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Manchester City’s recent emphatic 4-0 victory against Wolves has sparked discussions about whether the club is adopting playing style elements famously associated with Liverpool, under the influence of Pep Lijnders, Pep Guardiola’s new assistant coach and former Liverpool deputy under Jurgen Klopp. Jamie Carragher, the ex-Liverpool defender and pundit, highlighted how City’s high defensive line and aggressive offside trap during the match mirrored Liverpool’s tactics. Carragher noted that City's players pushed far up the pitch, successfully catching Wolves players offside multiple times, a strategy closely linked with Klopp’s Liverpool side. This shift was particularly notable given City's previous season’s form dip and their new approach hinted at a tactical evolution with Lijnders’s input.

Pep Lijnders, who joined Manchester City after being dismissed from RB Salzburg, is regarded by Guardiola as “inspiring” and is playing a significant role behind the scenes in revamping City's style. Lijnders’s influence appears to be strong enough that Guardiola has incorporated many of his ideas into the tactical setup, including increasing the tempo of passing and implementing a pressing style that resembles Liverpool’s approach. Jurgen Klopp had previously warned Guardiola about Lijnders’s restless nature and his eagerness to be actively involved in coaching, an attribute Guardiola seems to have embraced rather than resisted. This collaboration has rejuvenated Manchester City’s training intensity and match tactics.

The similarities between Liverpool’s dynamic pressing game and City’s current defensive and counter-attacking playstyle suggest that Lijnders is having a “huge influence” on Guardiola’s side, potentially blending Liverpool’s intensity with City’s established dominance. As a result, observers like Carragher are closely watching whether this fusion boosts Manchester City’s push for the Premier League title this season.




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