Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.placeholder image
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. | AFP via Getty Images
Man City earned a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the Premier League at Anfield.
Pep Guardiola celebrated his first victory in front of an Anfield crowd as Manchester City battled from behind to leave Liverpool crestfallen.
City delivered a 2-1 victory as the Reds’ Champions League qualification hopes suffered a hammer blow. Although the visitors were the better team in the first half, they were limited to just one clear-cut chance.
Arne Slot’s side had the better of the second period but had to wait until the 74th minute to break the deadlock through Dominik Szoboszlai’s superb free-kick. Yet City battled back into the game, with Bernardo Silva equalising seven minutes later and then Erling Haaland bagged a penalty - after Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker brought down Matheus Nunes - in the third minute of stoppage-time.
The triumph ensured that City returned to within six points of Premier League leaders Arsenal in the title race, while reigning champions Liverpool languish in sixth.
It was just the second time Guardiola triumphed at Anfield. His last win was five years ago, with no supporters present due to the Covid-19 pandemic. On the success, the City boss said: “We won finally at Anfield. Always so difficult and I’m so happy for the guys. I said Liverpool always start strong and we had to start stronger.
Hopefully we never come here again without people/ 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. Many games, injuries and many things. Every team plays for something. The important thing is try to be there.”
City thought they had scored a third goal the 13th minute when Rayan Cherki found the back of the net from his own half, with Alisson out of position as Liverpool pursued an equaliser. However, VAR intervened and adjudged that Haaland had been fouled by Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai, with the City striker then tugging his opponent’s shirt. Therefore, a free-kick was awarded and Szoboszlai given a red card, meaning he will miss the Reds’ trip to Sunderland on Wednesday.
“Common sense no?” said Guardiola. “We won the game now Dominik Szoboszlai cannot play. I know he pulled him but how many pulls and the referee says play on in this country, in this league. Give a goal, 3-1, Szoboszlai can play and we are happy.”
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