English champions City and French champions PSG are again the favourites to reign supreme domestically but they were both soundly beaten in Europe
A charge often levelled against Paris Saint-Germain when they fail to win matches in Europe is that they simply don’t get the kind of challenge they need in Ligue 1 in order to compete with the continent’s best teams.
It’s all well and good hitting three and four goals every week in France against teams with fractions of their budget but there exists a perception that PSG cannot raise their game when required.
It's believed that the French champions are incapable of playing like they are 1-0 down, which is a problem, as it transpires, when they go 1-0 down. Certainly, to watch their game at Anfield against Liverpool was an exercise in frustration.
They have some of the very best players in the world in their positions – certainly their front three and maybe Thomas Meunier and Presnel Kimpembe too – but the way the team cajoles the ball from side to side without making an impact is wasteful.
Neymar on an off-day is a liability. He appears to make little or no effort to track his man or even put in anything other than an apologetic challenge when faced one-on-one.
Anfield is unique and is now one of the most difficult places in Europe for visiting teams to go. The phrase '12th man' is thrown around a lot but one arena in which it’s not a cliché is Anfield on a European night.
Liverpool have a history in this competition which gives their fans an expectation whenever they play. The players respond to that.
They took to PSG in an old school manner the other night. They won six corners in the first 10 or so minutes and hung damn near every one of them around the goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. To test him. To see if he fancied it.
James Milner hit Neymar so hard in one early tackle that the collision of leg on leg was picked up on the pitch-side microphones.
There was no respect in the challenge and certainly no red carpet was laid out for the world’s most expensive player or his cohort on the other side of the attack – the World Cup-winning Kylian Mbappe.
Liverpool haven’t spent as much as PSG have on their team. There have been big signings but sensible ones. Of all the starters the other night, only Alisson was a new face.
There is more to Liverpool than stacking up superstars. That scattergun, top-heavy policy has brought significant hurdles for PSG because they have more than €400 million worth of talent up front but are playing Marquinhos in midfield and Juan Bernat at left-back. They can’t play a €100m player in every position.
Liverpool have something that PSG don’t. They have identity and a sense of collective purpose. It drips from the walls of Anfield and that helps. But it is also evident in every player. They work tirelessly for each other in and out of possession.
Their front three is well regarded for their goals first and foremost but their standards are set in other departments too. They run hard and compete.
Players seem to have to graduate into Jurgen Klopp’s first-team plans – consider how long it took for Andrew Robertson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to break in last season and how this season’s new signings have had their minutes restricted. There are levels that must be reached – and continue to be reached – for that trust between coach and player to be maintained.
Look at Klopp’s treatment of Salah the other night. The Egyptian forward played poorly and gifted PSG their second goal. He was hauled straight off.
It is hard to see Thomas Tuchel behaving in a similar manner with Neymar. If the PSG coach tried to teach Neymar a lesson, you get the feeling the Brazilian would hand in a transfer request.
When PSG suffer, their talented players don’t appear to have the guidance, the gumption or the requisite fear to get them clear of danger.
As striking legend Jean-Pierre Papin told Le Parisen, "With PSG, [Neymar, Mbappe and Edinson Cavani are] not heroes, they’re egos. At some point, whatever your status is, you have to serve the team.
"There’s a difference between stars we see abroad and those we have in France. In France, we’ve got the impression that they’re impossible to manage.
"Why can Liverpool put their players into line and not here? When Neymar was playing with Barcelona, he defended from time to time..."
But Neymar and PSG will win Ligue 1 again, and win it easily. Champions League seasons can be decided on a red card, a dud offside call, a piece of magic. But form over the course of a league season usually dictates that the best team wins.
And PSG are the best team in France. Lyon won’t come close to matching them, for example, but like Liverpool they have something PSG don’t.
Coach Bruno Genesio came into the game at Manchester City on Wednesday under severe pressure. No one around Lyon really expected anything from the fixture. They brought 600 fans. This season alone they have lost to Reims and drawn with Caen.
Genesio would not have been sacked after a defeat here but a loss against City and another against Marseille this weekend would have had plenty of question marks over his reign.
Lyon survived and they worked hard for the 2-1 victory they achieved. In Tanguy Ndombele, they have the outstanding young central midfielder in Europe. In Nabil Fekir, they have a world-class schemer.
They will not match PSG over the course of a Ligue 1 season but playing like that they would probably knock them out over two legs in Europe. There was no coasting. There was grit and hard work and an adherence to the game plan.
Like it was for PSG the night before, this was a bad day at the office for City. Who knows what might have happened if Kevin De Bruyne had been fit or if Pep Guardiola had been allowed to coach his team from the sideline?
There is a worry, however, that they are still lacking something in Europe, now that they’ve now lost their last four games in the Champions League. That is an unwanted record for Guardiola – a winner twice in this competition – and for a club lavished with such spending.
They are still a good bet for the Premier League but have a smaller margin for error in Europe. Maybe it’s because English teams expect so little against them that the fear of defeat isn’t so profound.
And maybe the same could be said for PSG. But nobody ever says that City have it too easy in England.
Ellahamy
0
keep dreaming.
we will see
Bazabemouz
0
What a silly statement! One swallow has never ever yet made a summer!
Arrey-njock
0
liverpool will win CL
keep dreaming.
Arrey-njock
1
keep dreaming
monkwolf
3
very well said Paul pogba
nuddnor
0
Two good teams had bad days. not a big deal. All great teams loose games. .have bad days and then one game means the world. both city n psg will qualify frm d groups.
waecprz
0
PSG done well to scor 2 at anfield in a champions league game
it's just a group stage where away goals doesn't count yet!!!!!!
ratck
5
what is Neymar worth! The most expensive Player ever??? Haha PSG could buy with the money they had payed for Neymar 2-3 better Players than him! YNWA when you are a Liverpool fan! We can be proud of our Team! YNWA
stevy8
0
You got no facts. And your points make no sense. Just level this chat. You can’t base a football match out of opinions. You need to actually watch the match, and look at the stats. And yes, it was a close game. So please stfu
Game statistics are you out of your mind Liverpool dominate the 90 minutes you first goal was offside the second was salahs mistake the ball came to Mbappe from no where and you are saying close game wtf are you talking about Liverpool was great enough to teach the PSG the meaning of modern football and how to attack and to control the game the Neymar and Cavani we're more like ghosts not because they have bad day no no no because they couldn't play against a way better side so stop imagine there was close game
Rawleakonix
0
close Game haha it was PSG luckiest night ever it ends 3-2 only
You got no facts. And your points make no sense. Just level this chat. You can’t base a football match out of opinions. You need to actually watch the match, and look at the stats. And yes, it was a close game. So please stfu
stevy8
0
Ehm, no nobody thinks that except the delusional psg haters. Psg wasn’t even playing their best, and if they did, this match would’ve gotten a lot more stressful for the Liverpool supporters. I watch every psg game, and I know when they are having a good day or not, and this was not one of the good days. Tiago Silva even said. They tried to pass the ball up to Neymar and the other attackers, but it wasn’t possible because of the aggressive play that liverpool showed. Yes loverpool was the best team that night, and deserved the win, but it wasn’t a slaughter as everybody said. I think it was really close
close Game haha it was PSG luckiest night ever it ends 3-2 only
stevy8
0
we all know PSG we're so lucky with the final score the game should end 5-1 but it's ok Liverpool show them the group leader and PSG well struggle in this group specially after the Napoli draw
PSG wasn't even playing their best !!! you know why cause they couldn't there were one good team in the match look at you Neymar Rate after 3 from 10 his worse ever in his life so you calling me hater !! why to hate PSG ?? are you insane
Rawleakonix
0
we all know PSG we're so lucky with the final score the game should end 5-1 but it's ok Liverpool show them the group leader and PSG well struggle in this group specially after the Napoli draw
Ehm, no nobody thinks that except the delusional psg haters. Psg wasn’t even playing their best, and if they did, this match would’ve gotten a lot more stressful for the Liverpool supporters. I watch every psg game, and I know when they are having a good day or not, and this was not one of the good days. Tiago Silva even said. They tried to pass the ball up to Neymar and the other attackers, but it wasn’t possible because of the aggressive play that liverpool showed. Yes loverpool was the best team that night, and deserved the win, but it wasn’t a slaughter as everybody said. I think it was really close
PurplePineaple7
0
Short and simple - They taught them that they're not as great as they think
yubcdilsu
0
Then shows them that football is not all about having great players in ur Squad, u have to play as a team and have strong passion that u can win any club u are playing with.
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Agree!
Ellahamy
0
liverpool will win CL
yubcdilsu
0
the forwards of both psg and city are arrogant
ARAB dollars does that to the feeble minded I submit.
stevy8
0
They had to learn to play as a team not a individual and take every games as a freash challenge and hunger of winning must be in their minds. They are strong team and they will bounce back soon and show who they really are.
[image]
strong team against weak teams only
stevy8
0
man city they played 25 mint good Lyon was way better both well qualify from the group
yubcdilsu
0
loosing first match isnt something serious as far as for psg they lost in the last min stunner 3-2 and as far as for manchester city their defence was attacking too and when they loose the ball lyon counter attacks and when lyon attacks there were only 1 or 2 defenders at the back PSG played well liverpool just win by the goal in last min 3-2 manchester city played well in 2nd half at the end especially sane he was playing well lyon attacks were great they dominated the first half and defended in the second half manchester citys defence wasnt good and their attack was good in 2nd half because of sane so i prefer walker and delph to stay at the back lyon attacked beautifully in the 1 half and got over the line in the second half 2-1
They rally around 💷💵💰. Is there a soul for which all is sacrificed? 🤔
stevy8
0
we all know PSG we're so lucky with the final score the game should end 5-1 but it's ok Liverpool show them the group leader and PSG well struggle in this group specially after the Napoli draw
stevy8
0
We are Liverpool no one can beat us this season [Spittongue]
you got that right bro
yubcdilsu
0
loosing first match isnt something serious as far as for psg they lost in the last min stunner 3-2 and as far as for manchester city their defence was attacking too and when they loose the ball lyon counter attacks and when lyon attacks there were only 1 or 2 defenders at the back PSG played well liverpool just win by the goal in last min 3-2 manchester city played well in 2nd half at the end especially sane he was playing well lyon attacks were great they dominated the first half and defended in the second half manchester citys defence wasnt good and their attack was good in 2nd half because of sane so i prefer walker and delph to stay at the back lyon attacked beautifully in the 1 half and got over the line in the second half 2-1
Analysis paralysis. Tinsel town players.
byn
1
We are Liverpool no one can beat us this season [Spittongue]
fiycdopuyz
0
Although I agree with this ego phenomenon, it’s only 1 game. City should not be judged on one bad nights performance on their opening champions league match. It is too soon to suggest anything bad a bad night was their downfall. This is football, anything can happen nowadays...
city aren't a European team .their performance in Europe poor n it's not now .they 've invested for close to 10years but no I mean no better performance.Right now they lost team spirit as opposed to last year.They now bringx individual talents n most players asumx we were the best n" I was sang all England." the earlier they work as a team n forget about "over sabi " the better
Super_A
2
Maybe they lost last night. But they will QUALIFY anyway. I am really sad for Napoli .However they are the second strongest team in Italy. but they might not stand a chance with Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain existence in the group. So Sad for Napoli [Cry] [Cry][Cry][Cry][Cry]
Votaiprtuy
1
PSG done well to scor 2 at anfield in a champions league game
SaadaqSupaCk
0
I love Liverpool pressing.
and they will beat you with it 🤣🤣
SaadaqSupaCk
0
Liverpool aaa a great team and they really deserve to win
yubcdilsu
0
A lot cause both Liverpool and Lyon have that team work and creativity while Man city and PSG got d same but they don’t learn how to utilize is while Both Liverpool and Lyon utilizes their chances very well and walk away with three point 💯
City and PSG need to buy more expensive players.🤔
jqwoffi
1
my all time best xl
Super_A
1
We all can say now with PSG Having one of the strongest attacks in the world. . We actually CRUSHED them and made a shocking result by Firmino's late goal
yubcdilsu
0
Although I agree with this ego phenomenon, it’s only 1 game. City should not be judged on one bad nights performance on their opening champions league match. It is too soon to suggest anything bad a bad night was their downfall. This is football, anything can happen nowadays...
Such as City winning the Champions league.
jqwoffi
0
the forwards of both psg and city are arrogant
yubcdilsu
0
Team Spirit and Football passion
👍🏿
yubcdilsu
0
maybe beautiful wives
Extremely important. 🤢
del_baba_12
1
Passion
Akib30
2
I love Liverpool pressing.
yubcdilsu
0
They had to learn to play as a team not a individual and take every games as a freash challenge and hunger of winning must be in their minds. They are strong team and they will bounce back soon and show who they really are.
[image]
OK
Mcnero017
2
Fighting Spirit!!!👊🏽💯🔥
luhamostz
2
maybe beautiful wives
Vatdkly
1
Team Spirit and Football passion
Football-Manager
2
Although I agree with this ego phenomenon, it’s only 1 game. City should not be judged on one bad nights performance on their opening champions league match. It is too soon to suggest anything bad a bad night was their downfall. This is football, anything can happen nowadays...
BiodunOgunyemi
0
A lot cause both Liverpool and Lyon have that team work and creativity while Man city and PSG got d same but they don’t learn how to utilize is while Both Liverpool and Lyon utilizes their chances very well and walk away with three point 💯
Heartoffootball-1234
0
They had to learn to play as a team not a individual and take every games as a freash challenge and hunger of winning must be in their minds. They are strong team and they will bounce back soon and show who they really are.
Mohammadshakeel
2
loosing first match isnt something serious as far as for psg they lost in the last min stunner 3-2 and as far as for manchester city their defence was attacking too and when they loose the ball lyon counter attacks and when lyon attacks there were only 1 or 2 defenders at the back PSG played well liverpool just win by the goal in last min 3-2 manchester city played well in 2nd half at the end especially sane he was playing well lyon attacks were great they dominated the first half and defended in the second half manchester citys defence wasnt good and their attack was good in 2nd half because of sane so i prefer walker and delph to stay at the back lyon attacked beautifully in the 1 half and got over the line in the second half 2-1
LionelAshishJr10
1
that never thought you will be always victorious.
grizou
1
hhhhh don't think that if hou are premier league winner and ligue1 winners you will win champions league it is different simple league # champions league this leaugue is for heros who never give up every club is dangerous be careful
BabaNla_14
2
Then shows them that football is not all about having great players in ur Squad, u have to play as a team and have strong passion that u can win any club u are playing with.