CHRIS SUTTON: Granit Xhaka’s STUPID act was what brought Anfield to life and sparked Liverpool’s resurgence…now Arsenal’s journey to the Etihad this month looks like a Premier League title decider
Jurgen Klopp used to describe his Liverpool players as ‘mental monsters’. But for the first 40 minutes of this game, they looked more like “gentle mice.”
Liverpool were asleep, 2-0 down and did nothing to encourage any noise from their supporters.
Then Granit Xhaka woke them up. Stupid. By storming into Trent Alexander-Arnold and then going over to him, he rioted the crowd at Anfield.
Their animosity was contagious and it brought this Liverpool team to life.
They were suddenly fueled by anger and got ready for it for the second half – all thanks to that one moment of misjudgment from Xhaka.
Granit Xhaka accidentally wrong-footed Anfield fans after clash with Trent Alexander-Arnold
Mikel Arteta will be furious at Xhaka’s stupid actions that changed the game at Liverpool
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp needs to make sure his Reds show that kind of struggle from the start
Mikel Arteta will be furious about that, I’m sure. It was totally unnecessary of Xhaka to give Liverpool a reason to stop playing so passively.
That said, it is worrying for Klopp that it took something like this to get his team going. Shouldn’t they display this angry attitude from the beginning of games?
That’s a big reason why they are where they are, eighth in the Premier League and at risk of missing out on Europe.
The Liverpool we saw in the second half on Sunday is the one Klopp was desperate for. Why it went missing is a mystery.
They have to show that mentality from the first whistle.
Etihad clash looks like a title decider
By all accounts, this was a Premier League classic, one that will be revisited if Manchester City are crowned champions.
After this result, the temptation might be to say that the title is back in City’s hands.
If Pep Guardiola’s side can win their game in hand and beat Arsenal at home, then they can top the table this month.
But Arsenal must remember that it is also in their hands. Arteta’s team can go to the Etihad Stadium and emerge victorious to distance themselves from their pursuers.
That clash on April 26 already has the ingredients for a title decider.
Arsenal’s trip to Manchester City from Pep Guardiola this month looks set to be the title decider