Liverpool overcame their recent Premier League struggles to end Manchester City’s unbeaten run in an enthralling and heated contest at Anfield, which saw off Jurgen Klopp.
City, fueled by goals from Erling Holland, were at their best but Liverpool finally found the form that has deserted them to overcome the reigning champions for most of the season.
Holland, for once, weren’t on the scoresheet and it was Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah who played the leading role, running to Ederson to get a clearance from keeper Alisson with 14 minutes remaining after Joao Cancelo’s slip. Put it on.
Earlier, Ederson produced a brilliant save to deny Salah in a similar one-on-one situation as City manager Pep Guardiola was furious that a Phil Foden goal would have put his side ahead. was disallowed by the video assistant referee for a foul on Holland. On Fabinho.
It wasn’t Holland’s day, though he did make two saves from Alisson, but Anfield was left ecstatic as Liverpool finally showed why they have consistently been City’s biggest threat.
In a frenetic final, tempers boiled over and Klopp was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor for protesting when he felt Salah had been fouled – but when the temperature cooled he won a statement. Will be happy.
The real Liverpool stand.
Liverpool went into this match with Manchester City in the rare position of underdogs at Anfield but, as so often in the past, they rose to the occasion with thunder.
Klopp’s side were without key forward Luis Diaz and lost defender Ibrahim Konate to injury earlier in the game, leaving 36-year-old James Milner in central defense with Joe Gomez in the right-left role alongside Virgil van Dijk. Had to.
Gomes showed why he is so highly regarded by Klopp with a stunning display that kept City’s previously all-powerful attack at bay.
The game was decided by Salah’s moment of rest, again assisted by keeper Alisson. The Egyptian showed he is still Liverpool’s match-winner when he took on the Anfield contender clearly, and on that occasion Ederson failed to stop him.
Liverpool’s poor start to the season means they are off the pace in the title race with Klopp, who was shown a red card for protesting as tensions mounted, already denting their chances.
However, they are still the team with the potential to come closest to City – although much credit must be given to the way Arsenal have set the pace brilliantly.
Once it became clear that Liverpool were going to go toe-to-toe with City, Anfield were at their fearsome best with chances created other than Salah’s winner.
Liverpool fans were finally in jubilant mood as they celebrated a victory they have always relished.
Man City’s killer touch leaves them desolate.
Manchester City have been a dangerous threat this season, with Holland as the spearhead, and they have looked unstoppable in attack, but their last form at the Anfield Cauldron has been lacking and it has cost them the season. Condemned the defeat of the first league.
The goal that decided the game was justifiably celebrated wildly by Liverpool but City and Guardiola will be furious at the manner in which it was conceded.
City wasted a free-kick that ended up squarely in the arms of Alisson, whose clearance was missed by Cancelo as he slipped, leaving Salah, who scored a hat-trick in the 7-1 Champions League win over Rangers. Truck scored, to confirm that they had rediscovered. Its classy look with trademark finish.
Guardiola, as is often the case at Anfield, was aggrieved by a decision, this time when Foden’s goal was disallowed but when referee Taylor was called to the screen, it was clear Holland had Fabinho’s shirt. There was a piece of
City are so good, and there are so many risks, that a single defeat would end their promotion but it is clear that Liverpool’s losses hurt them particularly badly.
