MAN CITY 2, LIVERPOOL 1
Manchester City reignited the Premier League title race as they ended leaders Liverpool’s unbeaten run.
It was a vital victory as Liverpool would have opened a 10-point lead at the top had they triumphed at the Etihad.
But in the proverbial six-pointer, they reduced the deficit to four and the title race is back in the melting pot after Liverpool lost their invincible tag with a first defeat in 21 league games.
Goals from Sergio Aguero – he has netted in all seven home league games against Liverpool to create a record – and Leroy Sane came either side of an equaliser from Roberto Firmino.
But in a game that lived up to all the pre-match hype, City were desperately clinging on to their lead in the dying minutes.
And in a game of mighty fine margins, the breaks went City’s way as Liverpool struck the frame of the goal and were denied by goalline clearances while Vincent Kompany was lucky not to be sent off in the opening half.
Embed from Getty ImagesCity manager Pep Guardiola spoke about the importance of the victory, declaring: “It was a final for us. It would have been almost over had we lost, but winning we are almost there.
“We are still four points behind, but it is enough points to be calm.
“We are in a good moment and I would like to thank these incredible players for their efforts over the last 16 months.
“They showed how good they are against an incredible team.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted his side didn’t have the breaks.
“It was post in, post put out and these things can make a massive difference,” he said.
“We had two chances blocked pretty much on the line. It is luck there or not there.”
Klopp, who described it as a “really intense football game for both teams”, added it was the one of three results his side didn’t want.
He remained upbeat about his side’s title prospects.
“if somebody said we would be four points ahead after both games against City, I would have paid money for that,” Klopp added.
City made two changes from the side that won at Southampton on Sunday.
Left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riyad Mahrez lost out as there were recalls for John Stones and Sane.
Aymeric Laporte was switched from centre half to left back which is a problem spot for City with Fabian Delph suspended and Zinchenko out of favour for being at fault for Saints’ goal on Sunday.
After a frenetic and nervous start from both teams, City’s Ederson was the first keeper called into action in the eighth minute.
He dived to save after a flick from Firmino, following a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross, took a marked deflection off a defender.
Liverpool were desperately unlucky not to have found the net in the 18th minute.
Sadio Mane was put clean through by Mohamed Salah but his shot struck the upright.
Stones, attempting to clear, saw his kick hit Ederson and loop back towards goal.
Stones produced a heroic clearance with goalline technology showing it was millimetres from being the breakthrough goal.
Kompany was lucky to only be given a yellow card after a lunging tackle on Salah. Replays showed raised studs and her was out of control.
It was City, however, who broke the deadlock in the 40th minute with Aguero scoring from the tightest of angles, his 250th career league goal.
Bernardo Silva crossed from the left and Aguero, at the near post, turned Dejan Lovren superbly before firing into roof of the net from a seemingly impossible angle.
City were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty early in the second half when Andy Robertson clearly looked to wrestle Raheem Sterling to the ground, but referee Anthony Taylor waved play on.
The City player’s previous history clearly impeded his prospects of gaining a spot kick.
Liverpool made the first substitution of the match in the 57th minute when former City player James Milner was replayed by Brazilian Fabinho.
City had an anxious moment when Ederson failed to claim a free kick from Alexander-Arnold and Firmino’s goalbound shot was blocked by Kompany.
Liverpool were level in the 64th minute with a well-worked goal.
Alexander-Arnold’s cross was met by Robertson with a cushioned volley across the face of goal for Firmino to head home from four yards.
Guardiola’s response was to withdraw the disappointing David Silva and throw on Ilkay Gundogan.
City regained the lead in the 72nd minute through Sane’s ninth goal of the season and third in his last three games against Liverpool.
Sterling made a break and released Sane on the left and he fired across the face of goal and in off the far upright as the Etihad erupted.
Liverpool brought on Swiss magician Xherdan Shaqiri with 13 minutes left as he replaced Mane.
City could have sealed victory in the 82nd minute when Aguero broke clear but, as he attempted to round Ederson, the keeper made a fabulous block.
Liverpool had two chances to equalise in quick succession as Salah broke away only for Ederson to save superbly while Georginio Wijnaldum had a shot blocked on the line.
Klopp threw on another striker as Daniel Sturridge replaced Wijnaldum while City brought on defenders Kyle Walker and Nicolas Otamendi for Laporte and Kompany.
In the latter stages it was like the Battle of the Alamo with Liverpool pressing for an equaliser and City forced to defend seldom like they have to do.
But in the 90th minute City had another great chance to wrap up victory.
Bernardo Silva broke away on the left and was denied by a super save from Alisson. The ball rebounded to Fernandinho who blazed well wide.