Much much better performance than the deer in headlights Arsenal performance. We actually took the match to the Etihad and knew the continuous approach of attack would cause a frail City man problems given how prone they are to concede when pressed and laced with the oppositions pace.

Its a sign of positivity to see Sturridge and Suarez combine to effortlessly while Sturridge has also shown to possess a big game mentality with excellent goals vs United down two goals and equalizing for Liverpool again, but this time vs the blue half of the city.

Gerrard once again was absolute magnificent and took advantage of Toure's absence and capped it off with a vintage goal which had me screaming in nostalgic tears.

Agger quite obviously is off form and low on confidence just like his fellow CB partner, Skrtel. This is not only worrying but it may result in a potential rotation of our best CB partnership to make room for a resurging Carragher who once again had an excellent game.

Johnson was one of our best players in defence and attack as epitomized the continuous flow of attack that we stuck to a weakened Man City.

But of course, when we are a goal up vs a big side we seem to have the mentality of ...Stewart Downing (he was absolutely invisible once again with a timid performance). Like Skrtel last year trying his best attempt for Tevez to score, our "Sweeper" Keeper Pepe had to approach Aguero for no reason despite being covered by our line. He paid dearly. Not only it ruined our chance once again to prove ourselves vs a big team, it stole the thunder of Sturridge and Gerrard's goal. Thank you Pepe. Thank you for another 2-2.

Nonetheless many positives to be taken from this match as we have finally found a working midfield who compliment each other, our fullbacks performing in excellent tandem and our front line causing massive havoc (bar the clown from middlesborough).

Our decision to mirror Mancini's eventual 3-5-2 was an interesting one as although it cost us in wide positions, we seemed to look more compact on the defensive side while supplying the mezzala's wide far better.

It's a bit sad that a hugely impressive performance is being overshadowed by a nigh insatiable need to assign blame and obsess over faults.

Did Reina make a mistake? Certainly.
Should that mistake be the defining takeaway from the match? Certainly not.

mr-r34 wrote:LOL, juts look at Skrtel raises his hands like wtf are you doing and then after the goal just looks at renia like wtf.


How the mighty have fallen.

What exactly do you want Skrtel to do? He had Aguero covered yet Reina persisted in coming out for the ball. He SHOULD of cleared the ball or stayed on his line.

@ Messiah: There was nothing wrong with the Skrtel for Enrique sub. Allen for Sturridge was a problem for me though considering we had City on the back foot yet we took a goal threat for another midfielder. Considering the likes of Gerrard, Lucas and Henderson were already on the pitch I don't feel Joe coming on was the best of substitutes.

Tunnel CAM at Etihad