The match itself was exciting, and the performance solid. We started with our backs against the wall: Jesus Navas in particular was giving us problems, tearing up our left hand side and skinning Aly Cissokho a few times in the first few minutes.
We then settled in, and Coutinho’s goal on 24 minutes was much deserved.
Two Martin Skrtel mistakes then turned the game around. The first was allowing Vincent Kompany to get goal-side on a corner, and head past Simon Mignolet.
The second was incredibly naïve from the team as a whole. Getting caught on the counter in first half stoppage time was poor. The lack of bodies at the back was made worse when Skrtel went to hunt the ball instead of tracking goal scorer Alvaro Negredo.
To be fair to Skrtel, he did put in a reasonable shift and made a number of blocks. He and Sakho look a mismatch when we are against good attackers. Both are far too eager to come out and snuff attacks, and neither perform any kind of sweeper-like duty.
What was notable throughout the match was the extent of our preparations. We seemed to play in a style that accounted for our other big game against Chelsea on Sunday. There were numerous swopping of positions – especially of the front three. Our plan – which was to spring City on the counter – was aided by each forward conserving energy by playing out wide whilst another played through the middle and ran to pick up long through passes.
Allen and Henderson swopped in similar ways – one sitting while the other broke forward.
Adding to this, it looked that, at the beginning of the second half that Raheem Sterling dropped into midfield and Jordan Henderson joined the front three – yet another means of conserving energy.
Even the substitutions looked pre-planned. The Moses-for-Coutinho sub was clearly a means of keeping the Brazilian fit.
We can complain about hard luck – and rightly so when looking at the refereeing and the missed chances – but I believe that the loss was simply a case of City being too good a team.
City’s defensive performance, in particular, was outstanding, and they suppressed Luis Suarez unlike any other team before them. Generally, they were tough to break down and play through.
Our terrible play in wide areas did not help the cause, with Glen Johnson having yet another poor performance. What was reassuring was that we looked to be patient and probing throughout, showing the team’s faith in the system and maturity and restraint.
Performance-wise it was pleasing, and we continue to see genuine progress.
The defence was most glaring an issue, and these have to be sorted before we can beat the likes of City. Overall it is promising, and the deliberate nature of the game – like the rotating of positions – shows off Rodgers’s ability to plan effectively.
Barring the result, no one can say we aren’t top four material with this kind of performance.
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