Pep Guardiola looked like an overexcited drama student on the touchline at Anfield yesterday, gesturing wildly at every decision the referee made – even if replays showed Michael Oliver was completely in the right to do so.
But after the match, he seemed to calm down a little – and showered Liverpool with enormous praise.
In a lengthy description, Pep explained just why, in terms of our tactics and our threat, we are the world’s best team.
“The way you are, with problems that we have, under pressure in a position against the best team, right now, in the world,” he told the post-match press conference, cited by This Is Anfield.
“When you sit back and defence in the box they open up with Alexander-Arnold and Robertson, and start to make crosses.
“When they arrive with not just Mane, Salah, Firmino, [but] Henderson with the right tempo, Wijnaldum and the second balls, it’s almost impossible to live with that situation.
“When you are able to get back from that position they have an incredible [defence].
“And when you are attacking, like we tried, every mistake you can do, transitions are the biggest quality of Jurgen from all of his career, in these types of situation, like the second goal.
“You decide before you play, do you stand 90 minutes back there, waiting [for] crosses, crosses, crosses, for one counter-attack, two counter-attacks if you are lucky, or try to play the game, create chances, like we created today?”
Yesterday was undoubtedly the best we’ve played all season – and it came during the most important fixture of the campaign which makes it all the more satisfying.
Before kick-off, there were some fans moaning about Dejan Lovren at centre-back and Jordan Henderson in midfield – but both were exemplary – especially the skipper whose hour in midfield set the tone for our win.
The backline was terrific, the midfield phenomenal and the forwards scintillating.
Alisson didn’t get his clean-sheet, but he was top notch, too.
We now have two weeks off to enjoy the eight point lead we’ve built.
It’s Crystal Palace next, while Manchester City face Chelsea.