Liverpool vs Manchester City: Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring Liverpool’s second goal with Mohamed Salah. (Source: Reuters)
Liverpool scored three times in nine second-half minutes on the way to a dramatic 4-3 win over Manchester City on Sunday which ended the Premier League leaders’ unbeaten start to the season. The Reds struck after less than 10 minutes when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain surged forward. Leroy Sane equalised five minutes before the interval, but Liverpool blew City away after halftime with Firmino chipping Ederson to restore the home side’s lead and Sadio Mane striking from the edge of the box. Mohamed Salah completed the rout with another goal to make it 4-1 before substitute Bernardo Silva grabbed one back and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan prodded home in stoppage-time.
Liverpool vs Manchester City, English Premier League: Key highlights
2320 hrs IST: FULL TIME – Liverpool 4-3 Manchester City
What a match! What an extraordinary match! Liverpool managed to defeat Manchester City, who have been unbeaten in the Premier League season so far. It was a goal fest as the Reds came up with a new energy in the second half. City, as usual, attempted a comeback in the dying minutes to make it 4-3 from 4-1 but could not maintain their record.
2316 hrs IST: GOAL! Sergio Aguero’s cross smartly controlled and finished by Ilkay Gundogan. City have often pulled off winners in the last minute. Will the same happen on this extraordinary night at Anfield today? Three minutes to go before whistle.
2310 hrs IST: GOAL! It is raining goals at Anfield today. Substitute Bernardo Silva sends one past Karius from close range. Can we expect a comeback from City? Five more minutes to go!
83. GOOOAAAAL | @BernardoCSilva scores! #lfcvcity
🔴 4-2 🔵 pic.twitter.com/6XON3loQHc
— Manchester City (@ManCity) 14 January 2018
2245 hrs IST: GOALS! What did Klopp tell his team in the half-time? Liverpool are ripping City to pieces. After Firmino’s goal in the 59th minute, Sadio Mane sent another great goal into the top corner to make it 3-1. But the Reds did not just stop there! How can the match be complete without Salah scoring! Salah finds the net in another stunning goal to widen Liverpool’s lead. Ederson comes forward to clear Salah’s shot, which he does, but the ball returns to Salah, who sends the ball in from around 40 yards!
2245 hrs IST: GOAL! After confusion in the penalty area as Liverpool kept Ederson busy, Firmino came to front in great speed and chipped a delightful finish past Ederson to give the Reds 2-1 lead.
BOBBY FFFFIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRMMMMMMIIIINNNNNNOOOO! 👌 pic.twitter.com/IGg1QZUdsF
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) 14 January 2018
2241 hrs IST: Otamendi gets between Matip and Firmino for a corner but the header goes off the bar.
2231 hrs IST: Second half is underway.
2215 hrs IST: Half-time!
What an intense, thrilling match underway at Anfield. It took Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 15 minutes to score the opener and give Jurgen Klopp’s side a lead. But the Reds’ happiness didn’t last long as Leroy Sane scored for City to equalise the match at 1-1.
2207 hrs IST: GOAL! Manchester City equalise with a superb goal from Leroy Sane.
What a beautiful goal by Sane. He cut into the box past Gomez and Matip and then sends the ball firing in past Loris Karius.
2201 hrs IST: Liverpool are looking for another chance to double their lead. Mane sends a pass to Firmino but the Brazilian’s touch is too weak.
2145 hrs IST: GOAL! Liverpool have taken the lead! Firmino wins the ball back and sets up Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who spots open space to shoot into bottom corner. Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City
2130 hrs IST: KICK OFF! Liverpool attacking towards the Kop in the first half. And the hosts get the game underway. City fans making plenty of early noise – as they should!
2120 hrs IST: Klopp says: “Virgil is a little bit injured, but it’s not serious. If it’s the last game of the season, maybe you take the season, but it’s not the last game of the season. With goalkeepers you have to do it a bit like this. If you think about the team about Man City with all their players and skill, there could be one weakness and that’s mentality – but it’s not. That is really good.”
Guardiola says: “Every game is exciting and the opponent is so strong. A very good team and manager. But we will try to play our game and win. Both teams are ambitious and we want to play our games.”
2100 hrs IST: LINEUPS:
Liverpool XI: Karius; Gomez, Lovren, Matip, Robertson; Can, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Liverpool Subs:Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Milner, Klavan, Lallana, Ings, Solanke
Manchester City XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph; Gundogan, Fernandinho; Sterling, De Bruyne, Sane; Aguero
Manchester City Subs: Bravo, Danilo, Mangala, Zinchenko, Diaz, Bernardo, Silva
2045 hrs IST: Hello and good evening in our live coverage of this mouth watering clash in the Premier League. No surprises as far as lineups are concerned from Manchester City. David Silva is on the bench though which should relieve Klopp. For Liverpool, there is no Coutinho but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain stars in midfield. No Virgil Van Dijk for Liverpool who is injured