Liverpool 1-4 Manchester City: result, summary, goals
On-the-whistle match report by Reuters' Martyn Herman
Manchester City opened up a commanding five-point lead at the top of the Premier League as Ilkay Gundogan scored twice in a 4-1 victory at Liverpool for whom keeper Alisson endured a Sunday afternoon to forget.
An emphatic win, City's 10th in a row in the league and first at Anfield since 2003, moved Pep Guardiola's side to 50 points from 22 games, five more than second-placed Manchester United who have played a game more. Gundogan missed a first-half penalty but made up for that by firing City ahead four minutes after the break only for Mohamed Salah to equalise from the spot just past the hour mark, Liverpool's first goal at home this year.
City then had a John Stones goal ruled out before they were gifted two goals in three minutes by Alisson. First he passed straight to Phil Foden who showed great composure to set up Gundogan to restore City's lead, then Raheem Sterling made it 3-1 after another dreadful error by Alisson.
It got even worse for champions Liverpool as the excellent Foden added a superb fourth goal in the 83rd minute. Fourth-placed Liverpool are now 10 points behind City and their title defence is in tatters.
Peep, peep, peep! It's all over, a memorable 4-1 win for Manchester City against Liverpool at Anfield.
Three minutes added on.
Foden makes it 4-1 to City!
Foden takes down a high ball on right edge of the box, drifts toward goal and cuts inside Robertson before blasting the ball into the far top corner. A peach from the Englishman and City now lead 4-1 at Anfield.
City score again 3-1!
Absolutely incredible as Alisson again with a major blunder to allow City to score. The Liverpool keeper gifts the ball to Mahrez inside the box, who then lobs a pass over Alisson to allow Sterling to tap the ball in. 3-1 City!
Gundogan scores again for City!
Two MAJOR blunders in quick succession from Alisson as he tried the play the ball out. The second one allowed Foden to break. The Englishman takes on two or three Liverpool defenders deep inside the box before squaring a short pass to Gundogan, who slots the ball in from four yards out. He's really put that first-half penalty miss behind him now with a second-half brace.
Goal ruled out for City! Stones scores from a free kick set piece but he's been deemed offside. Just inches in that one as the defender did well to stretch and poke the ball passed Alisson.
Chance City! Sterling beats two Liverpool defenders on the left flank before crossing towards Foden, who falls in the box as City shout for a penalty. Meanwhile, the ball falls to the feet of Silva, who blasts his shot wide from distance.
Two changes for Liverpool: Shaquiri on for Thiago; Milner for Curtis Jones
Salah scores the penalty for Liverpool!
Salah steps and blasts the ball into the left side of the net as Ederson dives the wrong way. 1-1!
Penalty for Liverpool! Dias pulls on Salah's shirt and the Egyptian made the most of it with a dramatic fall. But it was definitely a penalty and Dias goes in the book.
CHANCE LIVERPOOL! Jones' low-shot from inside the box is just wide of the far post.
Gundogan scores for City!
Sterling skips around Alexander-Arnold inside the box before slotting a pass to Foden, who shoots from six yards. Alisson saves but can only spill the ball into the path Gundogan, And the German puts the ball into the net to make up for his earlier penalty miss. 1-0 to City!
Fireworks going off outside Anfield. Nobody knows what that's about.
Peep! The second half is underway at Anfield.
First half stats
Possession:
Liverpool - 55%
City - 45 %
Shots:
Liverpool - 5
City - 2
Shots on target:
Liverpool - 2
City - 0
Passes:
Liverpool - 321
City - 273
Pass accuracy:
Liverpool - 87%
City - 84%
Peep peep! And the first half ends as Oliver blows his whistle. Liverpool have created more chances but City had the best one with a penalty that Gundogan managed to blast over the bar. If you are a Man United fan this is probably the scoreline you want right now. 0-0 at Anfield! More to come in 15 minutes.
Decent corner delivery, Mane connects with his head but the shot doesn't trouble Ederson. Two minutes added on here.
Liverpool have a chance with a free-kick just outside the box. But Thiago hits the wall and ball is deflected out for a corner.
Gundogan has blasted the penalty over the bar!
Penalty for City! Sterling clipped by Fabinho inside the box.
It has been a cagey opening half hour in which Liverpool have so far had the only two chances through Firmino and Mane.
Super strike from Firmino! The Brazilian connects perfectly with a half-volley from distance. But his compatriot Ederson does well to palm the ball out for a corner.
Gundogen had a chance to deliver a free-kick set piece towards the box but he's overhit it and the ball bounces out over the byline on the farside. Wasteful!
CHANCE LIVERPOOL! The first real chance of the game falls to Sadio Mane, who heads the ball just over from 8 yards out after a decent cross delivered by Alexander-Arnold.
"Anyone else feel that Sterling hasn’t quite been at the races recently?" asks Richard Foster.
It has been open, lively and end-to-end stuff so far, but we're still awaiting the first real chance to report.
First half-chance for Liverpool as Robertson delivers a decent cross into the box. But Ederson is able to collect with ease.
Ten minutes played and either side has yet to create a chance.
Zinchenko has a pop from distance but the shot is blocked. That's the first shot of the game.
Nice rush forward from Sterling but the final pass towards Mahrez lets him down. Sterling has not scored at Anfiled since he was a Liverpool player.
Early booking for Thiago for a nasty tackle on Gundogan, who is on the floor it quite a lot of pain.
Ederson gets off lightly after completely scuffing a kick out and handing the ball to Mane. Nervy start from the City keeper.
Peep! Man City get the game underway.
The teams are on the field now and we're almost ready to go.
Manchester City's Ukrainian midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko (L) and midfielder Raheem Sterling ahead warming up
Salah readying for City
The Egyptian striker has scored 5 goals in ten meeting with City, but has lost five of those games.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola being interviewed before the match.
Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker warms up ahead of the match at Anfield
Coronavirus restrictions rule out Liverpool trip to face RB Leipzig
Liverpool will not be allowed to travel to Germany for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against RB Leipzig, government officials have said.
The Reds are scheduled to face the Bundesliga side at the Red Bull Arena on February 16 at the start of the knockout stages in the competition.
However, restrictions have been imposed in Germany since Saturday on entry for all arrivals from areas affected by covid-19 mutations until at least February 17.
Exceptions are in place for German citizens or residents but will not be extended for elite sports.
"The Corona Protection Ordinance passed by the German government last Friday provides for only a few exceptions and no special regulations for professional athletes," read a widely released statement from the German government.
"The Federal Police informed the club RB Leipzig today that the described case does not fall under the exceptions."
Anfield could host game
Rules were put in place by UEFA allowing last-16 ties to be switched, so Anfield could yet theoretically host the opening contest. The game could also be held at a neutral venue, with the possibility open for the tie to be reduced to a single fixture.
When contacted by Stats Perform News, European football's governing body said it remains in dialogue with both clubs and also the German Football Association, who in turn are in contact with the German government.
Man City team news
City XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Zinchenko, Dias, Stones, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Foden, Bernardo, Mahrez, Sterling
Liverpool team news
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Henderson, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Jones, Thiago, Mane, Salah, Firmino
Sterling return to Anfield on Guardiola's mind
Raheem Sterling's lack of goals at Anfield is of no concern to Pep Guardiola ahead of Manchester City's crunch trip to face Liverpool on Sunday.
Six return visits to Anfield have drawn a blank, but Guardiola believes Sterling's performances overall have been up to the mark - highlighting his contribution as City went down 3-1 last season on Merseyside.
"I remember last time, when we lost 3-1 there, he made an incredible, exceptional game," Guardiola said of an all-action display culminating in a flashpoint with Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, an incident that infamously spilled over into England duty the following week.
"With this, I am more than satisfied. Of course, I want my strikers and attacking midfielders to score - everyone, two goals a game.
"That's what I want and he wants more than me. He likes to play on the biggest stages. I don't have doubts about this. But what I want is us to do it all together."
Klopp looking forward to Liverpool-Man City clash
Liverpool must look to make Anfield a fortress again after two straight Premier League defeats at home and the visit of leaders Manchester City on Sunday can help kick-start their campaign, manager Juergen Klopp said on Friday.
Klopp's side, who romped to the title last season, went unbeaten in 68 league games at Anfield before narrow defeats by Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion and are fourth in the table with 40 points from 22 games.
"We need to play really good football. It's that I say 'come on now, it's Anfield'. We love playing there but lost the last two," Klopp, whose side have managed two wins in their last eight league games, told a news conference.
"We were not interested in not losing 68 in a row, so why start now? It's all about trying again, being positive and making Anfield a fortress again.
Manchester City can move 10 points clear of defending champions Liverpool with a victory at Anfield.
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