'That was our plan' - Dominik Szoboszlai addresses Liverpool change and makes 'unbelievable' Man City claim

Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has assessed the impressive 2-0 Premier League win at Manchester City on Sunday

Dominik Szoboszlai has explained the surprise tactical change that helped Liverpool make a significant Premier League title statement against Manchester City. Szoboszlai scored his sixth goal of the season as the Reds earned a 2-0 win at the Etihad on Sunday to move 11 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table having played a game more.

The Hungarian, who also provided an assist for the opener from Mohamed Salah, was employed alongside Curtis Jones at the top of a box midfield with Liverpool starting without a recognised centre-forward.

And Szoboszlai has detailed the reason for the shift in formation that had previously been employed just once this season in the League Cup win at Brighton in October.

"We played with two 10s, Curtis and me," said the midfielder. "It's not that we always play like that without the nine but that was our plan. We dragged them out and we knew there was going to be a space for Mo and Lucho (Luis Diaz) for one v one.

"We know their qualities and that's why we try to do these things. But as you saw, City have the ball I don't know how many per cent of the game, but that's life.

"(The win) is very important. We came here to take the three points and that's what we did. It wasn't easy. They (City) were managing almost the whole game but that's part of football sometimes, you have to just put your head down and run for each other. That's what we did and in the end the result was for us."

Szoboszlai added: "They (City) have an unbelievable manager with unbelievable players, and they always find something new about how they want to build up or press us or want to be in the game on this day. That's why you actually can't prepare yourself really well (to face City) as something is going to happen (different) anyway.

"But that's what we spoke about before the game, that we just have to keep on running. At the end, the result comes.

"Of course, we are now 11 points in front of Arsenal and they have one game in hand. But we are focusing on ourselves. We have to do game by game, now Newcastle are coming up on Wednesday and it's going to be a tough one as well. Then with the games we can figure it out how it's going to look at the end."

Liverpool are next up against Newcastle United at Anfield on Wednesday, with the Reds also facing the Magpies in the League Cup final next month.

And, asked on LFC TV about whether the forthcoming game could offer hints ahead of Wembley, Szoboszlai said: "We separate them totally. In between we have PSG in the Champions League. We have to do our best in all the games. Until the national team break, it is going to be tough. Every three days there is a game. But as you see we are ready, we need the whole squad and everyone to be ready."