Manchester City earned a chaotic 2-1 win from a goal down against Liverpool, their first in front of their supporters at Anfield in 24 years, to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.Dominik Szo...
Manchester City earned a chaotic 2-1 win from a goal down against Liverpool, their first in front of their supporters at Anfield in 24 years, to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.
Dominik Szoboszlai, who was later sent off for a pull on Erling Haaland in front of an open net, put the Reds ahead with a beauty of a free kick before Bernardo Silva and Haaland turned the game on its head.
The stunning comeback win for The Citizens also confirmed their first league double over Liverpool since 1937 and reduced the gap to leaders Arsenal to six points, while Liverpool sit four adrift of Chelsea in fifth.
As It Happened
Arne Slot named an unchanged Liverpool XI following his sides emphatic 4-1 win over Newcastle last time out. Meanwhile, Donnarumma, Guehi, Rodri, Haaland and Bernardo Silva returned to the Manchester City side having been rested in their midweek Carabao Cup tie with The Magpies, in which City secured their spot in the final.
The first flashpoint came inside the first two minutes when Erling Haaland bared down on Alisson in the Liverpool goal, only to be halted by Milos Kerkez at the last moment. Shortly after, Hugo Ekitike won the ball in the attacking third but couldn’t find Mohammed Salah with his ball into the area.
Omar Marmoush was played through on goal after 11 minutes, but the Egyptian couldn’t find the net despite being ruled offside. Five minutes later, Marmoush back into Ibrahima Konate and went to ground appealing for a penalty but the away side’s claimed were waved away by Craig Pawson.
Semenyo and Marmoush won a string of corners for The Citizens with little over 20 minutes played, as they saw their efforts deflected wide. However, the away side couldn’t make their set-pieces count in front of The Kop.
A moment of chaos followed at the other end of the pitch as Donnarumma punched the ball straight to Salah, but the winger couldn’t find the net or a teammate.
10 minutes later, Rodri fired a good ball across the box for Haaland but the Norweigan’s shot was comfortably saved by Alisson.
Marmoush picked up the first yellow card of the game shortly before the break after he brought down Ryan Gravenberch.
The resulting free-kick saw a penalty claim for The Reds, but Pawson once again waved them away bringing an intriguing first-half to a close.
The second 45 started in a chaotic manner as Marmoush and Alisson challenged for a loose ball, Marmoush came out on top only for a Szoboszlai to sweep in and steal the ball before the attacker could properly control it. Moments later, Virgil Van Dijk picked up a yellow card for a foul in the middle of the park.
Szoboszlai later saw his long-range effort saved by Donnarumma before Ekitike flashed wide just moments after. Liverpool continued to threaten with the French forward clashing with Donnarumma as both went for Wirtz’s cross.
At the other end of the pitch, Antoine Semenyo saw his powerful effort well-saved, before a lightning counterattack from the hosts saw Ekitike miss a header from close range.
A few minutes later, Cody Gakpo fired over from a similar position as Liverpool’s hunt for an opener went on. Play was then briefly stopped whilst Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov received treatment.
Ruben Dias subsequently replaced Khusanov with half an hour left to play. Rayan Cherki was also introduced from the bench, replacing Marmoush.
Dias came close shortly after coming on as his shot almost nestled in the top corner, only for Wirtz to force a superb block from Guehi in front of the Manchester City goal.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, Marc Guehi received a yellow card after he brought down Salah just outside of the penalty area, leading to a dangerous free-kick for Arne Slot’s side which Salah fired high and wide.
A few moments later, Dominik Szobszlai made lightning strike twice as he smashed home from 30-yards to put his side ahead, an eerily similar free-kick to the one he scored earlier in the season against Arsenal.
Liverpool completely dominated the second-half to this point, making City rue their missed chances earlier in the match.
With less than ten minutes on the clock though, Guardiola’s side levelled the score through Bernardo Silva as he stabbed home inside the six-yard box. Liverpool responded with a substitution, introducing Curtis Jones to the match in favour of Gakpo.
In the first minute of additional time, Manchester City won a penalty after Mathues Nunes was caught by Alisson whilst baring down on goal. Erling Haaland stepped up to the spot and tucked the ball into the bottom corner sending the away end into the raptures!
Haaland was booked for his celebration after taking his shirt off, before Nathan Ake was introduced in place of Antoine Semenyo to see the game out. Liverpool also made a change, bringing on Federico Chiesa to replace Kerkez.
Silva picked up a booking with less than a minute left to play for clinical foul in his own half. Liverpool came close to a last gasp equaliser through Mac Allister who forced another great save out of the City goalkeeper.
Manchester City then broke away and seemingly found a third goal as Cherki passed into an empty net left by Alisson who had joined the Liverpool attack, only for the goal to be chalked off because Szoboszlai had fouled Haaland in the build-up.
The Hungarian was subsequently sent off and Manchester City were awarded a free-kick instead of a third goal.
Cherki fired the ball straight into the Anfield crowd from the restart, and the referee blew for full-time drawing a sensational game of football to an end.
Category: General Sports
