The Premier League title race has taken yet another twist as Manchester City beat Liverpool in a thrilling clash at the Etihad Stadium.
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| Sergio Aguero gave the Manchester City the lead with a world class finish |
Pep Guardiola’s men breathed new life into their title defence with the 2-1 win, which cuts Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table to just four points.The match was light on goalmouth action but heavy on drama and tension.
In truth, Manchester City deserved the win and dominated most of the match as they stifled Liverpool’s dangerous front three for much of the match.
Liverpool thought they’d taken a first half lead when Sadio Mane hit the post and caused chaos in the City box, but John Stones cleared the ball off the line with just 11 millimetres to spare.
Sergio Aguero then did give Manchester City the lead with a stunning finish from an acute angle in the first half.
Liverpool did finally get their goal when fullbacks Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson combined to find an unmarked Roberto Firmino, who headed home a simple equaliser.
But with the game and perhaps their title defence in the balance, Leroy Sane scored the winner with an unerring finish which Alisson’s far post and went across the line.
Tensions threatened to boil over as the final whistle neared with manager Pep Guardiola nearly sent to the stands by referee Anthony Taylor over an incident involving Firmino and Fernandinho.
Pep Guardiola sprung somewhat of a surprise before kick off, naming an unconventional back four of Danilo, John Stones, Vincent Kompany and Aymeric Laporte.
But in a febrile atmosphere it was Liverpool who made the unsettled start as Sadio Mane and Alisson both put the ball out straight of play in the opening stages.
Man City were pressing Liverpool high and penning the Reds deep in their own territory, attempting to strangle their dangerous three of any ball.
Despite the frenetic opening, it took more than 15 minutes for either side to fashion a genuine chance, and it came in extraordinary fashion.
Wonderful link play between Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino sent Mane through on goal, he beat the onrushing Ederson but his shot came off the post and rebounded back into play.
John Stones almost scored an own goal when he kicked the ball into his own goalkeeper
…but he rescued the situation with a last-ditch clearance.
Stones attempted to clear the loose ball but only succeeded in kicking it into his own keeper, the ball bounced back towards goal and with Salah bearing down, the City defender atoned for his error and cleared the ball off the line with 11 millimetres to spare and nutmegged Salah in the process.
Dejan Lovren and Kompany were both booked for dangerous lunges on Sergio Aguero and Salah respectively.
After that scare, City dominated possession and although they looked dangerous cutting back the ball back from out wide they hadn’t mustered a genuine chance until Aguero gave them the lead in the shadow of halftime.
Again the chance came from the left.
Leroy Sane burned past Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson clawed out his shot but with Liverpool unable to clear their lines City kept pressing.
Bernardo Silva took his turn skipping down the left and from the byline dug out a cross. Aguero reacted quicker than Lovren and from an impossible angle on the edge of the six yard box, smashed an unstoppable shot past Alisson.
The expected response from the Reds didn’t come as Pep Guardiola’s side continued to boss proceedings, however they couldn’t come up with a killer blow.
And with Jurgen Klopp’s frustration on the sidelines growing Liverpool equalised through a rare moment of attacking fluency.
Alexander-Arnold’s raking long pass found Andrew Robertson in a pocket of space at the far post and the fullback was able to find Firmino all alone and able to nod into an empty net.
Parity lasted barely five minutes however.
Lovren played Raheem Sterling onside and the winger was able to get in behind the Liverpool defence. He found Sane on the edge of the box and the winger wasted no time in hitting his shot against the inside of the far post and in.
Liverpool attempted to muster a response and Salah forced a good save from Ederson as the Reds created several half chances to put Man City’s defence under pressure.
Aguero then had a chance to put the game to bed but was brilliantly denied one-on-one by Alisson. The Reds’ keeper then denied Bernardo Silva from close-range before Sterling put his follow up shot wide.
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