Sunday 19
March, 2017
Liverpool
came into the game on the back of two successive victories with the assurance
of having beaten City in five of the last six games between the teams.
The only
change from the side which defeated Burnley in the last home fixture was
Firmino returning from a groin injury to replace the unlucky Origi who having
picked up a knock and succumbed to illness during the week, was only thought
fit enough for the bench.
Dejan Lovren
having returned to the fray in an under-23 game was another not thought to have
regained full fitness.
City looked
the sharper of the two in the opening ten minutes, testing the Liverpool
backline from two offside moves looking to get on the front foot with Sane and
Sterling stretching the play out to the touchlines. Surprisingly, the Liverpool midfield struggled
to get a grip being beaten to the punch and cramped for room.
City should
have taken the lead on 20 minutes, when Silva floating again out to the
right-hand side to help Sterling occupy the thoughts of Milner blazed over with
the goal beckoning after Sane’s cross shot was palmed out by Mignolet.
Mane after
seeing his shot blocked in the previous attack, outran Outamende to be through
on goal before the defender, looked to have tugged at him at the point of
shooting with the referee waving away Mane’s penalty appeal.
Liverpool began
to get some traction in the game with Mane, Wijnaldum and Can coming to the
fore, although Coutinho still looked sluggish.
One on one against Fernandinho on the left corner of the area, he will
have been disappointed having feinted to the left to see his curling right foot
shot sail harmlessly into the crowd. He
still seems light years away from his early season form.
The game, a
thrilling spectical because of the attacking ethos of both teams, began to move
the way of Liverpool before half-time, although it was Man City who came
closest to scoring with Sterling clipped from behind by Milner failing by
inches to poke in Silva’s cross and Fernandinho shooting just wide.
Roberto
Firmino right footed shot from the left side of the area was saved flashily by
Caballero. The same said goalkeeper
punched a corner straight to Lallana who volleyed to the top right corner only
for Cabellero to save.
Liverpool
were out of the traps with alacrity in the second-half as Can began to boss the
midfield and City with legs frayed from their Champions League exploits,
wilting under the increased pressure.
Mane, Liverpool’s main attacking threat had another shot blocked by
City’s man of the match John Stones, but that was only a temporary rest
bite. Gael Clichy, after having rashly left left Firmino, rushing back to atone
upended the Liverpool forward in the area to give away a penalty.
Milner
dispatched the penalty with his usual aplomb and remarkably in the 47 Premier
League games he has scored has been involved in 37 wins, never losing.
Liverpool on
the front were controlling possession with Man City’s two wingers looking
lightweight in the central areas. Recognising
his team needed help, Guardiola brought on Bacary Sagna for Yaya Toure, moving
Fernandinho into midfield and Sterling into a more central position with Kevin
De Bruyne swapping with the former Liverpool winger. It paid dividends almost immediately.
City moved
the ball out right to De Bruyne and with Belgium international not looking to
go by Milner, he controlled instantly whipping a lethal curling cross out of
the reach of the outstretched Klavan and into the path of the omnipresent Segio
Augero to poach yet another goal.
The game was
now without parallel this season for its breath-taking quality and City almost
took the lead with Aguero rampaging, but stumbling into the area, before the
ball found its way to De Bruyne whose scuffed attempt kissed the outside of the
post.
With the
quality on show it was unbelievable that chances went begging.
Firmino presented Lalllana with a guilt edge chance in front of the
goal. So confident was he of the England
international’s execution that he wheeled away in delight only for his
celebrations to be cut short when Lallana failed astonishingly to connect with
his attempt as the ball trickled away.
In the ebb
and flow of the game Man City looked the more likely as the game reached its
conclusion. Sterling running through
bravely attempted to lob Mignolet with the keeper almost on top of him, before his
shot wafted wide of the post.
Then in time
added on Aguero missed a glaring chance volleying over De Bruyne’s cross from
close in.
City had
most of the clear-cut opportunities throughout, but Liverpool could argue that
Yaya Touré was lucky
not to have received a straight red card for his sliding tackle which caught
Emre Can flush in the chest which referee Michael Oliver deemed only qualified
for a yellow card.
If the game
was fantastically entertaining for its attacking brilliance, the defensive
frailties of both teams highlighted just why they are not challenging for the
title.
Teams:
Man City: 13 Caballero, 25 Fernandinho, 24
Stones, 30 Otamendi, 22 Clichy, 42 Yaya Touré (Sagna – 65 mins), Sterling
7, 17 De Bruyne, 21 Silva, Sané (Fernandinho – 83 mins), 10 Ageuro
Subs: 1 Bravo, 3 Sagna, 6 Fernando, 9
Nolito, 11 Kolarov, 72 Iheanacho, 75 Garcia
Liverpool: 22 Mignolet, 2 Clyne, 32
Matip, 17 Klavan, 7 Milner, 20 Lallana, 23 Can, Wijnaldum, 19 Mané, 11, Firmino
(Lucas – 89 mins), 10 Coutinho (Origi – 73 mins
Subs: 1 Karius, 6 Lovren, 10 Moreno,
21 Lucas, 27 Origi, 58 Woodburn, 66 Alexander-Arnold
Referee: Michal Oliver
Attendance: 54,449
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