Manchester City kept their title hopes alive with a dramatic victory away at Liverpool on Sunday, where they looked down and out after a fine Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick
Gary Neville
Gary Neville says the title race was done before Manchester City fought back to beat Liverpool(Image: YouTube - The Gary Neville Podcast)
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Gary Neville felt the title race was DONE before Manchester City scored twice in nine minutes to beat Liverpool in a stunning fightback at Anfield.
The Reds had taken the lead through a superb free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai in the 74th minute to leave City facing up the to the prospect of a nine-point gap between themselves and Arsenal. But Pep Guardiola's men rallied like champions to clinch a famous victory at Anfield to reel the Gunners back in.
Goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland, the latter from the penalty spot, turned the game on it's head before a disallowed Rayan Cherki goal and a red card for Szoboszlai stole the headlines.
And Neville, commentating on the game for Sky Sports, stressed that had City not found a way to leave Anfield with all three points, then any hopes of chasing Arsenal down in the race for the Premier League crown would have been all but extinguished.
“Well ten minutes ago the title race was done,” he said on Sky Sports as everyone digested a frenetic finale. “It was now or never for Man City – it’s now! Sometimes in a title race a team will grab an opportunity, City have grabbed one.
“They could be within three points by Wednesday which will put pressure on Arsenal. It’s bedlam out there, it’s blue bedlam.
“Man City were 1-0 down and they’ve gone and won. If you want to sent a signal, you’ve just sent it. They’ve struggled lately, it was like they were refusing to enter the title race. But they’ve entered it in style.”
Pep Guardiola Manager / Head Coach of Manchester City
Pep Guardiola saw his side keep their title hopes alive at Anfield(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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Guardiola insisted post-match that Manchester City would continue to do all they can to pile the pressure on their title rivals, saying: “That’s why all we can do is breathe down the neck of Arsenal, being there, and try if they slip, if they make something (a mistake), use it.
“It is so difficult, Anfield is Anfield, the tradition, the history and the crowd. It always looks smaller, tighter here and the pitch doesn't look like Etihad Stadium. And the players that they have and everything.
“Of course would be disappointed and all the questions would be whether the title is over but six points is better than nine. It is still a lot considering how strong Arsenal are in all departments. It is better to have. I said the same, 13 games is a lot in the Premier League.”
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