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Roy Keane has questioned the impact former Liverpool coach Pep Lijnders is having at Manchester City, after the 42-year-old joined Pep Guardiola’s staff this summer.
Lijnders, who was Jurgen Klopp’s assistant for the majority of his time at Anfield, left Liverpool alongside the German in 2024 and spent a brief time as RB Salzburg coach before being sacked in December last year.
Guardiola contacted Lijnders over the summer about becoming his new assistant, and the coach jumped at the opportunity. He now works alongside fellow ex-Liverpool staff member James French and former defender Kolo Toure in City’s new-looking coaching unit.
Observers have already noticed a shift in City’s style of play. That was certainly evident on Sunday against Arsenal, when Guardiola opted for a defensive approach and replaced Phil Foden and Erling Haaland with Nathan Ake and Nico Gonzalez in the latter stages.
The Blues also registered 32.8 percent possession against Arsenal, the lowest ever for a Guardiola team.
“He has a new assistant coach, would that be coming across from when he was at Liverpool?” pondered Keane during Sky Sports’ post-match coverage.
Meanwhile, Jamie Carragher said he has noticed one tactical tweak to City this season.
“Maybe there is something in the high line. City has already been caught out a couple of times with that,” said the ex-Liverpool defender.
“City is doing different things and is eight points behind Liverpool. We are only five games into the season.”
Carragher has previously highlighted the change in City’s defensive line, with the pundit claiming the side is looking to spring the offside trap more often this season.
“I couldn't believe what I saw, the players were all jumping high up to try and catch the Wolves players offside,” the 47-year-old said after the 4-0 victory at Molineux on the opening weekend of the season.
“This is very Liverpool-like. It made me think how much influence is maybe the new coach having on this team.”
Carragher also pointed to a goal City scored on the counter-attack in that game and likened it the sort that Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah would have netted during Lijnders’ time at City.
“What really stood out for this one was the type of goal it was. They win it and then they're off.
“Lijnders - Guardiola gives him the thanks, the hug. Now we don't know exactly what that's for, but I don't think it's a coincidence with some of the things that I saw in the game that he, as a coach, is having a big influence on Pep Guardiola.”
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