Premier League
City Edge Liverpool in Thrilling Encounter
Reigning champions Manchester City ended Liverpool’s 20-game unbeaten start to the season with a 2-1 win at the Etihad. This game was of immense magnitude from the title race’s perspective. Liverpool had passed all their tests thus far. However, City were coming off a rocky patch of form themselves. It was a must win game for Pep Guardiola’s men. The affair was pulsating. It was highly intense and cagey at the same time. Ultimately, the Sky Blues managed to get all 3 points and spark life into the title race once more.
Driven Man City
City showed incredible desire right from the get go. They pressed Liverpool high up the pitch aggressively in a rather Liverpool-like fashion. Their backline was successfully able to evade the opposition press. Although they held on to the ball well and were patiently knocking on the door, Liverpool denied the hosts a shot on goal for 25 minutes. This was their longest wait for an attempt on goal at home since 2016.
City’s talisman Sergio Aguero looked to be on the top of his game. His hold up play and link up was sublime. It all paid off as he gave City the lead moments after a scare at the other end. After playing the ball around the Reds’ box, Bernardo Silva finally took the ball wide and whipped a cross in to Aguero. Aguero demonstrated supreme ability to control the ball and blast a superb finish through Alisson’s near post.
Goal Line Technology to the Rescue
Before Aguero’s goal, Liverpool were literally millimeters away from taking the lead themselves. A sweeping Liverpool attack saw Sadio Mane hit the post. The ball ricocheted around till it fell to John Stones who tried to clear. However, Ederson was rushing back to claim it and the ball hit the Brazilian keeper, looping into City’s own net. Stones somehow miraculously stuck out a leg to prevent it from completely crossing the line. After review, goal line tech found that only 1.12 centimeters of the ball didn’t cross the line. Staggering.
Lackluster Liverpool
The Reds were in stellar form throughout the season so far. Despite their 20-game unbeaten start, they looked far from their best at the Etihad. It was easy to discern the Sky Blues as the better side on the night. Liverpool struggled to get their passing rhythm going bar a few moves. And the times they did, there was no end product. Manchester City’s tight defending was also a factor however. They did show glimpses of their ability and it even led to them equalizing 20 minutes into the second half. Trent Alexander Arnold cut inside on his left foot and floated in a lovely ball to the back post. Andy Robertson was waiting who touched it across goal deftly for an unmarked Roberto Firmino to head home. The game was back on.
Alas, it was not meant to be for Jurgen Klopp’s men. 18 minutes from time, Raheem Sterling drifted inside and played in Leroy Sane who finished with pinpoint precision off the far post. It was the final nail in the coffin. Desperate defending till the very end then allowed City to see out the game.
Electric Title Race
With 17 games left to play in the season, the title race in now fairly open. Liverpool are still top of the table with a 4 point lead over second placed City. Spurs are now within 6 points of Klopp’s men at the top. It will be very interesting to see how Liverpool bounce back and mount their title challenge, as well as how City’s win invigorates them to keep pushing to defend their crown.
Photo credit to Dickson Dagogo via Flickr
