Liverpool 2 Swansea 3: Liverpool throw it away yet again

If we didn’t know already, today was the day when our fight for the title ran aground.  To say we were poor would be putting it mildly.  Roberto Firmino’s goals aside, this was not a performance to be proud of, we were quite simply abysmal.

Losses against Burnley, Bournemouth and now Swansea, nine points which would put us top of the League.  Deep lying teams throw Liverpool too easily of kilter.  Unable to impose Klopp's pressing style, the lack of variation first shown up by Burnley (with Mane in the team), requires immediate surgery.

Liverpool have undoubtedly the weakest defence of the top six and for one reason or another the two best centre-half's at the club Joel Matip and Mamadou Sakho were missing yesterday.  With the heading ability of both the defence would be markedly stronger and the team stronger at set pieces in attack.

Why start with two holding midfielders at home against the lowest placed side in the league?  Klopp has a propensity to do this when the opposition should fear the mite of our attack.  Recently, in the perceived lesser games Klopp has gone with Stewart and Elaria as his defensive two and while Ejaria has a reputation for the more a more expansive game of the two, the Liverpool midfield almost appear comatose, unable to adequately protect the defence, let alone help provide an attacking threat.

Jurgen Klopp spoke after the game about missed opportunities in the first-half, but they were never clear cut and it was Swansea rather than us who came closest hitting the post.

The shabby, in fact embarrassing nature of the display was difficult to workout given the two standout moments of the match were Firmino’s goals, taken with the assurance of a top striker.

Make no mistake Swansea were fully worth their win they strangled the life out of us in the first-half and continued in the same vein in the second pressing further up the pitch forcing mistakes.   Fernando Llorento, once linked to Liverpool, showed he has no intention of plying his trade in the Championship next season.  He is still a striker of some pedigree.   First, being on hand to finish off Fernandez header from a corner, before decisively heading home Tom Carroll’s cross.

Anfield was finally ramped up to fever pitch after not only getting back on level terms, but with the stunning quality of Firmino’s goals.  The first a delicious header from Wijnaldum cross and the second exquisitely bringing down the ball and  instinctively firing home a stunning half-volley,  it seems inconceivable to anyone at the ground that as the second goal exploded from the boot of the Brazilian that Liverpool would lose.

But lose they did, with another player once linked to the Reds Sigurdsson fastening on to Klarius slack pass to calmly slot home.

Huff and puff as Liverpool tried, Swansea commendably and in the end comfortable held on for a vital win.

The idiosyncrasies of Liverpool’s season sees us as the first team to bypass fifty goals this season, yet languish some 7 points behind Chelsea who have a game in hand.

Manchester United 1 Liverpool 1 – Battling draw but Liverpool still come away feeling opportunity lost

Blog by dedlfc (David Douglas)

Prematch Thoughts: We have no Matip – due to us being unclear on his international clearance, no Clyne – due to rib/abdominal injury and no start for Coutinho as we bring him back into the team gradually rather than straight back. This means a first ever full league game for Alexander-Arnold in place of Clyne and Klavan to maintain his spot in the side ahead of Matip.

The game starts off quite even until Zlatan Ibrahimovic pounces on a bad backpass from Lovren, manages to get enough toe on it to chip it over Mignolet but it hits the roof of the net.

And immediately after that Pogba is played through but his shot is just wide of the post.

We got away with that one there! Their over –hyped player let himself down there!

Our first real threat comes from a goalmouth scramble where no one was quite in position to take advantage. That definitely bodes well for the future!

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! Pogba goes up to head a ball away and hits it with his hand! Volleyball style! Referee Oliver has no hesistation and points to the spot.

Milner Scores! 1-0 to us! Excellently placed penalty went thundering past United keeper De Gea’s left hand with the keeper guessing the right way !!!

Liverpool conceding two free kicks and a corner in less than two minutes.We are just not playing well to control this lead.

Zlatan hits the free kick low and through traffic and almost forces it in. Mignolet did really well to save it but save it he did – low to his right.

Mkhitaryan played through this time but Mignolet saves it again. Having an excellent first half.

Halftime Thoughts: Messy throughout the first half with United creating the clearer chances and with us not being able to hold the ball up front – Origi being the main culprit in this. The penalty was exactly the boost we needed. I suspect Mourinho will do over the break to try and get his team angry and ready to fight back, because he hates losing to us. Hold on to your hats.

First thing Mourinho does is call on his captain Wayne Rooney to start the second half taking off Carrick which is a surprise to me.

Mkhitaryan is played through again this time by Zlatan and beats Mignolet with a shot but it flashes across goal. Again lucky, there. Our defence parted like the Red Sea for that chance and should really have been punished.

With Origi continuing to struggle Klopp finally sees this and makes a change bringing on our best player Coutinho.

Coutinho’s first bit of action is to play a blind pass through to Firmino who should have slid the ball wide to De Gea’s left but instead hit it straight at the keeper – What a great chance missed should be 0-2 to us! Massive moment in this game and maybe our season.

20-ish minutes left and, in a fit of pique and desperation, Mourinho is turning to his last best chance to turn things around: Marouane Fellaini. You know that means nothing but long balls coming our way !!! Question is can we handle it?

Pogba gifted another opportunity but he sends it into the stands. Which sums up his whole game.

We’ve been better in possession with Coutinho on but also been lucky with the chances missed by United.

Rooney gets the ball to drop at his feet and hits the half-volley but Mignolet parries very well. Mignolet didn’t know about the offside flag going up so that is another very good save.

There it is - 1-1. A goalmouth scramble, a near-miss, and then Zlatan finally forces it in with a looping header.

The build-up play was offside but if the linesman is not in the right position what do you expect!!! That is now 6 offside goals in the last 7 games for United.

Four more minutes injury time to be played.

Wijnaldum with an incredible opportunity but no force behind the shot and De Gea cleans up. Neither side is content with a draw, even with literally seconds left.

Final Whistle Thoughts: So, way better than I was expecting at prematch, but we really should’ve won this game. The defending was fine until the bush haired Fellaini came on to cause aerial havoc in our defence, we just couldn’t get the attack going to finish this game. Still, a point is fine, all things considered, and we’ve got this in awkward away fixture in the rear-view window now.

I felt tactically we were doing fine until Fellaini came on to disrupt our defence, we should have brought on Sturridge at that moment for Wijnaldum or Can and told him to go out there and win this game for us.

Liverpool - Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Klavan, Milner, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Firmino, Origi.

Subs - Karius, Gomez, Moreno, Stewart, Ejaria, Coutinho, Sturridge

Man of the Match – Mignolet – Excellent performance throughout, showed why he is now our deserved number one with some vital saves in both halves.

Special mentions - Arnold – struggled initially in the first half – Martial causing him so much problems with his pace and skill but maintained his composure and can be pleased with his first full league game overall.

Our midfield got the better of the United midfield throughout so will be disappointed not to ultimately win the game.

We now have 10 home league games left and just 7 away league games left so we are very much in this title race and now need to go on a proper run of 5 or 6 league wins in a row to put some real pressure on Chelsea. Let’s now do it instead of talking about it !!!

Soutrhampton throw away opportinities to put the tie out of reach

I thought I’d wait to report on our Capital One Semi-Final first leg against Southampton.  Getting beat is one thing, but getting beat without so much of a whimper is another.  It’s hard to take.

Southampton were excellent pressing and harrying at every turn.

Emre Can struggled.  The German International’s display was poor and a benchmark for lack of intensity throughout the 90 minutes.  His willingness to slow the game and have as many touches as possible killed any assemblance of fluidity Liverpool were looking to instil in their play.  If Can struggled, Lucas laboured and found wanting on more than one occasion failing to live with the pace of Long and the trickery of Redmond.

After being talked up his manager earlier in the week Daniel Sturridge will not have enjoyed his evening.  Given a rare start, he was literally schooled by Virgil Van Dijk given barely a sniff throughout the 90 minutes, but do be fair experienced little service.

We enjoyed a bright start and plenty of possession (69 percent) in the first ten minutes without looking likely to break through, Southampton were happy, as many teams are against Liverpool at the moment, to sit back and invite the reds to breakdown a well organised defence.

Barely testing the home defence let alone their goal, the only chance of any note came on 17 minutes when Can’s chip to the back post found Lallana to nod back into the path of Firmino whose volley was pushed over with a flourish by goalkeeper Forster.

Southampton manager Claude Puel’s game plan was not only to stifle Liverpool’s offence, but speedily counter.  Tadic broke behind the left-side of the defence to cut the ball back for Redmond whose shot was superbly blocked by Karius.

Southampton were soon in front.  Klavan’s miskick found its way through to Jay Rodriguez who expertly found Redmond to shoot past Karius.

Liverpool were still dominating possession, but Southampton were looked the most likely to score.  Just before half-time they should have made in two.  Tadic’s cross found its way to Redmond and from the centre of the box he shot straight at Karius who flashily pawed the ball away when either side of the goal would have seen the lead extende

Jurgen Klopp is normally able to get a reaction from his players at half-time, but for the second-match in succession, possession maybe nine tenths of the law, but the slow build-up negated any attempts to get us back into the game.

If anything, Southampton could and should have had the tie wrapped up.  Nathan Redmond through on goal chipped the ball over the advancing Karius and against the bar.  Liverpool were at stages all over the place.

Against Plymouth and Southampton opportunities went begging for players to claim places, but worryingly, Klopp will want to right the malaise running through his side as against Southampton an experienced side lacked the ability to right itself.

With the possibly season defining game against United up next the intensity and fires of early games will be required to stem a resurgent United.

Teams

Southampton: 1 Forster, 2 Soares, 3 Yoshida, 17 van Dijk, 21 Bertrand, 4 Clasie (Holberg – 73 mins), 14 Romeu, 8 Davis (Ward-Prowse – 82 mins), 22 Redmond, 9 Rodriguez (Lond – 82 mins), 11 Tadic

Subs: 7 Long, 16 Ward-Prowse, 23 Stephens, 38 McQueen, 39 Sims, 41 Lewis

Liverpool: 1 Karius 2, Clyne, 6 Lovren, 17 Klavan, 7 Milner, 5 Wijnaldum (Coutinho – 61 mins), 21 Lucas, 23 Can,  20 Lallana, 15 Sturridge, 11 Firmino (Origi – 83 mins)

Subs: 10 Coutinho, 12 Gomez, 18 Moreno, 22 Mignolet, 27 Origi, 35 Stewart, 58 Woodburn

Referee: Neil Swarbrick

Attendance: 31,480

Liverpool 0 Plymouth 0 – (3rd round FA Cup -Pilgrims grind out a draw to foil our youngsters and earn a replay).

Blog by dedlfc (David Douglas)

Pre-match thoughts: The one thing you can’t say about our manager Klopp is that he doesn’t do things in half measures. He was expected to play half experienced, half youngsters against Plymouth but instead decided to play our youngest starting eleven in our club’s long and prestigious history with an average age of 21 years and 296 days. The return of Joe Gomez, who plays his first match for the Reds since appearing against FC Sion in October 2015 – 15 months ago!! (Seems like a lifetime!). Oh, and it’s a first senior team start for young Ben Woodburn. Good luck to both youngsters!

And we’re off! We get things started by lofting the ball out of play in Plymouth’s half. All part of the plan.

Good early start by Alexander-Arnold, going forward very early. We win a corner from the ensuing attack, and two shooting opportunities materialize for Stewart and Ejaria respectively, but it all comes to nought. The hosts are well in control during the initial exchanges.

Another long range shot from Kevin Stewart after we spend an eternity pinging it around just outside the Plymouth box, waiting for an opening. It’s not on target. Still, good patience from our young side.

Free kick conceded just outside the Plymouth box for a high foot by Carey. Emre Can takes it, it comes off a defender’s head, and Ojo can’t quite finish off the ensuing pinball.

Chance for Woodburn! Can bulldozes his way up the pitch and lays it off for the youngster in the Plymouth box but he chooses not to take the chance on his left foot, and keeper McCormick is just about able to snuff out the danger.

It’s in the net from Origi, but the Belgian forward is adjudged to have manhandled his marker prior to the shot. This decision could have gone either way.

Not for the first time, Can finds Alexander-Arnold surging in from the right past the back line, and Plymouth, thanks to keeper McCormick, are just about able to hold firm.

Another free kick just outside the box with half time about ten minutes away. It’s into the wall again. Plymouth lump it languorously towards Karius when they can, but you feel they need to spring the counter more quickly if they want to catch us out.

Corner for Plymouth on the stroke of half-time. It’s wasted and that is the end of the first half.

Halftime thoughts: If Liverpool had more control of that first half, it would be a Janet Jackson album in 1986!

Still, it’s all square in the most important stat. By which I mean goals. Of which there are, somehow, none.

Overall, we have dominated but lack the creativity and guile of a Lallana/Coutinho/Firmino – two of these three players are on the bench but we are trying to get through this game without having to use our senior players.

Plymouth start the second half they emulate Liverpool by immediately punting the ball out of play.

A little bit more threat going forward from Plymouth now, with Garita making a nuisance of himself with his strength and some nifty footwork. The visitors are also committing a few more players forward, which could play into our hands.

Excellent chance for Ojo! Woodburn lifts an excellent cross towards Ojo but the young forward can’t quite direct it with any force.

Free kick taken by Carey outside the Liverpool box. It’s on target and delivered with some venom, but Karius saves comfortably.

Daniel Sturridge comes on for the disappointing Emre Can. Under half an hour left in this one. Sturridge has a shot at the end of a nice move up the pitch by the hosts and its inches wide.

Plymouth defender Gary Miller seems to be in some serious distress with a potential ankle break being mentioned, unfortunately, and out comes the oxygen and the stretcher. Not a good sign. Connor Smith will replace him. Elsewhere, Lallana and Firmino come on for Ejaria and Woodburn in an effort to avoid the replay.

Lallana twists and turns on the right to make room for a cross. It finds Origi who is just about able to get a forehead on it but again not on target. A minute later Sturridge does his thing unleashing a shot while drifting from the right and it’s just off target.

Six minutes of added time. A few nervy moments for Plymouth but nothing materializes.

Final whistle thoughts: The traveling supporters are ecstatic and have every right to be, as their team put on a gritty and disciplined defensive performance. Our kids acquitted themselves well in the first half but lacked a cutting edge with an 80.3% possession overall but struggled to break down their gritty opponents.

Klopp’s gamble to play the youngsters backfired so therefore a replay it is. An additional game now added to our already tight schedule in January! 

This should be looked at by our youngsters as an opportunity to impress which not all of them have grabbed with both hands – hopefully some of them will get another chance to show their worth to the squad and the manager in the replay at Home Park.

Liverpool: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Lucas, Moreno, Stewart, Can, Ejaria, Ojo, Woodburn, Origi

Substitutes: Mignolet, Klavan, Clyne, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Firmino, Sturridge

Man of the match – Joe Gomez – excellent, calming influence return for our young defender – didn’t put a foot wrong and played as though he hadn’t been away. Very encouraging signs long term.

Special mentions for Kevin Stewart who showed that if Lucas leaves the club this month that he is a solid defensive midfield alternative to our captain Jordan Henderson when required.

Very disappointed in Emre Can’s performances in the last three games including this one – it seems that Wijnaldum’s presence in our team has affected his confidence – he needs to show more fight and determination when he does get a chance. His passing and general play has shown that he is not on his A game at the moment – I am hoping he can regain his form or this will be seen as another season where he has not shown his full potential.

Comments from our manager Klopp who was less pleased, and he took full responsibility for the failure to progress through to the fourth round when he said:

“We have to go to Plymouth – that’s it. Yippee. It is my responsibility, the line up, performance. We could have done better.

“It was a mistake. I don’t think the line up was a mistake but you can see it like this if you want. We made mistakes in the game and as it is always with the boys - the good things they are responsible for and the bad ones I am.

“If you want to see it in a bad way then I am 100 per cent responsible. I have no problem with it. I take it even if we played a fuller squad. I always choose line ups to win the game and I accept that was not in all situations to see today.”

Sunderland 2 Liverpool 2: Mane hands Sunderland a way back

There are moments at the end of every season when on reflection the opportunities missed come home to roost.  Burnley, Bournemouth and now Sunderland.  Yet again we somehow managed to throw away an opportunity to get within three points of Chelsea against a Sunderland side who had just been thrashed by Burnley and were barely able to put out a fit eleven.

Liverpool’s kind hearted nature extended to the New Year’s celebrations resulting in Sunderland not only gaining confidence, but igniting the Stadium of Light to act as the twelve man.

Surprisingly, having beaten Man City just two days previously, Jürgen Klopp decided to go with Daniel Sturridge as his only change with Jordan Henderson, reckoned to be out for around 10 days.  Sturridge and the inform Origi seemed the more likely option in a move back to the more conventional four-four-two formation, but Klopp is nothing if not unpredictable.

During the first-half Liverpool looked wary, as if the lactic acid had yet to dissipate from Saturday.

In saying that Liverpool hoovered up 71 per cent possession in the match and looked to be easing towards yet another win after regaining the lead following Sadie Mane’s tap-in ghosting in on the far post mid-way through the second-half.

The first-half looked to be going just as expected when Daniel Sturridge reacted first amongst the statuesque Sunderland bodies, to divert Lovren's miscued shot to head home for his second Premier League goal of the season and second in his last two games.

Liverpool whether it was the thought of conserving energy or just the mind-set of playing an inferior opponent sat back allowing Sunderland to harry and press.

The lead lasted barely 6 minutes. The almost sedate way in which Wjnaldum almost apologetically waved Didier Ndong by to attack Klavan, who looked ponderous in bringing down the midfielder. Jermain Defoe, the home teams only real outlet dispatched easily into the corner of the net.

Sunderland goalkeeper Mannone reeled of a plethora of top quality saves to deny Sturridge, Firmino and Can.  But, Liverpool pressure finally broke through with Mane.  We held the lead comfortably until 6 minutes to go when with the ball seemingly about to be gobbled up by Mignolet behind him, Mane, on the end of the wall decided show his manager he was quite capable of playing in goal by punching the ball away and gifting Sunderland a penalty. His going away present before the African Cup of Nations, just to the wrong team.

Jermain Defoe did the rest from the spot leaving Liverpool to rue and another missed opportunity.

Man of the match: Daniel Sturridge – looked in cruise control, creating chances with a drop of the shoulder or a step over.  His goal looked easy, but was pure striker’s instinct to anticipate the direction of the ball then head it back into the opposite direction into the far post.

Critical eye: Possible a lack of experience (two games in two days) led Klopp to ask his players how they felt rather than rotate his team.  One wonders why Origi, Stewart and Lucas among others hadn’t started, but Liverpool came with 6 minutes of normal time of winning.  Inopportune defensive mistakes are costing Klopp’s side and unless they eradicate these blunders quickly a top four position could be under threat.

Teams:

Sunderland: 1 Mannone, 22 Love, 16 O’Shea, 5 Djilobodji, 3 van Aanholt, 9 Borini, 17 Ndong, 8 Rodwell (Manquillo – 65 mins), 7 Larsson, 44 Januzaj (Khazri – 79 mins), 18 Defoe

Subs: 10 Khazri, 12 Mika, 21 Maquillo, 35 Maja, 39 Honeyman, 40 Embeton, 43 Ledger

Liverpool: 22 Mignolet, 2 Clyne, 6 Lovren, 17 Klavan, 7 Milner (Moreno – 45 mins), 20 Lallana, 23 Can, 5 Wijnaldum (Origi – 73 mins), 19 Mane, 15 Sturridge (Lucas – 80 mins), 11 Firmino

Subs: 1 Karius, 18 Moreno, 21 Lucas, 27 Origi, 35 Stewart, 53 Ejaria, 66 Alexander-Arnold

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Attendance: 46, 494

Liverpool 1 Man City 0: Liverpool showing continued ability to grind out results

If the Anfield faithful were expecting a match full of quality with so much excellence on view, they would be mistaken.  If they were disappointed by the quality, the result would have please them as a rather scratchy affair was decided by a devastating move and finish from Georginio Winaldum.

The occasion was built as one of titanic proportions with the two managers having locked horns in Pep Guardiola’s first two seasons in Germany with their personal score being 4-4.

Guardiola probably looked auut Liverpool’s starting eleven not the least bit surprised to see Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi on the bench.  No matter the protestations from Jurgen Klopp as to whether Firmino is an out and out striker, he resembles the type of force number 9 that the Manchester City manager would regularly start in so many of his La Liga games at Barcelona.

Liverpool started with Emre Can, Jordan Henderson and Georghino Wijnaldum in midfield with Adam Lallana moving into the forward line.  The idea being to nullify City’s much vaunted attacking midfield of Silva, De Brrune and Silva supported by Yaya Toure.

Man City started well without threatening the Anfield Road end goal.  Raheem Sterling returning once again to his former home was booed unmercifully and it’s difficult to say whether the treatment dished out affected his overall play because he showed character in continually showing for the ball, whereas City’s other creative players in Silva, De Bruyne and Yaya Toure failed to show up, which in turn starved Sergio Aguero of service.

Only eight minutes in and Liverpool were ahead in inimitable style.

A Man City attack broke down deep in the Liverpool half on the left.  The ball was played in to Wijnaldum who flicked the ball on to Firmino and began to make his run.  The Brazilian turned and looked up to see Lallana running free on the left-wing. Collecting Firmino’s pass ball, the inform player moved, as is wont, serenely towards the area before delivering a left-footed curling cross which was met by Wijnaldum with a thumping header from 12 yards which tore past the flailing outstretched arms of Bravo.  It was a goal that said everything about Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

It could so easily have been two.  James Milner, the main reason for Sterling’s ineffectiveness, played a glorious curling through ball to Firmino that begged to be controlled to send him through. Unfortunately, the player miss-controlled with a chance beckoning.

Firmino was again involved, delaying his pass a fraction of a second with he and Lallana in a  two on one situation which saw the latter flagged offside.

City were better in the second-half, not much, but better.  They dominated possession, without much of a cutting edge. The improved performance was as much to do with Liverpool’s sudden lackadaisical approach than any change of formation by City.

David Silva, cutting in from the right channel whipped his shot just past the upright which is as good as it got for the away team with Aguero a virtual bystander limited to one shot from outside the area which was easily gathered by Mignolet.

Even with possession at times reaching 74 per cent City never looked likely to level, with only the home team’s error prone passing likely to gift wrap them any festive.

Jordan Henderson went off with his old heel injury flaring up to be replaced by Divock Origi.

Another hard fought win putting us 6 points behind Chelsea and four ahead of Man City.

Man of the match:  Giorgino Wijnaldum – A stunning header from the ex-Newcastle man gave Liverpool all three points.  He hasn’t as yet become the consistent goal scorer performer that his career statistics suggest he should be, but that hasn’t deterred him from getting into goal scoring positions.  He provides Liverpool the box to box drive going both ways.

Critical eye:  Liverpool played a lot deeper than normal grinding out a result.  It was a game with only three attempts on target and Liverpool were patient and but for carelessness in attack could quite easily have gone into the break two-up.

Interestingly, Liverpool have now beaten Man City in their last four Premier League meetings, but more noteworthy in terms of performance, was their ability to play against type and battle through to gain a result, their third clean sheet in the last four games.

Two players in particular signify the change.  James Milner, is arguably Liverpool’s de facto leader.  He doesn’t just lead by example he is often seen instructing his team mates.  Against City he was exceptional.  Against the lightning fast Raheem Sterling, he used all his experience restricting the winger to very few creative opportunities.  He gives Klopp the extra dimension with his ability to create from anywhere down the left flank.

Ragmar Klavan was excellent.  He is an old-fashioned defender.  Less flamboyant than the modern type of centre-half expected to have the skillset of a sweeper and midfielder rolled into one, he clears his lines when needed and uses his positional sense to ensure that his lack of pace is not exposed and again it’s no coincidence that Liverpool have looked more secure since he was given a run in the side without Matip and Joe Gomez still to return from injury.

Liverpool showed an ability to sit back and counter-attack when the need arises rather than relying on the energy sapping pressing game which they used only in parts which shows they are acquiring an ability to adapt to circumstance.

Team:

Liverpool: 22 Mignolet, 2 Clyne, 6 Lovren, 17 Klavan, 7 Milner, 5 Wijnaldum, 14 Henderson (Origi – 64 mins), 23 Can, 19 Mane (Lucas – 89 mins), 11 Firmino, 20 Lallana

Subs: 1 Karius, 15 Sturridge, 18 Moreno, 21 Lucas, 27 Origi, 53 Ejaria, 66 Alexander-Arnold

Man City: 1 Bravo, 5 Zabaleta (Jesus Navas – 86 mins), 24 Stones, 30 Otamendi, 11 Kolarov, 42 Yaya Toure (Iheanacho – 89 mins), 25 Fernandinho, 7 Sterling, 17 De Bruyne, 21 Silva, 10 Aguero

Subs: 3 Sagna, 6 Fernando, 13 Caballero, 15 Jesus Navas, 22 Clichy, 72 Iheanacho, 75 Garcia

Referee: Craig Pawson

Attendance: 53,120