IT'S half-time at the Etihad and Manchester City are surprisingly a goal down to Southampton. Since the early concession there has been a barrage of pressure but this is a staccato performance so far by the home side that leads to one floated cross after another. Behind the stoic grimaces prevalent on the concourses there is a nagging feeling that today could be one of those days.
The mood perks up considerably when it is confirmed that Liverpool are also behind at Aston Villa but once the news is absorbed this prompts mixed emotions. On the one hand there is relief that the situation is not significantly worse than it could be. On the other there is immense frustration that a rare slip by Jurgen Klopp’s men is not being capitalised on.
Forty-five minutes later there is euphoria at a late winner but that is followed soon after by disgust that ‘jammy’ Liverpool have also triumphed in their last knockings. For both fan-bases fixtures that were expected to be fairly straightforward have become what reality TV contestants love to refer to as a ‘rollercoaster’.
It was entirely fitting that the manner of the results mirrored the other because City and Liverpool have been two sides of the same coin now since the beginning of last season; unwillingly pushing the other on; each in their own way exceptional and complete. Their fortunes have become entwined. While the boring narrative persists questioning if a rivalry exists between them the most fascinating aspect remains relatively taken for granted for here is a rare occurrence of two clubs experiencing a generational zenith and they’re doing so at exactly the same time.
Very interesting to hear Guardiola reference Mane’s ‘diving’ a week before City come to Anfield when asked about Liverpool’s recovery today. Of course, he’s won decisive penalties (both of which were penalties) in each of Liverpool’s last two home league games…
— Simon Hughes (@Simon_Hughes__) November 2, 2019
What comes from this is the knowledge that a single misstep is extremely costly, even to the extent where three points feel mandatory and this means that on an autumn afternoon the away end at Villa Park and nine-tenths of the Etihad are frantically checking their phones and biting their nails. It is behaviour that usually comes to the fore around Easter time when a title race enters the home straight yet here we are still three weeks away from chalking off a third of the campaign. There is six months of this to go.
That is one hell of a sustained period to hold your nerve – or fail to depending on your disposition – but as supporters that’s what we’ll endure because we have to. As for the players however it almost goes without saying that for them it is a significantly more heightened and constant challenge and how they respectively deal with that will go a long way in determining who eventually lifts the crown.
Here’s a bold claim: barring season-long relegation fights no other sets of players in living memory will have had to negotiate such prolonged psychological warfare as what faces City and Liverpool from this day forward. It will be a climatic title race played out like Groundhog Day until May and if you believe the same logic can be applied to last term that discounts the uncertainties back then that ever-so-slightly but also crucially muddied the waters. Now they both know what they’re capable of. Know it in their bones. Now it’s just pure, undistilled pressure.
And it could be said that it is Liverpool who currently have the advantage in this regard, an ominous reading given that this weekend sees the teams come together in a ferocious rehearsal of a title decider. It is they who have come out of the blocks flying and it cannot be understated how much confidence is bred from picking up points on a weekly basis while not playing at your absolute best. After last-gasp heroics against Arsenal in the EFL Cup and in the Midlands they will be feeling invincible right now.
City, by way of comparison, are looking a touch vulnerable. They’re ravaged by injuries. They have lost, wholly unexpectedly, to Norwich and Wolves. Could self-doubt become a factor after all? Not a chance, because that would be failing to view the bigger picture and the bigger picture has it that this is Liverpool’s year. That is not a cheap dig. Really, it’s not. This is Liverpool’s year in the sense that it has to be.
Pep Guardiola: "Sometimes it is diving, sometimes it is this talent to score incredible goals in the last minute."
Jurgen Klopp: "Sadio is not a diver…"
It's heating up ahead of Sunday's clash already! pic.twitter.com/crwKg5zkSN
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) November 4, 2019
Last season at the peak of their powers they put everything into it and fell a single point short despite losing just the solitary game. It can only be imagined how difficult that was to take but to their vast credit they picked themselves up and this season, still at the peak of their powers, they’re maximising every facet of themselves once again, putting together the best league start since Spurs’ double-winners in 1961. Yet City – vulnerable, injury-ravaged City – will be only three points behind with a win at Anfield.
Should Liverpool fail to finally land a Premier League trophy next May it is impossible to think that this present dynamic of manager and players can lift themselves to such a staggering level for a third time. It may be an exaggeration to suggest that it’s now or never for them, but it’s certainly a case of now or until the next perfect storm emerges. And how long will that be?
The Blues meanwhile are consecutive champions, which not only instils innate confidence but also provides them with a valuable psychological get-out clause in relation to their rivals. Unlike them they are not firmly of the belief that they have to be absolutely perfect for the next 27 games in order to fulfil some sacred destiny. Their generational zenith has already been amply rewarded.
Psychologically speaking, an away win on Merseyside this Sunday will see the momentum shift to City and we’ve seen many times over what they can do with that. As for the hosts they will start to wonder what the hell more they can possibly do to shake off this extraordinary side.
Perhaps then it is not ‘just’ a title decider rehearsal. Perhaps it’s much more important even than that.
