Liverpool were defeated 1-2 by Manchester City at Anfield in the Premier League, in a dramatic 200th meeting in all competitions.
Dominik Szoboszlai, still filling in at right-back with Jeremie Frimpong and Connor Bradley sidelined on injury, opened the score for Liverpool with a magnificent free kick in the 74th minute.
The Sky Blues came from behind to snatch the three points with Bernardo Silva equalising ten minutes later.Erling Haaland then put them 1-2 ahead after a penalty.
Haaland had a very early chance, but Alisson prevented Liverpool from going 0-1 down in the second minute.
Omar Marmoush set off too early in the 12th minute and his attempt was logically flagged offside despite ending in the back of Alisson’s net.
Manchester City put the Liverpool defence under pressure and deprived the Reds of the ball throughout the first 20 minutes of the game, but Liverpool regained some colour and had their first real chance at goal in the 26th minute.
A great pass from Alexis Mac Allister through the lines found Mohammed Salah, but the Egyptian’s attempt went just wide of Donnarumma’s post.
Omar Marmoush took his chance from outside the box after Ryan Gravenberch lost the ball on his own half in the 41st minute, but his powerful strike went just above the bar of Alisson’s goal.
It was all square at the break and despite City being the better team of the first half, they could not find the back of the net.
Momentum was in Liverpool’s favour at the start of the second half with a first shot at goal for Salah in the 46th minute.
The Reds had their first shot on target in the 52nd minute, but Donnarumma caught Szoboszlai’s powerful strike.
Bernardo Silva’s foul on Szoboszlai conceded the free kick that opened the score for Liverpool.
The Hungarian used the post to bury his powerful strike in the back of the net in the 74th minute.
Ten minutes later in the 84th minute, Haaland headed a cross from Ruben Dias over the Liverpool defence to Bernardo Silva, who pushed it through Alisson’s legs and into the net to equalise for Manchester City.
A minute into the seven of added time, Alisson was late on his intervention and made contact with Matheus Nunes to concede a late penalty.
Haaland went face to face with the Liverpool goalkeeper and scored to put City in the lead in the 93rd minute.
In the 99th minute, the tip of Donnarumma’s fingers denied Alexis Mac Allister the chance to bring Liverpool back level.
Alisson left his goal to try and get a last-minute equaliser and failed to get back in time to stop Rayan Cherki from dribbling it in the net.
City thought they were 1-3 up after a sprint race between Haaland, Cherki and Szoboszlai saw the Liverpool man unable to stop the Sky Blues, but VAR dramatics shook up the final minutes as we went over 100 minutes of play time.
To the incomprehension of both home and away fans, referee Craig Pawson went to check the VAR and sent Szoboszlai off for tugging Haaland’s shirt before ruling out Cherki’s goal.
The result keeps Manchester City in the title race, 6 points behind the leaders Arsenal. Liverpool sit in 6th, four points behind Chelsea.
(Featured Image by Elsa Wiedfeld)
