In a week of U-turns, Liverpool made one that went down an absolute storm.
In the 73rd minute, Jurgen Klopp prepared to make a host of changes. The number 11 stood up and Mo Salah trotted up, face like thunder. He was in dangerous and explosive shape. Why the hell was he the one who came out?
Answer: It wasn’t. Instead, Salah was instructed and told to get back out. It looked like the 11th was a mistake, not a change of heart. Either way, it was a turnaround that left Anfield delighted when Salah scored the goal that defeated Manchester City two minutes later.
Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the only goal of the game against Manchester City on Sunday evening
Salah was clean on goal after rounding Joao Cancelo before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner
Salah had missed a golden chance earlier, but the striker made no mistake at the second time of asking.
Liverpool’s players looked delighted after showing they can still beat the best teams in the world on their day.
A slip That’s all it took. A misstep was ultimately what separated these teams, although there is no doubt the best of the day was won. However, when Joao Cancelo failed to catch Alisson’s long-range kick, suddenly what promised to be the best goalless draw the Premier League had ever seen was not that.
It was brilliant, quick thinking from goalkeeper Allison, the kind of smart, high-tempo idea that defined Liverpool’s play all afternoon. He saw Salah one on Cancelo and tested the Manchester City man by sending a long kick almost straight at his feet. Cancelo failed.
He is usually such an exemplary performer, but Salah’s presence scared him. He stepped forward to kill the ball, missed and Salah turned it wonderfully, using his body smartly without conceding a foul. Now he was out, with only Ederson to beat. He finished in style, his first league goal since August, although he scored a Champions League hat-trick against Rangers on Wednesday. So Salah is back.
And while it’s too early to say Liverpool are back for good either, they went nine past Bournemouth and still haven’t turned the metaphorical corner, it was a fabulous return to form. They rocked City, old school. The energy, that relentless, furious ferocity, was off the charts. You would never have known the trials of the club this season. Pep Guardiola wasn’t ruling them out as contenders before this game and, while it will be difficult to make up that much ground, Liverpool are one of the few teams capable of winning to extend the title race.
Jurgen Klopp was shown a red card for his words to the fourth official after Salah was fouled late in the game.
Phil Foden thought he had broken the deadlock from close range but was booked for a foul in the build-up.
Erling Haaland failed to contribute a goal or an assist for just the second time in his City career, both against Liverpool.
His problems are increasing, however. Diogo Jota was carried off on a stretcher after initially appearing to be suffering from only cramping. It could be just a precaution or a more serious injury, Klopp could not say. Either way, with Luis Diaz out for the long term, it’s a complication Liverpool can do without.
In the end, the noise inside Anfield was deafening, as was the fury, especially after Klopp was sent off for raging at a linesman for a foul on Salah that hadn’t been given. Right or wrong in his judgment, it’s hard to defend him, though, and he admitted his guilt. He was shouting in Gary Beswick’s face and Anthony Taylor flashed a straight red. Klopp disappeared down the tunnel, his face still contorted with rage. He returned at the end, all smiles. They are good winners, top managers.
The difference at the top, meanwhile, is now four points. Liverpool aside, the biggest beneficiaries here were Arsenal, who have been painted as mere placeholders for Manchester City this season. Maybe, maybe not. At the very least, as a club, their Invincibles tag will remain for one more year. Manchester City will not go unbeaten no matter where they finish, unlike recent title winners Arsenal.
Inside Anfield, however, it certainly didn’t look like Arsenal’s day. This was a local win for the local people and took the roof off the place. This new stand must have very solid foundations, or it could have been reduced to a pile of bricks. As for Guardiola, while he stayed to the right of referee Taylor, he was less interested in making friends with the crowd. After City had a goal disallowed, they were met with huge celebrations as always, Guardiola making a great display of whipping them, as Klopp does. Managers admire each other but, between these clubs, little love is lost.
Pep Guardiola shared a few words with Salah after the referee’s full-time whistle at Anfield on Sunday
Liverpool’s players clearly felt that victory could be the turning point in what has been a difficult season
Was it the right call not to allow? Probably. Phil Foden had the ball in the net in the 53rd minute, but referee Taylor was flagged for a foul by Erling Haaland on Fabinho in the build-up. It was a shirt pull, not much and Fabinho might have gone down anyway, but the foul was there. Liverpool claimed the ball was knocked out of Alisson’s hands before Foden also scored. That seemed more debatable.
So it was Liverpool day. They defended strongly, despite not having half of their first-choice back four and playing James Milner at right-back. He was excellent, as was Joe Gomez alongside Virgil van Dijk. Fabinho was an outstanding shield, Harvey Elliott had one of his best games for the club. Not one of them took a step back, not even a breather. Despite this, the best save of the game came from Manchester City’s Ederson in the 50th minute after Roberto Firmino took out Salah. Ederson got a touch, but Taylor didn’t see it. When City scored the disallowed goal from the resulting mistimed goal kick, Haaland’s foul was probably the best. It saved a lot of arguments.
It wasn’t Haaland’s day. He took his few chances, forced a good save from Alisson, but it couldn’t be the difference as he has been in so many games this season. Guardiola was seen in a smiling conversation with a striker at the end, but it was his rival, Salah. He will have loved that spin for the goal, although it will also have been painful to watch. Klopp thought Liverpool could have had a couple more and he wasn’t wrong. Jota missed a couple of very good opportunities with his head, from balls in the Elliott and Salah area. I would have expected to score any of them.
The atmosphere at Anfeild was electric everywhere as Liverpool fans wanted their team to win the big game
But Manchester City have always brought out the best in Liverpool, and this game was no different. It may have been an inconsistent and frustrating season so far, blighted by injury and variable form, but faced with the challenge of a Guardiola side, Klopp and his players so often rise to the occasion. And not only here. He has now beaten Guardiola 11 times, four more than any other manager.
how does it Getting his players to act like men. Here was the blueprint for Liverpool who, at their best, swept City off the park in previous meetings. This City are a different proposition, though, so even though they looked trampled at times and under immense pressure, they didn’t crack until that loose moment from Cancelo. However, at this level, that’s all he needs. Asked what Liverpool will take from this game, Klopp answered, accurately, “three points”. However, with West Ham and Nottingham Forest next, he will be expecting more. A run, a bit of consistency. They win their game in hand, and Liverpool are 11 points behind Arsenal, seven behind City. You might think Liverpool’s challenge is over. He won’t do it.
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