Football’s First Defender

After the 5-0 away victory over Tottenham, everyone will no longer question the current strength of Liverpool.

Just like Liverpool's record at the top of the list today, everyone believes again that even if the team is affected by injury factors, Liverpool is still the most promising team to win the Premier League championship this season.

In the subsequent home game against Cardiff City, three goals jointly contributed by Henderson, Sterling and Coutinho helped the team defeat the visiting Cardiff City 3-1. The team's lead in the standings continues at three points.

Behind Liverpool are Arsenal, who have been performing well this season, as well as Manchester City and Chelsea.

Among the six giants, Manchester United and Tottenham, with their unsatisfactory recent records, have widened the point gap with the championship group, and they even have Everton and Newcastle in front of them.

However, whether Liverpool really has a championship appearance, we can see some clues from this Boxing Day schedule.

Everyone recognizes the strength of Liverpool, but it is also recognized by the "inhumane" Manchester City, Arsenal with outstanding offensive firepower, and Chelsea, which performed equally well after Mu Bird's "second entry into the palace".

As for the Boxing Day game, Liverpool will have two consecutive away games with Manchester City and Chelsea, two direct rivals for the title, within three days after Christmas.

Liverpool's first game after Christmas is against Manchester City, which has a lot of powerful players in the team.

Although Manchester City entered the situation slowly due to the team's focus on the Champions League in the early stage, as the Champions League group stage came to an end, Manchester City has recently won 6 consecutive victories in the Premier League, making the team quietly From the mid-range ranking, all the way up to the third place.

Now the difference between Liverpool at the top of the list is only 4 points.

After Ferguson retired, for Manchester City, who are also in Manchester, this season is actually the best opportunity for them to compete with Manchester United for Manchester local fans.

In the past, even though Manchester City has received crazy capital injections from oil capital for many years, Manchester United is like a mountain pressing on Manchester City. When it comes to Manchester, everyone always thinks of the "Red Devils" Manchester United and the old coach Ferguson. And Manchester City will always be regarded as an ordinary team, which cannot be compared with traditional giants like Manchester United.

However, with the retirement of Ferguson, Manchester United immediately fell into a sinking. This is the best chance for Manchester City to get rid of Manchester United's shadow. If they can take over the faded royal clothes of Manchester United and become the new Premier League champion and the new King of Manchester, So it is crucial for the future development of Manchester City.

It is only 4 points away from the top Liverpool. For this direct match with Liverpool, it will be the best chance for Manchester City to narrow the gap.

It's just that the strikers on both sides were damaged before the game. Aguero on Manchester City's side was absent due to injury, while Sturridge's injury on Liverpool's side still needs a period of recuperation.

Liverpool's several injured players have not yet recovered. Rogers' choice of starting lineup is exactly the same as that of Tottenham's players in that battle.

On the Manchester City side, after the lack of Aguero, they can only start Negredo.

Negredo has been competing with Dzeko this season, and Negredo, who has performed well recently, has naturally been favored by the Manchester City coach.

The most dreadful thing about Manchester City is their luxurious midfield configuration.

Nasri, Keylor Navas, two top-ranked wingers in the world football, separated from the left and right, while David Silva, Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, the center composed of three On the field, it has both offense and defense. In the case of a solid defense, it can also send exquisite passes.

Manchester City's Etihad home court has already won 8 consecutive victories in the Premier League this season. In the new season, they won 11 of 12 home games in all competitions. They only lost to Cosmos in the European group stage. Just benevolence.

Such a terrifying home court is a huge challenge for Liverpool's defense.

Compared with the original away game against Arsenal, Manchester City has stronger wings and a stronger midfield. Although the team's overall pass control level may not be as good as Arsenal's, but in the delivery of key balls, there is Sear. Manchester City, where Wat and Yaya Toure are two midfield superstar players, is no worse than Arsenal.

In terms of the team's offensive threat creation, Manchester City's loss of Aguero is definitely affected, but facing Liverpool's defense, they must still have a certain advantage.

Liverpool's defense in this game is the most worrying thing, that is, the two sides have to face the attacks of Nasri and Navas in turn.

Flanagan on the right side of Liverpool will face Nasri's impact directly. Whether the young Flanagan can hold his own defense zone is crucial to Liverpool's game.

At the beginning of the game, Manchester City, playing at home, really took the initiative on the field.

For Liverpool, being forced by Manchester City's offense, they could only go on the defensive, waiting for an opportunity to prepare for Manchester City's counterattack.

And in this strong duel, Manchester City has no scruples. Manchester City, who are playing at home, dare to fight against Bayern. Facing Liverpool at this time is not considered a healthy line of defense. Manchester City's offense is very easy. .

Especially the two wingers, relying on their strong personal abilities from the very beginning, posed a great threat to Liverpool's defense.

As soon as the kick off, Manchester City's midfielder passed the ball directly to Navas on the right after some conduction.

Navas didn't have any fake moves to deceive, he just dribbled the ball and opened his posture to go down the right side.

Glenn Johnson, at this time, his weakness of acting on the left has been revealed, and he can deal with ordinary players. However, now, Glenn Johnson is still lacking in playing in a position he is not most familiar with.

One person's defense cannot limit Navas' breakthrough at all.

Navas made a strong breakthrough and made a half-high pass directly from the bottom. Fortunately, the goalkeeper Mignolet reacted quickly. There is an opportunity to grab points in front of the goal.

The threat of Navas on the right has not been resolved, and Nasri on the left of Manchester City can also show off his power.

Facing the teenager Flanagan, this kind of British full-back is slightly taller, much stronger than Nasri, so when facing a small and fast player like Nasri, he will naturally be in a hurry. In terms of agility, you will suffer a lot.

Nasri also made a strong attack from the outside, and Flanagan, who was defending alone, could only watch helplessly as Nasri kicked a pass from a threatening place on the side, but his own tackle was simply unable to make it.

After all, if Flanagan really rushed forward with all his strength, then if Nasri took advantage of the trend to break through, he would pose a greater threat to Liverpool.

For Manchester City's wing cross, Liverpool can only let it go.

Nasri passed the football to the back point this time, and directly crossed Liverpool's central defense line. In the back point area, Navas dived to the top and headed a contra-angle, which caught Mignolet who was rushing over by surprise. .

The ball flew towards the upper left corner of the goal. Mignolet, who was guarding the right post in the near corner, could only watch helplessly as the ball flew towards the goal, hit the post, and bounced out of bounds!

Liverpool's defensive players broke out in a cold sweat, almost, that goal was scored by Keylor Navas...