Time has become the greatest enemy of modern football managers. With a congested fixture calendar and growing demands on players, even elite teams are finding it increasingly difficult to implement tactical overhauls. The relentless schedule leaves little room for training and experimentation, forcing managers to focus on short-term pragmatism rather than long-term transformation.
Both Liverpool and Manchester City are currently feeling the effects of this time squeeze. While Arsenal appear comfortable with a settled system and a deep squad, their two main rivals are navigating transitions amid packed calendars. For City, Pep Guardiola’s tactical evolution has been shaped by necessity. His focus has narrowed towards maximising Erling Haaland’s goal-scoring power, simplifying play to create chances for the prolific forward. The days of patient 20-pass build-ups are fading; now, the priority is speed and directness.
Yet Guardiola’s version of simplification remains complex. City’s 4-3-3 formation still encourages fluidity, with Phil Foden often the advanced midfielder linking play to Haaland. Opponents wary of the striker’s pace are dropping deeper, allowing creative players like Foden and Rayan Cherki to exploit the gaps. The adjustment has produced results, even if it feels like a reluctant shift for a manager known for intricate tactical designs.
Liverpool’s Arne Slot faces a similar balancing act. After a shaky start to the season that included six defeats in seven games, the Dutchman has scaled back his attempts at tactical reinvention. Instead, he has returned to a familiar setup, drawing heavily on last season’s title-winning squad. Recent wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid suggest stability is returning, but it is a process built on gradual refinement rather than sweeping change.
When Liverpool and City meet at the Etihad, the match will highlight how both clubs have adapted to the realities of modern football. Slot’s men will likely mirror last season’s structure, while Guardiola’s side continue to experiment within new constraints. The fixture pile-up has effectively paused both managers’ overhauls, forcing them to prioritise results over revolution. In a season defined by limited time and endless matches, evolution must wait—pragmatism now rules the Premier League’s top contenders.
