in all probability has to cease with the coach. No matter levers Guardiola is tugging – refinement, renewal, cajoling, confrontation – he’s not getting a response.
For Arne Slot, it helps that the messages are nonetheless recent, that the constructions are already drilled and honed, that he inherited a squad finely balanced between expertise and youth, that he’s so clearly ready to alter what doesn’t work (the Brighton and Bayer Leverkusen video games the clearest examples of this), that this workforce is so clearly a meritocracy. Distinction this with Guardiola’s choice to drop Ederson, presumably as punishment for the push of blood towards Feyenoord in midweek, whereas doubling down on the 4-4-2 system that led on to that comeback.
It helps, too, that there are leaders within the dressing room who can really feel their very own careers sharpening to some extent. Maybe it was not merely coincidence that Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk had been in all probability Liverpool’s three greatest gamers right here. All of their contracts are up in the summertime. Salah has already began taking his shirt off much more when he scores, which is a transparent assertion of intent to potential suitors. Proper now, it feels odds towards that each one three will nonetheless be on the membership subsequent season.
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And if, on some degree, Liverpool will be accused of a sure carelessness in permitting three of their greatest stars to run down their contracts on the identical time, with the potential consequence that they may once more neglect to exchange Andrew Robertson, then within the brief time period no less than there’s a sure alignment of mission right here. Slot’s first season will in all probability even be the ultimate hurrah of the good Jürgen Klopp workforce earlier than it’s lastly damaged up for components. There’s an urgency and a romance there. That workforce actually deserved multiple title. Effectively, right here’s your probability, and it’s in all probability the final.
Satirically, there may be in all this a possible answer for Metropolis. The vultures are circling; the attorneys are grappling; a fifth title in a row might be gone however there may be nonetheless loads to be salvaged from this season. What’s lacking is the “why”. Why flog your guts out for one other league title? The treble has been received, the publish‑treble hunch prevented, each critic answered. What’s the massive concept now?
Maybe Guardiola squandered that concept when he introduced he was staying for 2 extra years. But it surely’s not too late to recant, not too late to present this season some form and which means, to present his gamers a purpose to battle. Pep’s final season. The legacy of a legend. And to the membership for whom he gave every little thing: one ultimate heartfelt act of affection.
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