They have never enjoyed their visits to the red half of Merseyside – as their record of only two wins in over 60 years underlines – but this defeat in a thrilling game was more painful than most.
Barring a miracle, Pep Guardiola’s team will still be crowned champions at the end of the season but their hopes of emulating the Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ by going through the Premier League campaign unbeaten were shattered in a seven-goal thriller.
Guardiola never believed they would match the Gunners’ feat anyway but he will be disappointed at the mistakes his team made that contributed to their first domestic defeat in 34 matches against a Liverpool team anxious to show there is life after Philippe Coutinho and who have now stretched their own unbeaten run in all competitions to 18 matches.
When the little Brazilian was alongside Roberto Firmino, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, Jurgen Klopp’s quarter of raiders was dubbed the “Fab Four.”
But if Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can continue to produce a favourable impression of Coutinho, then that description could well remain relevant.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, with perfect timing, turned in his best performance since joining Liverpool in August and put the skids under City with the first goal after nine minutes – the earliest Guardiola’s men have conceded in a game this season.
Leroy Sane brought them level by the break but in a 10-minute purple patch midway through the second half, Firmino, Mane and Salah all captalised on mistakes to take the game away from City – or so we thought.
Late strikes from sub Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan underlined City’s character and ensured a nervous finale for Liverpool, none more so than when Sergio Aguero headed into the sidenetting in the finals seconds.
But Liverpool emerged deserved winners from a game that ebbed and flowed and was the best the Premier League has offered this season.
Klopp’s team played City at their own game – high-energy, high-pressing, high tempo – and it knocked the leaders out of their normally cultured tride. They have been so used to controlling games that for the first time this season they looked ruffled and lost their heads especially in that crazy 10 minutes spell in the second half that effectively settled the destiny of the points.
Mohamed Salah scored a sensational fourth for Liverpool
Sadio Mane tormented Man City all evening
Too many players who have been near faultless this season, had off days. John Stones was at fault for the second goal, Nicolas Otamendi for the third and goalkeeper Ederson Moraes for the fourth.
The first goal set the tone. Oxlade-Chamberlain picked up the loose ball drove through the heart of City’s defence before driving the ball past Ederson from 25 yards.
City’s equaliser was a combination of superb skill and pace by Sane and a series of errors by Liverpool. Joe Gomez misjudged Kyle Walker’s crossfield pass, Sane chested it down, sped too easily past Joel Matip’s challenge before driving through Loris Karius’s hands at the near post.
City came out for the second half in much better shape and went close to taking the lead when Otamendi thumped a header against the bar.
But they shot themselves in the foot after 59 minutes. Stones failed to deal with Oxlade-Chamberlain’s pass, Firmino nudged him off the ball before curling a delightful chip over Ederson.
Roberto Firmino grabbed a goal and an assist for Liverpool
John Stones had a torrid time at the back
Liverpool proceeded to run City ragged in the next few minutes. Sane hit the post before Otamendi’s pass was cut out by Salah. He fed Mane who had time to take a touch before crashing a left foot shot into the top corner of the net.
There were only 126 seconds between the two goals and Liverpool only to wait a few more minutes for their fourth.
This time Ederson was the culprit. He prides himself as a sweeper-keeper and has been praised for his distribution but the Brazilian got it all wrong this time. He raced out of his penalty area but sent this clearance straight at Salah who controlled the ball before lofting a perfect shot over the City keeper from 35 yards for his 24th goal of the season.
It looked over but City, like a punch-drunk boxer, came out slugging to ensure a dramatic finale.
Otamendi’s nightmare continued when he missed a chance at the far post before Silva – who had come for Raheem Sterling frustrated by another no-show against his former club – pulled one back after Gundogan’s shot had been blocked by Matip.
Gundgoan toe-poked the third in added time and in the final seconds Aguero – who has still never scored at Anfield – was inches away from completing a sensational comeback when his diving header into the side netting from De Bruyne’s free-kick.
It was breathless stuff but when the dust had settled Arsenal’s 2003-04 record remains safe and so, oddly enough, does a proud record held by Dave ‘Harry’ Bassett’s 1986-87 Wimbledon, who remain the only club to win top-flight matches at Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool in the same season in the post-war season.
