How Pep changed it to combat Alexander Arnold whilst breathing life into City’s attack 1/

Pep mentioned in his post match interview that he changed the formation at half time in part to combat the threat from Liverpool’s full backs. In a quiet first half Alexander Arnold looked like Liverpool’s main attacking weapon. Both full backs stayed wide and were given space 2/
Alexander Arnold set up a headed chance for Mane in the 25th min. Zinchenko challenges Salah for Henderson’s cross field pass. He can only head it on to Alexander Arnold who’s in space. No one else has picked him up and Zinchenko has a problem 3/
He beats Zinchenko with a nice bit of skill and crosses for Mane to head over 4/
City’s set up had left Alexander Arnold free. Sterling was playing way too far up the pitch to mark him and despite Gundogan playing in a left 8 role he was more often than not dealing with the threat centrally. When Henderson plays the pass we can see their postions 5/
Another example came in the 32nd minute. Again Henderson switches play to Alexander Arnold. Sterling is well ahead of him as part of the high press. Gundogan is central and can’t get to Alexander Arnold who this time opts for a cross from deep which Stones head behind 6/
The signs were there as I pointed out during the match 7/ https://t.co/rFr5UHoxTQ
At half time Pep changed it. The wingers dropped deeper to form a 4 across midfield with Gundogan sat in next to Rodri. Bernardo was pushed up alongside Foden 8/
What this did was allow Sterling and Mahrez to get much closer to the Liverpool fbs. It also meant that Cancelo could become a conventional full back and Zinchenko was no longer part of a back 3 in possession. Again giving City’s more bodies to deal with the threat from wide 9/
As a result we saw far more situations like this in the second half with Zinchenko and Sterling up close to Salah and Alexander Arnold 10/
City benefitted from Bernardo’s industry up front creating more spaces for Sterling and Foden to weave their magic - but that analysis is for another day.
For now, all credit to Pep who saw Liverpool’s main threat in the 1st half and nullified it with a change of shape 11//
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॥ॐ॥
अस्य श्री गायत्री ध्यान श्लोक:
(gAyatri dhyAna shlOka)
• This shloka to meditate personified form of वेदमाता गायत्री was given by Bhagwaan Brahma to Sage yAgnavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य).

• 14th shloka of गायत्री कवचम् which is taken from वशिष्ठ संहिता, goes as follows..


• मुक्ता-विद्रुम-हेम-नील धवलच्छायैर्मुखस्त्रीक्षणै:।
muktA vidruma hEma nIla dhavalachhAyaiH mukhaistrlkShaNaiH.

• युक्तामिन्दुकला-निबद्धमुकुटां तत्वार्थवर्णात्मिकाम्॥
yuktAmindukalA nibaddha makutAm tatvArtha varNAtmikam.

• गायत्रीं वरदाभयाङ्कुश कशां शुभ्रं कपालं गदाम्।
gAyatrIm vardAbhayANkusha kashAm shubhram kapAlam gadAm.

• शंखं चक्रमथारविन्दयुगलं हस्तैर्वहन्ती भजै॥
shankham chakramathArvinda yugalam hastairvahantIm bhajE.

This shloka describes the form of वेदमाता गायत्री.

• It says, "She has five faces which shine with the colours of a Pearl 'मुक्ता', Coral 'विद्रुम', Gold 'हेम्', Sapphire 'नील्', & a Diamond 'धवलम्'.

• These five faces are symbolic of the five primordial elements called पञ्चमहाभूत:' which makes up the entire existence.

• These are the elements of SPACE, FIRE, WIND, EARTH & WATER.

• All these five faces shine with three eyes 'त्रिक्षणै:'.