Source: Liverpool_Echo
Manchester City 3, Liverpool FC 0: Reds display shows the impossible task they face
IT had just turned to 7.50pm, when the pitch announcer cleared his throat and urged the City Of Manchester Stadium crowd to look up at the giant screen in the corner.[LNB]'Manchester City!' he screeched, building up the sense of theatre. 'Please put your hands together and give a warm welcome for Sheikh Mansour!'[LNB]Cue an image of the Abu Dhabi billionaire, waving graciously to the expectant, grateful home fans; alongside him was chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak with Garry Cook, City's chief unctuous executive, joining in the applause.[LNB]While some will have thought it trite and over the top, City's supporters revelled. [LNB] Here were their owners showing they mean business; for Liverpool's frustrated, bewildered followers, it was also a scene of huge symbolism - once again, their appalling landlords were nowhere to be seen.[LNB]Had that been the only disappointment of an important night, it could have been easily shrugged aside but it was anything but; the start was bad, the middle was poor and the least said about the end, the better.[LNB]Occasionally scorelines can be deceptive but not here; Liverpool were soundly beaten and many will fear this - struggling to keep pace with the Blues from the other end of the M62 - is a sign of things to come.[LNB]Alex Ferguson may have berated United's neighbours for 'kamikaze spending' this summer but they have invested fortunes in the hope of becoming, one day, the world's biggest club; Liverpool, on the other hand, haven't even been able to buy the left-back they desperately require.
