Liverpool 1 - 0 Manchester City - Liverpool Beat Manchester City at Anfield - Game Recap

Liverpool got their biggest win of the Premier League season, beating rivals and defending champions, Manchester City 1-0 at Anfield this afternoon. Mohamed Salah scored the lone goal of the game in the 76th minute. Jürgen Klopp was shown a red card in the 86th minute after protesting a non-call on Salah.

Liverpool’s defence was really the story of the match. They stopped the inevitable goal-scoring of Erling Haaland. Alisson made multiple saves on the Norwegian striker. The whole defensive unit also managed to shut down the rest of the world-class offensive talent that Manchester City bring to every match. 

It was a spicy affair and the Reds really rose to the occasion. This was Liverpool’s best performance in the Premier League season. The match was a game of two halves in every sense. The first half was very clinical and defensive. The second was wide open and full of emotion. 

First Half

Liverpool played some of their best defensive football of the year in the first half against Manchester City. They kept their shape well and kept most of Manchester City’s attempts out of the high-danger areas. Haaland got loose at least 3 different times but 2 of his attempts were right at the Reds’ keeper and the other was headed over the bar. 

Manchester City got more attempts toward the goal overall but, none of them made it past Alisson. Liverpool had more corners than City but none of them was particularly dangerous. Both teams were clearly playing it safe in the first half. 

Even if both teams were playing it safe, it was a great half of tactical football.  Both clubs played the half at a very high level with intensity. The first half of today’s match was a good lesson that even goalless football can still be fun to watch. 

Second Half

Like so many of Liverpool’s Premier League matches this season, the opening 10 minutes of the second half opened up. Both teams traded chances coming out of the halftime break. Mohamed Salah was absolutely robbed by Ederson in the 50th minute. 

Roberto Firmino freed the Egyptian King with a clever pass up the middle, Salah then flew in on a near breakaway. Ederson barely got enough on the ball to knock it wide. The touch was so slight that the referee even missed it and awarded City a goal kick when it should have been a Liverpool corner. 

City thought they had scored through Phil Foden in the 53rd. The goal was called back because of an Erling Haaland foul on Fabinho in the build-up play. Diogo Jota answered with an attempt at goal in the 56th. The Portuguese forward headed the ball over the bar from a Mohamed Salah cross. 

Liverpool finally got the goal they needed so badly in the 76th minute. It started out as a dangerous freekick from Kevin De Bruyne in the 75th. Alisson made a crucial interception on the cross and booted it immediately upfield. He dropped the ball neatly at Salah’s feet, in a similar manner to what De Bruyne is renowned for. 

About 40 yards from the City goal, Joao Cancelo foolishly challenged Salah who rolled right past it, and was all alone on goal. Salah, who was Liverpool’s best offensive player on the day, finished the goal coolly past the City keeper. 

Salah’s goal held up for the rest of a feverish 2nd half at Anfield. Jürgen Klopp’s sending off in the 86th minute was very on-brand for this emotional 2nd half. The game had over 10 minutes of added time due to an unfortunate injury to Diogo Jota. Jota had to be taken off on a stretcher near the end of the match.

LFC Globe Verdict

This is the Liverpool team that we’ve come to expect over the years. Today’s win against the defending champions of the Premier League might have saved the Reds’ season. Finally, they were able to carry the momentum from a great midweek Champions League match into a Premier League match.

The defence was water-tight today and every man who helped shut down the City attack should be commended. I especially thought the play of Joe Gomez and James Milner stood out. Our goalkeeper put out an effort for the ages today as well. Alisson stood up to Haaland and City again and again and even assisted on the winning goal.   

Man of the Match and What’s Next

We could go one of two ways on Man of the Match today. First, we could go with Mohamed Salah. Not only was his goal great, but he was a threat all afternoon. Ederson’s great save in the 50th minute was the only thing that kept Salah from having two goals.

Second, we could go with Alisson. So many times, the Reds’ goalkeeper goes unnoticed and unheralded. Not today, the big Brazilian keeper made a save after save, especially off the boots and head of Erling Haaland. His assist on the goal was brilliant, as well. So let’s give the Man of the Match to Alisson.

Next up for Liverpool is a midweek Premier League match against West Ham. That game will be at 19:30 BST on Wednesday, once again from Anfield. 

Goals

Liverpool

• Salah 76’

Manchester City

• None

Substitutes

Liverpool

• Nunez for Firmino 72’
• Henderson for Fabinho 73’
• Carvalho for Elliott 73’
• Alexander-Arnold for Salah 90’
• Tsimikas for Jota 90+9

Manchester City

• Julian Alvarez for Gundogan 89’

Cards

Liverpool

Yellow

• Fabinho 63’
• Thiago 84’
• Jota 90+1

Red

• Klopp 86’

Manchester City

Yellow

• Akanji 78’