Match report: Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool

Liverpool’s 20-match unbeaten run came to an end at the Etihad as Manchester City came out eventual 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane.

The hosts cut the gap at the top of the league to four points and moved back up to second in what was a crucial tie for City.

It was a clash that could’ve gone either way, with some key moments going against the league leaders.

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City came out of the traps flying early in the game, pegging Liverpool back inside their own half for the opening minutes. The Reds sustained the early storm, however, and looked like getting the advantage when Mohamed Salah was slipped in to run at Vincent Kompany.

Kompany left the ground with a diving lunge to prevent Salah getting past him, bringing the Egyptian down in the process. Anthony Taylor booked the City captain, with many believing he was lucky to get away without seeing red.

After some patient build up, Liverpool created the first real chance of the game when Salah slid Sadio Mane through on goal and he fired a shot past Ederson and against the post.

Defender John Stones was on hand to clear the ball, but chaos ensued for City as the ball cannoned back off Ederson and towards their own goal line. Salah followed in, but Stones cleared by the skin of his teeth – or little over a centimetre, according to the goal decision system.

City took the lead minutes later when Sergio Aguero ghosted past Dejan Lovren at the front post, taking a superb touch before turning and firing into the roof of the net at close range.

The introduction of Fabinho in the second half seemed to settle Liverpool, who were able to find more rhythm and incision in their play against the structured City ranks.

It was the Brazilian Fabinho who found Trent Alexander-Arnold in space on the right-hand side to cross for Andrew Robertson, who volleyed back across for Roberto Firmino to find the equaliser for the Reds.

He headed in from close range to level the scoring, putting Liverpool straight back in the game.

It wasn’t to be for the Reds, though, as Leroy Sane broke away down the left-hand side and fired a fierce drive past Alisson and in off the post to give City a lead that the Reds never recovered from.

Liverpool now travel to Wolves in the FA Cup on Monday before returning to Premier League action on Saturday against Brighton, with all focus being on responding the right way by picking up three points.

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Source: anfieldhq.com