Man City Has Another Secret Weapon Ahead of Liverpool Clash
Liverpool will face a familiar figure on Sunday, as former assistant coach Pep Lijnders now aids Manchester City’s efforts. However, Pep Guardiola has more than one secret weapon to strengthen his squad against Liverpool.
Pep Lijnders’ Return to Premier League
Lijnders is best known at Anfield for his time as Jurgen Klopp’s assistant during Liverpool’s rise to Premier League, European, and World Championship titles. He left Liverpool alongside Klopp and briefly managed Red Bull Salzburg before being dismissed after 29 games.
New Roles at Manchester City
A few months later, Lijnders made a surprising return to the Premier League as Guardiola’s new assistant coach at Manchester City. Alongside him, James French, a former Liverpool first-team opposition analyst of 13 years, joined City as the set-piece coach in a significant coaching staff overhaul.
The New Coaching Team’s Ambitions
- Lijnders and French aim to strengthen City’s tactics and challenge the league leaders.
- They focus on improving key areas such as set-pieces and broader team strategy.
- The goal is to close the gap with Arsenal, the current Premier League leader.
“It has been an incredible impact with us,” Guardiola said on his experience working with Lijnders and French during a Friday press conference.
With these changes, Manchester City is hopeful of gaining an advantage against Liverpool and maintaining its push for the Premier League title.
Author’s summary: Pep Lijnders and James French's arrival at Manchester City aims to give Guardiola fresh tactical edges as they prepare to face Liverpool and close the gap on Arsenal.