There’s little time to ponder on the Anfield loss with Burnley at the Etihad tomorrow, so let’s get straight into the thick of it.
ESPN have the honour of the first transfer story of the New Year as they suggest the Blues may be in the market for another Bundesliga star.
They write: “Manchester City are weighing up a move for Bayern Munich defender Holger Badstuber to ease their defensive problems, sources close to the player have told ESPN FC.
“City have struggled defensively in recent weeks, conceding three goals against Chelsea and four at Leicester, which could lead Pep Guardiola to consider entering the transfer market in January to solve the problem.
“A number of defenders have been linked with City, including Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk, but Badstuber, who is well down the pecking order at Bayern, could be a more viable option as he could be available for a bargain fee with his contract set to expire in six months
“Badstuber spent much of the three years of Guardiola’s reign at Bayern sidelined by injury, but the 27-year-old is now back to fitness after making three appearances for Bayern in the past two months.
“The 27-year-old could be interested in a move away from Bayern, where he came through the youth system, as he searches for regular first-team football after a frustrating four-year spell.”
The Daily Express, meanwhile, believe that the Blues’ alleged interest in Virgil van Dijk could be ended by a huge bid from Chelsea.
They report: “Antonio Conte has seen his side race six points clear at the top of the Premier League table on the back of a 13 match winning run.
“But he has been looking to strengthen the centre of his defence since last summer and has been impressed with Southampton’s Van Dijk this season.
“City boss Pep Guardiola is also keen on the Netherlands international but Conte wants to outbid them to the deal.
“Saints boss Claude Puel is determined that the former Celtic man won’t be leaving the club during this transfer window.”
Moving on to last night’s post-mortem and many writers have decided the 10-point gap to Chelsea has effectively ended City’s title interest this season.
While there is a major task for the Blues to turn things around in terms of catching the leaders, as Pep said in his post-match interviews, there is a long way to go yet.
Writing in the Mail, Glenn Hoddle observed: “Since that infamous Leicester game when Manchester City lost 4-2 and Guardiola announced that he didn’t coach tackles, I have noticed a subtle shift in City’s play. Guardiola won’t change his playing philosophy but he will adapt to England.
“City are playing out from the back less than before, the balls are coming forward a little quicker and they are slightly more direct, while still being a team moulded by Guardiola’s ideas.
“Last night’s defeat was another blow, however. They need to adapt quickly. For the first time in his coaching life, Guardiola faces a battle even to make the top four.”
Finally, The Independent’s Tim Rich recalls are rare City win at Anfield in 35 years ago that sparked a remarkable Liverpool revival as he writes: “That Boxing Day defeat in 1981 left Liverpool 12th,
Nine points adrift of the leaders, Swansea, in the days when a win gave you two. Bob Paisley rallied his men to win the title and Jürgen Klopp finds himself in a better position.
“Pep Guardiola, in contrast, is nowhere near where he expected to be when 2017 opens.
“Klopp versus Guardiola pitched them where they found themselves in the Bundesliga. Guardiola at the club with the money, Klopp in charge of a club that prides itself on its passion with Borussia Dortmund’s ‘Yellow Wall’ replaced by the red wall of Anfield’s Kop.
“Like the clashes between Bayern Munich and Dortmund, this seemed like a game between two teams at their peak. We were half right. Liverpool before the interval were exhilarating while Manchester City delivered their limpest 45 minutes of the season.”
Tomorrow, they say, is another day…
Enjoy New Year’s Day and we’ll be back with more tomorrow as we build up to the Burnley clash.
