Liverpool 4-3 Man City: The Citizens' unbeaten streak is broken
An explosive Anfield night saw 7 goals, 4 of which came from home team Liverpool, ending Man City's unbeaten streak.
Liverpool: Ox-Chamberlain (9'), Firmino (59'), Mane (62'), Salah (68')
Man City: Sane (40'), B. Silva (84'), Guendogan (90'+1)
Man City were bogged down at Anfield early this morning. Not only did they lose their first Premier League game of the season, but they were also defeated 3-4 by Liverpool's gegen-pressing football.
Liverpool entered the match to welcome Man City with a clear determination to win all 3 points, despite the opponent being an invincible giant this season. That is the reason why Liverpool proactively raised their squad to play an attacking game right after the opening whistle and quickly got the opening goal in the 9th minute. It was a goal with a strong personal mark of Alex Chamberlain, when he dribbled the ball bravely through the visitors' defense, before firing a shot into the far corner to defeat goalkeeper Ederson.
Ox-Chamberlain opened the scoring.
Liverpool continued to play with enthusiasm after the opening goal. With the fast and creative attacking trio of Salah, Mane and Firmino, they continued to cause many problems for coach Guardiola and his team. However, Liverpool's opponent last night was the team currently reigning at the top of the Premier League. Coach Guardiola and his team had no difficulty in restraining their opponent's excitement, thanks to their excellent ball control ability.
Man City soon regained control of the game and attacked Liverpool again. In fact, Pep's team did not create many real chances after that, but they had many high-class stars and were in good form, including Leroy Sane. In the 40th minute, the German star handled the ball very skillfully in the penalty area, before unleashing a powerful shot from a narrow angle to equalize 1-1 for Man City. During the end of the first half, both teams played cautiously, waiting for instructions from the coach during the break.
Sane equalized for Man City.
What happened in the second half showed that coach Klopp did not change his fiery gegen-pressing style of play. And this style of play is truly the nemesis of tiqui-taka, when it fully demonstrates its potential. Liverpool quickly took the lead 2-1 in the second half. In the 59th minute, from a very quick attack, Roberto Firmino escaped to receive a pass from Salah, then skillfully chipped the ball over goalkeeper Ederson's head.
Man City were in a real panic after the second goal. That turned their possession play into a double-edged sword. MC kept losing the ball in midfield. Then just 2 minutes later, the visitors had to concede the second goal from a powerful long-range shot into the near corner by Sadio Mane.
Mane's goal.
Man City really fell apart after the third goal. All their moves were very clumsy and inaccurate. From a failed clearance by goalkeeper Ederson in the 68th minute, Salah easily increased the score to 4-1 for Liverpool with a long-range ball into the empty net.
Salah scored a super goal.
Man City had nothing to lose after losing 1-4, so they put their whole squad on the attack to find an equalizer. As a result, they scored 2 goals in a row at the end of the match, thanks to Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Guendogan. Fortunately for Liverpool, that was all Man Xanh could do in this match.
Liverpool became the first team to defeat Man City in the Premier League this season and rose to third place in the rankings.
Line-up
Liverpool: Karius; Gomez, Lovren, Matip, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Can (Milner 79'), Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah (Lallana 88'), Mane (Klavan 90'), Firmino.
Man City:Ederson; Delph (Danilo 31'), Stones, Otamendi, Walker; Fernandinho, Guendogan; De Bruyne, Sterling (B. Silva 71'), Sané; Agüero.