Liverpool 1 Manchester City 2: match reportCity win at Anfield in chaotic fashion to record first double over Liverpool in 89 years
Manchester City defeated Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield to record a historic victory to not only break their duck at the ground they never have any luck at, but also keep themselves in the title race, maintaining a six-point gap with Arsenal. Donnarumma started in goal, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, and Ait Nouri were the back four. O’Reilly, Rodri, and Bernardo were in midfield. Semenyo, Marmoush, and Haaland were in attack.
City had the majority of the control in the first half and nearly had themselves in front in the first minute of the match when Bernardo passed it through to Haaland in on goal but the shot and rebound were blocked by Allison. Despite their possession and chances in the first half, the Blues could not find the net in this period and had to settle for a goalless scoreline at half-time.
As such with previous second halves this year, City did not have as much control in the second half and allowed Liverpool back in the game and were under pressure. Semenyo had a shot in the 56th minute that was blocked after Marmoush laid it off to him from Ait-Nouri’s pass and this was the closest City came to scoring for some time.
In the 68th minute, Guehi seemed to pull Salah by the shirt on the edge of the box and a free kick was given. Liverpool players asked for Guehi to be given his marching orders due to potential denial of a goal scoring opportunity, but City’s new defender got away with a yellow card.
In the 73rd minute, Liverpool had a free kick. Szoboslai stepped up and sent it a rocket into the back of the net to give the hosts the 1-0 lead. City were in an all too familiar position once again, staring down the barrel of a defeat at Anfield once again.
This was, until eleven minutes later. Cherki crossed the ball into the box from the left, finding Haaland, whose header into the air met the boot of Bernardo who struck the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-1 and level the scores with six minutes remaining.
In the 91st minute, Nunes stormed into the box to try and get a cross in but was taken out by Allison before he could do so. The Brazilian goalkeeper did not get the ball and a penalty was awarded. Haaland stepped up and buried it into the net to give City the lead in stoppage time. In the 99th minute, Donnarumma saved a deflected shot from Mac Allister. A moment later, after a corner was cleared by City and Allison was well out of his goal. Cherki collected the ball in the midfield and sent the ball upwards, which rolled all the way into the back of the net after Haaland and Szoboslai clashed with each other to try and get there first. In a crazy end to the game, VAR disallowed the goal for a Haaland foul on Szoboslai and Szoboslai was given a red card for DOGSO after he was also deemed to have fouled Haaland in the process. The final whistle came moments after; City finally had their win at Anfield.
The result is City’s first win at Anfield in five years, their first win in front of a crowd at Anfield in 23 years, and their first double over Liverpool in 89 years, a day many Blues have been waiting so long for. Importantly, the win also keeps City in the title race with Arsenal, with six points still separating the two sides with 13 games left to play. A huge result, City face Fulham at home next in the week.
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