A Tactical Review of the Most Important Game of the Month

14 November 2025

Every month, there's usually that one game — the clash that lives up to all the hype, divides fans, breaks Twitter, and sometimes leaves managers chewing their nails on the sidelines. This month, that honor goes to the showdown between Manchester City and Liverpool. If you missed it, well, buckle up. If you watched it and are still scratching your head over Pep’s midfield setup or Klopp’s late subs, this one’s for you.

Let’s dive deep into the tactics, the twists, and the tiny details that made this game an absolute tactical masterclass.

The Bigger Picture: What Was at Stake?

Before we even get into shape, pressing, and passing maps, let’s talk context.

This match wasn’t just another fixture on the list. It had league implications, narrative arcs, and a whole lot of pressure. Both clubs are chasing the Premier League title — again. Only a few points separated them going in. For City, a team known for dictating tempo, it was about reasserting dominance. For Liverpool, it was the chance to prove they’re still very much in this race post their recent injury concerns and rotation experiments.

You could feel the tension from the first whistle.

Starting XI: The Lineup Choices Tell A Story

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola went with a somewhat expected 4-3-3 on paper, but we all know Pep never keeps it that simple. Here’s how it looked:

- Backline: Walker, Dias, Akanji, and Gvardiol.
- Midfield: Rodri at the base, with Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic as the advanced eights.
- Attack: Foden on the right, Doku on the left, and Haaland up top.

Now, watch closely: when City had the ball, this morphed into that signature 3-2-4-1 shape. Walker tucked in, Gvardiol pushed wide, and the midfield triangle rotated constantly.

Liverpool

Klopp stuck to his trusted 4-3-3, albeit with a couple of spicy tweaks:

- Backline: Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, and Robertson.
- Midfield: Mac Allister sat deep, flanked by Szoboszlai and Gravenberch.
- Forward line: Salah, Gakpo in the false 9 role, and Diaz out wide.

No shockers here, except for the fact that Trent played more central off the ball — a hybrid role that’s becoming his new thing.

First-Half Chess Match: Midfield Is Where the Battle Was Fought

Right from the jump, you could tell both managers had done their homework.

City’s midfield movements were crisp. Rodri controlled tempo like a metronome, shifting play side to side. Bernardo Silva and Kovacic made overlapping runs that pulled Liverpool’s midfield out of shape. Pep wanted overloads — and he got them.

Liverpool, on the other hand, opted for controlled chaos. They didn’t press high as much as they waited for City to misplace a pass, then pounced. It was a mid-block with a sharp bite. Mac Allister screened the defense effectively, often dropping into a back five when City advanced.

The Main Tactical Theme: Forcing Width

Pep clearly instructed his men to target the flanks. Doku, in particular, was isolated one-on-one against Trent Alexander-Arnold, and boy, that was a match-up. Trent’s strengths lie in passing, not pure defending. Doku took advantage, cutting in and whipping balls into Haaland.

But here’s the thing — Liverpool baited this. They were more than happy to let City go wide, trusting Van Dijk and Konate to clear deliveries and then spring on the counter. Risky? Definitely. But it worked… for a while.

Breaking the Deadlock: Haaland Does What Haaland Does

It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t elegant. But it was effective.

In the 37th minute, a quick switch from Rodri to Foden opened up space on the right. Foden took a couple of touches, cut inside, and curled in a beautiful ball that Gakpo failed to intercept. Haaland was already on his bike — two steps ahead of Van Dijk — and knocked it in past Alisson, first-time finish. Clinical.

Liverpool didn't panic. Instead, they tightened up their lines, particularly in midfield. Szoboszlai began pressing higher, forcing City’s backline into mistakes. Slowly, momentum started to shift.

Second-Half Adjustments: Klopp Rolls the Dice

If the first half was a tactical prediction game, the second half was all about adaptation.

Klopp's Changes:

- Diaz off, Darwin Núñez on.
- Gakpo dropped deeper.
- Trent pushed even more centrally, almost as a second pivot next to Mac Allister.

The result? Liverpool started winning the second balls. Trent, now in midfield, was threading passes through the lines. Salah drifted inside more, dragging Gvardiol with him and creating pockets of space.

City started to look a little rattled. Guardiola screamed on the sidelines, gesturing for more control in possession, but Liverpool pressed hard.

The Equalizer: Salah Turns Creator

In the 68th minute, the roles reversed.

This time, it was Liverpool executing a perfectly orchestrated move. Quick one-two between Gravenberch and Trent opened the right side. Salah, always scanning, curled a cross into the six-yard box. Núñez, fresh and flying, beat Walker to it and nodded home.

Game on. 1-1.

Tactical Tension: Who Blinks First?

For the last 20 minutes, it was a cat-and-mouse battle. Both teams had chances. City tried to slow things down, bringing on Grealish for Doku, hoping to draw fouls and control tempo. Liverpool, in contrast, looked to counter at lightning speed.

Neither team backed off — and that’s what made it such a spectacle. It wasn’t a tactical stalemate. It was two heavyweights trading punches, adapting in real-time.

Individual Battles That Made the Difference

1. Doku vs. Trent Alexander-Arnold

This was a showcase of extremes. Doku roasted Trent a few times, but Trent also showed maturity, forcing Doku inside toward congestion. It was a chess match on the wing.

2. Rodri vs. Mac Allister

Rodri is a rhythm-setter. Always has been. But Mac Allister held his own. The Argentine cut off passing lanes and played simple but effective balls to transition into attack. Not bad for someone still adjusting to the Premier League.

3. Salah’s Movement

He didn’t score, but his influence was huge. By drifting inside and drawing markers, Salah destabilized City’s shape. Pure intelligence.

The Managers: Pep vs. Klopp

Tactically, this was a battle of philosophies.

Pep leans on control, structure, and positional play — and you saw that early on. Klopp, ever the disruptor, aims for high-energy transitions and chaos in organization.

What’s fascinating is how both tweaked their own styles to meet each other halfway. Pep allowed for more direct dribbling through Doku. Klopp used more positional buildup, especially with Trent in midfield.

It was like watching two master painters switch brushes midway to finish each other’s portraits.

Final Whistle: 1-1, But Who Won the Tactics?

If we’re being honest, a draw was fair. But tactically? This was a win for the fans.

Klopp's in-game adjustments were sharper. He responded to City’s domination and turned the tide. Pep started strong — his initial press traps and wing isolations were textbook — but couldn't wrestle back momentum late on.

So, if you're judging based on tactical flexibility and impact, you might just give Klopp the edge.

What This Game Tells Us Moving Forward

This match doesn’t just matter for this month. It sets the tone for the rest of the season.

- City still look like a machine — but not an invincible one.
- Liverpool are proving they can adapt and evolve — even with key players missing.
- The title race? Still wide open.

If these two meet again in a cup, hold onto your seat.

Key Stats (Just In Case You Love Numbers)

- Possession: City 61% – Liverpool 39%
- Shots on Target: City 5 – Liverpool 4
- Pass Accuracy: City 91% – Liverpool 85%
- Key Passes: Salah (4), Rodri (3), Foden (3)

Stats never tell the full story, but they sure help highlight the tactical trends.

Conclusion: A Tactical Thriller in Every Sense

In a football world where strategy often gets overshadowed by superstar narratives and memes, this game was a refreshing reminder: tactics still matter.

City flexed their structure. Liverpool showed their adaptability. In the end, we got a masterclass from both benches — and a result that leaves us hungry for more.

So, yeah, this wasn’t just the best game of the month. It was a two-hour tutorial on how modern football is played — and evolved.