3 hours ago
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Jamie Carragher reckons Pep Lijnders is already beginning to reshape Manchester City into Liverpool 2.0. The former Reds coach joined City this summer as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man after an underwhelming stint with Red Bull Salzburg.
He'll be eager to assist the Spaniard in securing a seventh Premier League crown this campaign - with his previous club Liverpool having lifted the trophy last term. City made the perfect start by demolishing Wolves 4-0 on opening weekend.
After watching the match, Liverpool legend Carragher insisted he could detect significant traces of Lijnders' influence in City's style of play. Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: "It's one game, I can't get out of my head what Pep said last season, that 'it's not really my football where the game is going', transition, end-to-end football.
"Pep Lijnders is a big coach, big influence on Jurgen Klopp and I did see little instance of that Liverpool team. I watched the game at the weekend and couldn't believe what I saw, the players were jumping a high line.
"When you think back to Liverpool and the amount of counter attacking goals with Sadio Mane and Mo Salah - I looked at the goal from Reijnders who was an absolute revelation - and - it was maybe not much like a Pep Guardiola goal.
"Of course City scored plenty of counter attacking goals in the past but the reason it stood out was the counter attacking nature of it and the celebration, Lijnders and Guardiola, he's giving him the thanks hug.
"We don't know exactly what it's for but I don't think it's a coincidence, he as a coach is having a big influence on Pep Guardiola."
Guardiola has also acknowledged the impact of Lijnders on his team. The Spanish manager said: "He's opened my eyes in many and a few things in a short time.
"It's happened for many years from all the assistant managers I've had; always I try to drink from their knowledge!
"I need the people like last season with Juanma [Lillo], in the past with Mikel [Arteta], with Enzo [Maresca], with Dome [Torrent], with Rodo [Borrell] - all the assistants help me. Always it's, 'What is your opinion? What would you do? How would you do it? What drill will you make?'".
"That is what it's all about, it's nice, and now we have experience with Kolo [Toure], with James [French], with Pep [Lijnders], and every time he adds something, I say, 'Wow! This could be good!
"We could make this step, we can be better', and that is how the world works! Not just all the time the same, you have to open your mind, and be open to other minds, other people!".
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