Liverpool legend Graeme Souness claims Jurgen Klopp’s side are a ‘more basic’ team than ‘artistic’ Manchester City

Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has labelled the current Reds team as ‘more basic’ than ‘artistic’ title rivals Manchester City.

The Citizens reduced Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to four points with a 2-1 win at the Etihad on Thursday night, breathing new life into the race to be crowned 2018/19 champions.

And Souness, who won a catalogue of honours as a Liverpool player, claimed City managed to stifle the Reds’ hardworking and physical midfield on their way to victory.

In his column for The Sunday Times, Souness writes: “As a Liverpool supporter, I see Jurgen Klopp’s side as a more basic team than Manchester City.

“With Liverpool, you know what you’re going to get. Their midfield is hardworking and physical and on Thursday evening, City knew they had to deal with that.”

He continues: “With players such as Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Bernardo Silva, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are a more artistic side than Liverpool.

“But this was not the quality that got them a 2-1 win on Thursday evening. Rather it was the energy and the effort put in by the creative players when Liverpool had possession.”

When working as a pundit for Sky Sports for the game, Souness labelled City man Fernandinho as ‘the best midfielder in the country‘.

And he took the opportunity to heap praise on the Brazilian again, adding: “They [Manchester City] succeeded because Fernandinho is the best defensive midfielder in our league and he was at his outstanding best against Liverpool.

“He understands the position, he protects his back four and he is no slouch on the ball.”

It’s not clear how much of an impact the result on Thursday will have on the title race but Souness believes the momentum has not swung in favour of the defending Premier League champions.

Souness said: “I understand why Pep Guardiola was so pleased after the game. Beforehand he had said that if City lost, the title race would be “almost over”. Now it is very much back on.

“What I don’t buy into is the view offered by many that the momentum has swung from Liverpool to City. The greater pressure will be on City not to let that four-point gap widen again.”