Before Manchester City beat Liverpool 3-nil yesterday at the Etihad Stadium how City lined up in defence was a topic to ponder ahead of kickoff. Typically, Pep Guardiola prefers experience at the back in big games. Yesterday Guardiola selected what seemed to be Manchester City’s best defence with Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Nico O’Reilly starting at the back. In the case of Nico O’Reilly, he had arguably the biggest task defensively trying to contain Mo Salah on Liverpool’s right wing. Come the final whistle Nico O’Reilly had stood up when the pressure was at its highest and he played a key role in an important win for his team.
Nico O’Reilly was superb for Manchester City yesterday as he helped quell the threat of Mo Salah.
Mo Salah has been a thorn in Manchester City’s side for years. His record against City is well-documented. Throughout yesterday’s match, he was Liverpool’s biggest attacking threat, but when the pressure came on Nico O’Reilly from the Egyptian international, O’Reilly did everything required to keep Salah out of the match.
When the pressure was on a Manchester City youngster stood up against Liverpool
Nico O’Reilly was aggressive against Mo Salah. He defended with aplomb and he wouldn’t let Salah get onto his left foot. Nico O’Reilly’s strength in a challenge was also a standout attribute of his play. O’Reilly is blessed with strength and size and those attributes helped him keep Salah as quiet as he could.
Ahead of yesterday’s match, I’d hoped that Nico O’Reilly would be trusted at left-back in a big game. He was and he passed that test with flying colours. O’Reilly has become Manchester City’s first-choice left-back and it is now his position to lose based on how well he has played so far this season.
Pep Guardiola had high praise for the performance of Nico O’Reilly yesterday.
Speaking after his team’s massive win over Liverpool, Pep Guardiola had high praise for the performance of Nico O’Reilly up against Mo Salah. Guardiola revealed that he told Nico O’Reilly to be aggressive and he also said that Nico O’Reilly’s teammates helped him keep Salah quiet. Speaking on Nico O’Reilly’s performance, Pep Guardiola explained: “He has been a nightmare, Salah, for many years. He’s top. I said to Nico you have to be aggressive. He had help from central defender and midfielders every time Mo had the ball.”
“*Jeremy, Bernardo, Phil were all there. It was incredible teamwork, but Nico made a step up because at the end you have to prove yourself against the best wingers.*”
“*There is no better example to do it when you play against Salah, he did really good. He’s with the national team because Thomas [Tuchel] is smart enough to see how he’s been playing.*”
“*He had many good attributes but this intensity in duels he didn’t have in the Academy because he was an eight or a 10 in midfield. I’m so pleased with the way he performed.*”
Summary.
When the pressure was at its highest yesterday and up against one of the best players in the Premier League in Mo Salah, Nico O’Reilly stood tall. He showed that he has quickly become one of the top left-backs in the Premier League. That is a high bar for Nico O’Reilly to reach but he showed at the Etihad that he is at that standard. He played a key role in his team’s win and helped contain the threat of a player who has tormented Manchester City for years now.