LONDON: Pep Guardiola sat down at his post-match press conference on Wednesday, ecstatic Merseyside voices still ringing in his ears, and proclaimed Jurgen Klopp as the “best manager in the world for spectators,” citing the German’s overtly attack-minded approach.
Klopp’s side had just ripped apart his Premier League champions-elect in a breathtaking display of attacking verve and style in what was one of the most complete Liverpool performances since the charismatic German took over at Anfield.
As we have come to expect from the Catalan, it was a gracious testimony. But it was also one he has had to offer Klopp far too often. Wednesday’s half-hour blitz of the City back-four led to Klopp’s seventh victory in 13 games against Guardiola, the best record of any coach. A few years ago, their Bundesliga battles were stuff of legend — their eight clashes in Germany produced 22 goals — as was this season’s Premier League encounter, which Liverpool won 4-3.
After Liverpool had gone 3-0 up it was clear that Guardiola’s team selection was all wrong. From the outset, the Spaniard showed too much respect to Liverpool with his decision to drop Raheem Sterling and go with a slightly more defensive line-up. That has not been the “City way” at all this season, where Guardiola’s charges swarm all over teams from the first whistle until the last.
It was Klopp’s team that launched wave after relentless wave at the City back-four, who could not cope. They lost their shape and appeared devoid of any idea as to how to wrestle back control. By the time Guardiola pushed Kevin de Bruyne forward and brought Sterling on in the second half, the damage was already done.
Klopp has Guardiola’s number simply by giving Guardiola a taste of his own medicine, the German knows no other way of playing other than attack. What Liverpool’s barnstorming barrage shows is that, when push comes to shove, nor does Guardiola.
Too often this season, teams have rolled out the red carpet, allowed City to play and been thrashed as a result.
Once the dust settles on what could have been a quadruple-winning season for City, other teams in England and in Europe should watch a re-run of Wednesday’s match. They will see that if you play Guardiola at his own game, his teams unravel. Guardiola remains one of the best coaches in the business, Wednesday does not change that. But it is clear there is room for improvement for the perfectionist yet.
Jurgen Klopp’s attacking style finds flaws in Pep Guardiola’s City system
Jurgen Klopp’s attacking style finds flaws in Pep Guardiola’s City system
- Jurgen Klopp now has seven victories in 13 games against Pep Guardiola
- Liverpool take a commanding 3-0 lead into the second leg at Etihad Stadium
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DeChambeau, Crushers GC lead LIV Singapore at halfway mark
- A second-round 6-under 65 has DeChambeau at 10-under through 36 holes
SINGAPORE: Entering Friday, Bryson DeChambeau is tied atop a bunched leaderboard at Aramco LIV Golf Singapore.
After shooting the round of the week, a second-round six-under 65, he sits at 10-under through 36 holes. The Crushers GC captain enters the weekend with a three-shot lead.
After beginning his second round with back-to-back pars, he birdied the third, fourth and eighth holes, making the turn in 32 strokes. His back nine was smooth-sailing until the par-four 15th, when he overdrew an iron off the tee into the harbor.
After taking a drop, he scrambled for a hard-earned bogey, protecting his lead in the process. And bounced back immediately, making a birdie on the 16th. For the round, he finished with a total of six birdies, an eagle and the lone bogey on 15.
“Focus on my golf, what I can control,” said DeChambeau of his mindset.
“I know it’s cliche, but you can’t get too wrapped up with what everybody else is doing and making sure I’m starting it on my lines the way I need to and rolling the putts on my lines like I need to. Barring that, I think I can give myself a good chance.”
DeChambeau’s closest competitors are three shots back at seven-under and include Thomas Detry, Jon Rahm, Louis Oosthuizen, Lee Westwood and Richard T. Lee.
Detry of 4Aces GC is fresh off a runner-up finish at HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong and has carried that momentum into Singapore. His round included a chip-in eagle on the 18th hole (his 16th of the day) off the back of the green from 37 meters away.
The Belgian remains confident heading into the final two rounds. “I’m up for the challenge,” he said. “It’s definitely a challenge out there, so anything under par is pretty good, and I managed to do that pretty well.”
Hong Kong winner Rahm continues to lurk dangerously on the leaderboard. The Legion XIII captain made 11 consecutive pars from holes five to 17 before finishing his round with a birdie on the par-five 18th to finish at seven-under.
“I played really good today. Felt like I played actually significantly better than yesterday, just little margins,” Rahm said. “Couldn’t really make many putts out there today. Made that one on six and from then on missed a lot of birdie chances.”
Oosthuizen shot a four-under 67 that included six birdies and two bogeys. The Southern Guards GC captain has been fueled by a hot putter and ranks fifth in the field in Strokes Gained Putting at the halfway stage.
“I tried to give myself as many birdie putts as possible,” said Oosthuizen. “I felt I saw the greens really good today, the lines, and rolled the putter really good.”
Westwood, in just his second start after returning from a wrist injury, continues to play steady golf. The Majesticks Golf Club co-captain shot a three-under 68 that included five birdies and two bogeys.
Lee, who is looking to become the first LIV Golf Wild Card to finish better than 12th in a tournament, shot a three-under 68.
Matthew Wolff, Marc Leishman and Charles Howell III all shot three-under 68s as well and are four shots back of DeChambeau at six-under.
On the team leaderboard, the Crushers GC surged to the top after carding a cumulative 10-under for the day. They hold a three-shot lead over the first-round leaders, Legion XIII.
The champions from Hong Kong, 4Aces GC, are just one shot back of Legion XIII and four shots behind the Crushers.
