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One after another, coaches Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp took care of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Guardiola patted Liverpool FC’s limping right-back on the side of his head before Klopp worriedly took his protege in his arms.
After an hour, 22-year-old Alexander-Arnold suddenly stopped chasing his opponent Raheem Sterling in a brisk sideline sprint and sat on the icy lawn in the pouring Manchester rain. Face contracted with pain, the England international grabbed his right calf. The diagnosis was obvious: muscle problems, a week-long break, cancellation of the next international matches with England.
The one-minute treatment seemed to remind teams, already plagued by numerous injuries (seven regular workers were not available before kick-off), that in this highly stressful season due to the turmoil of the corona pandemic, they would probably be better off. do not suffer further injuries take the risk.
This had an immediate effect on the match: the visibly exhausted pros let the Premier League top match between second Manchester City and champion FC Liverpool to end after an extraordinary first half with no further chances (and injuries!): With a 1-1. The Independent began his match reportage with the phrase that City and Liverpool couldn’t beat each other because they had nothing to do with fatigue.
The fair draw of the title contenders on Sunday allowed both clubs to save face and above all to make common cause. After the final whistle, City Coach Guardiola wanted to go quickly to the exit when Klopp pulled him in to share his anger over the Premier League. The frontal attack on the championship ultimately caused more reverberation than the game itself.
Combined in words and imagery, Klopp and Guardiola spoke angrily about the rejected increase from three to five substitutions per game. In this proposal, the Premier League backbenchers saw in the August vote (13: 7 votes) a preference for the top clubs because they would have more balanced squads. The exchange rate was increased at the end of the preseason to avoid injuries.
“For me this is a lack of leadership,” Klopp muttered to Richard Masters, the manager of the league association: “Masters sold it completely wrong. Five changes are not an advantage, but a necessity. In almost all of them. other countries is managed this way “. After Fabinho, Alexander-Arnold is Liverpool’s second defender due to muscle disorders. Up to injuries, both played in all league and Champions League matches: Alexander-Arnold was off the pitch in just nine minutes, while Fabinho was 58.
Like Klopp, Guardiola insisted that this discussion was all about player protection and then announced that he would continue to campaign for five changes in the future. The Catalan has used his options in the previous seven league games for only two thirds (14 out of 21 possible changes); against Liverpool he brought only Bernardo Silva for Ferran Torres.
For what reason? “Because I’m the coach! The rule must allow five changes. Whether I use it or not is my problem,” hissed Guardiola annoyed. And why wasn’t replacement Phil Foden hired after all? “I changed my mind from yes to no.” After this response, Guardiola left the press conference without saying goodbye.
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