Liverpool head coach has explained why he picked to play as a false nine against rather than a more conventional option in , who was .

"First of all told me yesterday that he wasn’t fully recovered yet, so he couldn’t start," Slot told . " only trained for the first time yesterday, so that means two attacking options less.

"And I felt if you play away at City you have to defend a lot. Darwin has had an impact whenever we needed him, but his main strength is not defending in and around his own box. So, some extra legs with a midfielder was then the decision we made."

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Slot had for Liverpool against Aston Villa midweek when he didn't make much of an impact for the second game running. But the Reds fans in the away end as they chanted his name, after which he responded with a wave.

Jones played well for Liverpool with the midfielder filling in nicely as a striker. and also gave the Reds an out-ball during the second half when the tactic was to sit in and defend.

"We wanted to play with two wingers because if you always defend you have no choice," Slot explained before the game. "So to have two wingers who we are fast who we can play the ball in behind to always gives us an opportunity to create and then we have extra players to win the second ball. I think it worked out quite well."

Liverpool's tactics worked and while Manchester City was on top in the second half, the Reds were never under much pressure and wasn't hugely tested. Nevertheless, was pleased with how his team played.

"It was a good game," he said post-match. "Tight game in the first half. First half it was more open and the second half, they defended very deep. They always have the threat but it is not easy to control it. We dropped them. Through our pressing or build-up, dropped the team there.

"I think [Jeremy] Doku and Savinho played an incredible game and get to the byline a lot but then just from there we missed the magic. We played really good so I have no regrets. The chances in the final third, when we want to shoot and cross, for the amount we arrived there we did not create much."

Liverpool.com says: It was the right call to play Jones through the center and it would have been a surprise had Jota started for the third time in eight days. Nunez could have gotten the nod, but he didn't impress midweek, and Jones was a much more effective pressing tool who helped keep Manchester City at bay until he tired.