Manchester City vs Liverpool: Gabriel Jesus scored a brace with a goal each side of the half. (Source: Reuters)
The last time Liverpool players took the pitch, they walked all over Arsenal and had found zero competition. Fast forward to Saturday, following the international break, and it became a case of Liverpool being trampled upon and Manchester City carrying all the weight. In the end, Man City romped home to 5-0 with a brace each from Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus, with Sergio Aguero also finding the net. Liverpool could argue they were hard done by with the first half sending off of Sadio Mane that shifted the game completely in favour of the Citizens. The win, Manchester City’s biggest over Liverpool in the top flight since 1937 takes them top of the table for now.
With Manchester City already cruising, up 4-0, Leroy Sane finished off the game to make it an embarrassing five with a fierce left footed drive to beat Simon Mignolet in goal. He had also scored the fourth with a neat left footed finish at the near post. Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero had already ripped open the Liverpool defence with fluid movement. The Argentine Aguero played a crucial role in the game by scoring one and helping Jesus to another.
TEAMS: Manchester City: Ederson, Danilo, Stones, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Walker, De Bruyne, David Silva, Mendy, Aguero, Gabriel Jesus.
Subs: Bravo, Gundogan, Mangala, Delph, Sane, Bernardo Silva, Foden.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Klavan, Moreno, Can, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Subs: Karius, Lovren, Milner, Gomez, Sturridge, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Solanke.
MANAGER SPEAK
Jurgen Klopp: “It is 100 percent sure that this will be a high-intense game. City have a very offensive line-up but they have adapted to the speed we have in our team. They have a high-quality defence, and up front they have quality. We need to be brave, but it is difficult against City. Dejan Lovren is not injured, but he has felt the intensity, so Klavan is in. Trent has fresh legs.”
Pep Guardiola: “This kind of game, against top players, is why we are in this world. We have gone with two strikers, because we are going to try to score goals. We have options at the back: we can play a back four, or three and one in the middle. It is not easy to stop Liverpool, they are so quick. But it is not only that, they are well organised, and it is Liverpool. But we are going to minimise their strength points, and try to play our game.”
