Enzo Maresca has barely put a foot wrong during his brief tenure as Manchester City manager. There is tremendous spirit and character in this City side which Maresca has helped construct. This spirit has helped City win eight consecutive matches in all competitions and they also have an ability to win games in a variety of different ways. Also, Maresca has shown his ability to be astute with his substitutions in games that have helped his team seize the initiative, or keep control of matches. Enzo Maresca was at it again on Sunday as he made a key substitution at Anfield that helped Manchester City beat Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield.
The introduction and subsequent impact of Jeremy Doku gave Manchester City a weapon that Liverpool couldn’t live with.
Sunday’s match between Manchester and Liverpool went into halftime locked at nil-all. Both teams cancelled each other out, however, there was one obvious move for Enzo Maresca to make. Antoine Semenyo had joy on the left wing in the first half. Looking at how the match was unfolding, the threat that Jeremy Doku could provide off the bench loomed as Enzo Maresca’s trump card. When Maresca played that card, it loomed as a vital move. Doku replaced Iliman Ndiaye in the 56th minute and from that moment onwards, the game changed.
It was Jeremy Doku who induced a rash challenge from Ryan Gravenberch, which saw the Liverpool midfielder receive his second yellow card and be sent off in the 62nd minute. That was Doku’s first impactful moment. Three minutes later, Doku’s shot was blocked after he cut inside from the left, and the ball fell into the path of Erling Haaland, who volleyed City into the lead in the 65th minute.
Jeremy Doku would double Manchester City’s lead in the 68th minute with a goal that is becoming his trademark. Doku cut inside from the left and beat Alisson with a curling effort into the far top corner. It was Doku once again who played a role in Manchester City’s third goal which Rayan Cherki scored in a fashion that only Cherki could produce.
Jeremy Doku made a match-winning impact against Liverpool. He put in a superb display off the bench, and Enzo Maresca timed his introduction to perfection, which is another feather in his cap.
Enzo Maresca is providing to be a very shrewd appointment by City and his use of his substitutes highlights this point.
Jeremy Doku deserves all the plaudits he has received for his performance against Liverpool. The Belgian winger tormented Liverpool and took the game right away from Andoni Iraola’s side. As impactful as Doku’s performance was, Enzo Maresca unleashed him at just the right time at Anfield, which shows that City have seemingly nailed the appointment of their next manager after Pep Guardiola.
Tactically, Enzo Maresca is showing that he is a shrewd operator. His use of his substitutes has been superb across the eight games that Manchester City have won. Maresca has established his system and he trusts his entire squad. In the face of the media storm, Enzo Maresca has stood firm and hasn’t been phased by it. He has galvanised his team. Everything has come together for Enzo Maresca so far and he has ticked every required box to begin his tenure as City manager.
Jeremy Doku always loomed as Manchester City’s match-winner off the bench against Liverpool, and that is exactly what transpired. It was also a huge credit to Enzo Maresca for timing the Doku substitution to perfection, which again shows how shrewd an operator he is.