Pep Guardiola’s Sunday verdict will be interesting after Manchester City and Liverpool played a tight and tense match at Anfield on Sunday that found its entertainment late as City came back to win 2-1 and kept its Premier League title hopes alive.
Guardiola’s team was better in the first half and for the early part of the second frame, but Liverpool claimed the front foot and the lead during the final 45 minutes.
But Guardiola’s men rallied for an equalizer as substitute Rayan Cherki joined Erling Haaland in setting up a Bernardo Silva equalizer. And then they found a winner when Matheus Nunes’ late industry saw him clattered in the box by Alisson Becker.
Erling Haaland rolled his penalty home and City stayed alive for the title.
Pep Guardiola reaction — What did Manchester City boss say after tense scrap at Liverpool?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We’ll share all of the Man City manager’s words as soon as he speaks from Anfield.
Erling Haaland reaction
-----------------------
**On the match-winning penalty:** “I was really nervous right before and all my thoughts were getting the ball in the back of the net, which I couldn’t do at home.”
**You look exhausted:** “I’m quite tired. You see it in the second half. They managed to play good football but we managed to keep it away. Look at Gigi, the one on Mac Allister is out of this world. It shows why he is the best in the world.”
**Did you think the title was gone with a loss?** “Let’s be honest, this place is so tough to come to. We started well. What I loved about Bernardo’s goal was he gave a signal to me and all the fans — come on let’s have it. We need to get it straight and start winning games, simple as that.”
**On not getting the late goal for 3-1 and Szoboszlai getting sent off:**“For me referee has to follow rules but I feel bad because this will give him three games. Just give the goal, don’t give him the red card.”
Bernardo Silva reaction
-----------------------
**Why did you grab the ball out of the net so quickly after making it 1-1?** “For the distance that we have to Arsenal, obviously coming to Anfield for me is the toughest place by far. A draw is good for most teams but we needed to go for another goal.”
**A huge three points, right?** “Very happy but these points count as much as any other game. It’s been quite frustrating the beginning of the year because we didn’t do our job properly and we could be quite closer to Arsenal. To get a first win at Anfield in nine seasons apart from the COVID year, you can imagine how hard it is to win here.”
**The title race would’ve been over with a loss?** “I feel the whole team knew before the game that if we lost, probably the title race is over but we felt like we needed to win the game. It puts us a bit closer. The hope is there. We’re going to fight until the end but six points is six points.”
* * *
#### Page 2