How Jurgen Klopp has slapped Liverpool into shape with Gegenpressing tactics

• Liverpool stormed to a 4-1 away victory over Manchester City 
• The Reds played fluid attacking football under new boss Jurgen Klopp 
• The German manager now wants to impress home fans at Anfield too
• Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino were particularly easy on the eye 
• Klopp has lost just one of his eight games in charge since taking over
• Read: Jurgen Klopp has extinguished fear of the big teams at Liverpool

By Ian Ladyman for the Daily Mail

Published: 16:57 EST, 22 November 2015 | Updated: 07:52 EST, 23 November 2015

In the pages of one of the newspapers on Sunday, Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart loomed large from an advert. 'Unbeatable,' it said.

We have known this not to be true for a while. City — many people's champions-elect — have kept only two clean sheets since the middle of September. If that's not a concern for manager Manuel Pellegrini then it should be.

On Saturday at the Etihad Stadium, however, we witnessed something that we really don't see very often. City, looking to weld themselves to the top of the Barclays Premier League before Christmas and New Year, were dismantled by Jurgen Klopp's insatiable Liverpool side.

It was a stunning evening in Manchester, made so by the irresistible nature of Liverpool's attacking play and by City's unexpected fallibility. 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp applauds the away fans after the 4-1 victory at Manchester City 

THE NUMBERS BEHIND KLOPP'S SUCCESS 

Much of Jurgen Klopp’s success at Borussia Dortmund was built on the idea of Gegenpressing — or counter-pressing — whereby his players put pressure on ball-carrying opponents high up the pitch in the hope of regaining possession in an advanced position. 

FIRST HALF

This tactic was evident during Liverpool’s performance at the Etihad on Saturday, particularly in the first half, with his players happy to surrender much of possession while putting in nearly three times as many tackles as their opponents.

MIDFIELDERS SET THE STANDARD

A high work rate is key to Gegenpressing, and Liverpool midfielders Adam Lallana, James Milner, Lucas and Emre Can typified the approach — the quartet each covered more distance than any City player.

MILES COVERED

The rest of their team-mates also put a shift in, with Liverpool’s 10 outfield starters running an average of 1.3 miles more than their City counterparts and maintaining a higher average speed.

Afterwards, Pellegrini couldn't explain it. Either that or he just didn't want to. Asked if this was the worst performance of his time in charge, the Chilean said: 'Yes, yes, it was, absolutely.'

Perhaps it was only right that Pellegrini didn't say too much. It would only have made things worse ahead of the Champions League game at Juventus on Wednesday.

Liverpool manager Klopp, meanwhile, endeavoured only to play down the expectation that will inevitably soar after this stellar performance.

'We have to work, that's all,' he said. 'Somebody asks us if we can go to the top four then it's not my problem. I don't think that way.

'The money is in the Champions League but I can't promise it now. It's hard work to get there.

'They changed the manager here and that tells you something. It wasn't because of the weather and it wasn't a problem with Brendan Rodgers because he is a brilliant manager.

'But they had to change something. Only two weeks ago we lost to Crystal Palace. I can't say that we are good enough but if you want to write it you can.'

Reds defender Martin Skrtel lashes home his side's fourth goal in a 4-1 victory over City on Saturday

Skrtel slides on his knees to celebrate his goal in the emphatic away win against City at the Etihad Stadium

The foundations for Liverpool's victory were laid in the first half. They were 3-0 up within half an hour and, as City failed to cope with their relentless energy and the intuitive nature of their football, it could have been more.

City's returning striker Sergio Aguero did score before half-time and perhaps the subsequent discussion in the visitors' dressing room provides the best insight into the challenges that still face Klopp. Essentially the Liverpool manager admitted that he had to convince his players they were good enough to win a game of this magnitude.

'If you are stuck in the forest and it's dark and you are afraid and someone tells you not to be then it doesn't work,' he said.

'It's your own mind. Only you can affect that. We need the confidence in ourselves but we cannot switch the lamp on and off, on and off.

'I would love to win a game like this at Anfield. That's the next challenge. We have Swansea coming but I don't know that much about them yet. We lost to Palace so we have to find a solution and we will.'

Reds midfielder Philippe Coutinho celebrates scoring his side's second goal in the 4-1 rout in Manchester

Full back Nathaniel Clyne was on the receiving end of a 'slap' after a missed high-five with his boss

Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren (left) gets across to make a challenge on City midfielder Fabian Delph

Liverpool defender Nathaniel Clyne (left) puts pressure on City forward Raheem Sterling on Saturday

City striker Sergio Aguero (right) is closed down by Reds midfielder Lucas Leiva during Saturday's clash 

Having now won at Chelsea and City for the first time in the same season since 2008, Liverpool would appear to be on an upwards trajectory. Much of their improvement has come on the back of the Brazilian partnership of Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.

We know all about Coutinho — who will have a scan on his hamstring if it is still sore on Monday — but summer signing Firmino has only really come to the fore since injuries thrust him in to the team as a makeshift forward at Chelsea last month.

'It's tough coming to the Premier League but each game he is getting better and better,' said Liverpool's former City midfielder James Milner. 'He was outstanding, him and Phil combined really well and hopefully that will continue.'

Klopp, who took over as Liverpool boss in October, congratulates Coutinho on his performance 

Clyne (left) makes a vital interception to block Sterling's cross during Saturday's game in Manchester 

Coutinho (right) sets off on a typically tricky run during Liverpool's stunning 4-1 away win over City 

Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino (right) has a shot at goal during the 4-1 away win over City on Saturday

Reds midfield duo Lucas and James Milner (right) close down City's Kevin De Bruyne (centre)  

Liverpool's England international Adam Lallana (right) skips away from Delph at the Etihad Stadium 

Firmino was excellent on this occasion, providing Liverpool with an outlet far too dextrous and intelligent for a City defence missing key players.

Certainly Pellegrini may look at his selection and wonder. Without the injured Vincent Kompany, he left arguably his second best defender Nicolas Otamendi on the bench. At half-time, meanwhile, Yaya Toure was dragged off.

'I don't want to talk about individual players or decisions,' was Pellegrini's contribution to that debate. 

Firmino (centre) gets his shot away through a crowd of City defenders during Liverpool's 4-1 victory

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