Manchester City pulled off a stunning late comeback to beat Liverpool 2-1 in a high-stakes Premier League clash at Anfield.
Liverpool snapped a five-game winless league run with a statement victory against Newcastle United last weekend, overhauling an early deficit to win 4-1 at Anfield.
However, the Reds trailed fourth-placed Manchester United by five points ahead of the kick-off, as they sought revenge for a 3-0 defeat in November’s reverse fixture.
Man City desperately needed to complete their first league double over the Merseyside powerhouse in the 21st century to stay within striking distance of table-topping Arsenal.
Given the high-stakes nature of the contest, both teams chose a careful approach. City started on the front foot, with Erling Braut Haaland wasting a glorious chance in the second minute.
Little did anyone know it would be the best scoring opportunity of the first half, with Liverpool heading into the half-time break without a shot on target.
Manager Arne Slot’s half-time talk changed the tide, as the Reds started the second half as a different team, keeping Man City under relentless pressure.
Hugo Ekitike spurned two promising chances in the space of five minutes, but it seemed like it was only a matter of time before they would score the opening goal.
They had to wait until the 74th minute to break the deadlock, with Dominik Szoboszlai scoring a headline-grabbing free-kick to put the defending champions in front.
It didn’t look like the visitors could come back, but they dug deep to equalise as Bernardo Silva turned home a teasing low cross from Haaland.
Guardiola’s side turned the game on its head in stoppage time, as Haaland converted a penalty to help Man City restore the deficit to Arsenal to six points.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1)
Alisson Becker (7/10) – The Brazilian goalkeeper emerged as Liverpool’s standout performer in the first half, making several crucial saves.
Milos Kerkez (6/10) – Despite another disjointed attacking performance, the under-fire left-back fared well against Antoine Semenyo.
Virgil van Dijk (7/10) – Got back on track after losing track of Haaland in that second minute, managing to keep the Norwegian quiet ever after.
Ibrahima Konate (6/10) – Failed to inspire confidence, but held up his end of the bargain. Used his physical strength to make light work of Omar Marmoush.
Dominik Szoboszlai (8/10) – Grew into the new role, showcasing defensive solidity and calmness in possession, albeit without taking much risk running forward. Slotted home a stunning free-kick.
Ryan Gravenberch (5/10) – Up the creek without a paddle in the first half, the Dutchman was lucky to get away without a booking for several reckless tackles.
Alexis Mac Allister (7/10) – Far more comfortable on the ball than his colleague in the double pivot, the Argentine midfielder made a couple of defence-splitting passes.
Cody Gakpo (3/10) – Virtually invisible in the first half. Continued to struggle after the half-time interval.
Florian Wirtz (3/10) – Another game he would probably want to forget in a hurry.
Mohamed Salah (5/10) – Not even a shadow of the player who dominated the Premier League last season.
Hugo Ekitike (6/10) – After a frustrating first 45 minutes, the Frenchman wasted two golden chances to open the scoring at the start of the second half.
Substitutions
Curtis Jones N/A
Federico Chiesa N/A
Manchester City (4-3-3)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (7/10) – Had some risky passes in the build-up, but escaped the punishment.
Rayan Ait Nouri (5/10) – Did well at the back, keeping Salah in check for most of the game. However, he was awful on the opposite side of the pitch.
Marc Guehi (6/10) – His lapse of concentration nearly helped Liverpool break the deadlock early on. It proved to be a wake-up call as he grew into the contest before narrowly escaping a red for a risky challenge on Salah.
Abdukodir Khusanov (8/10) – Despite recent criticism, the young gun held his ground against Ekitike and Wirtz in what was arguably his best performance of the season.
Matheus Nunes (6/10) – Heavily involved in Man City’s attacking moves, he combined well with his teammates but often struggled to find the final pass.
Bernardo Silva (8/10) – Enjoyed plenty of possession, keeping his side in firm control of midfield. Yet, his set-piece deliveries were poor and frequently well off the mark.
Rodri (6/10) – A lengthy spell on the sidelines took a toll on the Spaniard, who wasn’t up to the pace.
Nico O’Reilly (5/10) – Lacked composure in the crucial areas, often rushing his decisions and failing to make the most of promising positions.
Antoine Semenyo (4/10) – Erratic and wasteful in possession, he struggled to make an impact in the final third and often broke down promising attacks.
Omar Marmoush (3/10) – Failed to seize a rare chance to start, losing way too many balls. Squandered a clear-cut chance midway through the first half.
Erling Braut Haaland (8/10) – Completely cut off from the rest of the team in the second half before setting up Silva for the equaliser. Put away a crucial penalty to keep City in the title race.
Substitutions
Ruben Dias (7/10)
Rayan Cherki (5/10)
