Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool: Cityzens cut down the gap at the top
Liverpool lost their first league game of the season at the home of defending champions Manchester City by a 2-1 margin. Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane scored the goals for the home side, while Roberto Firmino equalised in the second half for the visitors.
Five minutes before half time, Aguero made a clever run ahead of Dejan Lovren at the near post. The ball was fed to the striker, who rifled it in the roof of the net to give Pep Guardiola’s men a precious lead. Alisson had no chance to save that.
In mid-point of the second half, a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross found its way through to Andy Robertson at the far post. The Scot was clever to just cushion the ball towards Firmino, who was unmarked in front of an empty net. The Brazilian nodded it home to level the matters.
However, City regained the lead eight minutes later, when Leroy Sane went one on one against Alexander-Arnold at the edge of the box and drilled the ball towards the far post. The shot went through the right-back’s legs and beat Alisson.
The Cityzens had chances on the break to extend the lead but the Liverpool goalkeeper made one good save to deny Aguero. Raheem Sterling then missed a great chance as he shot wide.
However, the Reds had the best chance of the game in the first half when Sadio Mane hit the post, and the clearance from John Stones hit Ederson and almost went in. The goal-line technology says it was 11mm away from going in. Fine margins in a game of such high stakes.
As a result of this game, the gap at the top of the table is trimmed to four points, with Liverpool still in the ascendancy. City now have more control though.
Here’s how the Reds fans reacted to this result:
Lovern is shocking, City was the better team tonight and deserved the win. One of the worst performances of the season tonight.
— – (@lfcmosalah11) January 3, 2019
Bad result but 4 points ahead of City, 6 ahead of Spurs.
Most of the season’s toughest games behind us.
Would have snatched your hand off for that in August.#YNWA@BalMann15 @paulfenwick @NoLookBobby9 @Kevslfc @Kev_1972 @Patpool17 @Cheqraise1 @SharoniePoni @kittyfisherxo— JR (@BonesDeForest) January 3, 2019
Fabinho is a holding mid but does provide an outlet for attack. It’s not like he would have exposed the defense. Rest it was individual errors that lost us the match.
— Firmtastic (@europhic) January 3, 2019
Fabinho and Shaq should’ve played from the start! We need a solid defender as wel to go with Virgil with Gomez injured. Lovren not good enough. Team didn’t play with enough desire and fight tonight!
— HayzJade (@HayzJade) January 3, 2019
Sell Lovren. Pass it on
— Daniel Marchione (@dmarchi91) January 3, 2019