How did Manchester City arrive at Anfield for the biggest, potentially most decisive game of their season with their best defensive midfielder at centre-back, their back-up to the back-up at left-back, and a choice between one shaky central defender or the other?



VAR contributed to City’s defeat, one which leaves them nine points behind Liverpool, and so did a lack of cutting edge up front, but for too many of the home side’s goals the mistakes were too basic to be able to overlook the defensive situation.



After the final whistle, fans bemoaned injuries and criticised summer transfer market dealings, or lack thereof.



So was it bad luck or bad planning? Luck certainly plays its part; to lose Ederson four days before the game to his first muscle injury in his time at the club was cruel. Aymeric Laporte damaging knee ligaments cannot be accounted for, either.



There were calls before and after the game for Fernandinho, who has not been...