Key events
Today’s other matches:
Andy Flintoff gets in touch: “It is precisely that he has won so many titles (pending lawyerball) that means he is currently insulated from the sack. After a run of results like the one City is currently on, would any other top (or top-adjacent) team keep the manager?”
AA BB is back: “I think it’s age plus lawyerball. They can see they’re going to have asterixes above a lot of the successes and it’s draining. Pep dropping ederson is a bad management imo. “
Colum gets in touch: “Kelleher has had such an impact on Liverpool’s series of wins on all fronts. Uneasy about the signing of Jaros as third keeper, the Irishman can contend for the spot of first choice goalie with Allison when the latter returns from injury with head held high. Saves fron the likes of Mbappè and De Bruyne. Doesn’t get much better. What a statement from Liverpool!”
Liam McMahon: “You sure the Guardiola six gesture wasn’t to indicate he’s lost just about six games in a row? “
Behind their hands, Haaland and Van Dijk have quite the conversation. Amicable, it should be said. City’s players go to the away fans – and are applauded. Pep does the six finger gesture to the away fans, too. He’s the last to leave the field. This feels symbolic of something. He’s clapping all ends of the stadium and smiling….he’s not off, is he? You heard it here first.
Full-time: Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City
It could and should have been more. Liverpool peppered City in the first half, and Cody Gakpo’s goal was meagre reward. If City improved in the second half, their ability to self-destruct continued, and so Mohamed Salah was able to slot the deciding penalty. That did for City, who look done. An 11-point gap. Arne Slot and Guardiola embrace – coolly. Pep leaves the field deep in thought but does offer congratulations.
90+2 min: Pep is rubbing his chin now – at least he isn’t picking at his face – but he cuts a beaten, bemused figure. Just what is happening?
90+1 min: Luis Diaz departs, and on comes Harvey Elliott, and four minutes are added on.
90 minute: City have offered nothing beyond that Van Dijk slip. The olés ring out as Liverpool pass the ball around at will. It’s almost cruel.
89 min: Pep was taking that six gesture out of the Mourinho playbook.
88 min: Pep is laughing, and smirking and then does a gesture to show he’s won six titles. The seventh is surely beyond his team this season.
86 min: Anfield is full of song now. The job is almost done. And here comes the “sacked in the morning” chants. That arl Scouse wit…
84 min: Salah, the match-winner, departs the scene. Curtis Jones comes on as a closer.
De Bruyne misses a sitter/Kelleher saves!
83 min: Van Dijk, imperious all game, suddenly slips up, and De Bruyne has a chance to score. Kelleher makes a fine save and receives a vote of thanks from Van Dijk.
81 min: How did City become so vulnerable? It’s an amazing – and welcome for many – development. This season was supposed to be about lawyerball not actual football.
80 min: City subs: Foden and Lewis off, De Bruyne and Grealish on. They will have to perform a miracle. Meanwhile, Salah and Silva tangle. Silva kicked Salah’s hand. Petulance, yeah, that’ll help.
79 min: Pep shakes his head. His team have played well in the second half. Nowhere near their best but something like their old selves. The defending, the composure for that penalty, was unacceptable at any level.
Goal! Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City (Salah, pen, 78)
Deep breath, and then slot to the bottom right. A fine penalty.
Penalty to Liverpool
City do it to themselves again. A total tangle, and Luis Diaz escapes after Nunez robs Walker. Ortega charges out and clatters the Colombian. Shades of Feyenoord in midweek.
74 min: Van Dijk wants this finished. He surges forward like Alan Hansen and sets up Nunez, who checks back and City clear. Quansah – in fact – is playing right-back.
72 min: Two Liverpool changes: Gakpo and Trent off, Quansah and Nunez on. Gomez will look after Doku. Quansah hasn’t been seen since Portman Road when he got repeatedly rolled by Liam Delap.
70 min: Trent, this time, stops Doku, who is causing real problems. On the other flank, Savinho is doing similar, and as he checks and chips, Gomez clears.
68 min: Darwin Nunez is imminent. Meanwhile Doku spins and skins Trent, and it takes Van Dijk to stop it reaching Haaland. Within seconds Gakpo is going close at the other end. Liverpool retain their speed on the break. But have they lost their touch in front of goal?
67 min: Peter Oh gets in touch: “Re: Pep’s coin-toss mind games. City can run from the Kop, they can hide from the Kop, but eventually the Kop will get them.”
I have a feeling that was Kyle Walker’s plan.
66 min: A rash of Liverpool attacks. Gakpo gets away, Salah veers offside, and Trent’s shot, saved by Ortega, becomes moot.
64 min: Another centre-back – Ake – smashes it long for Haaland. Pep really is going old school. Brings a tear to the eye for the likes of Bassett, Kinnear, Beck, Taylor, Pulis, Warnock and Allardyce. They always knew. And now so does Pep. Haaland doesn’t look like he fancies being the new Wayne Allison, mind.
63 min: Salah scoops one wide, having barrelled through. One thing about him: he’s not afraid to miss.
62 min: Van Dijk reads an Akanji ball arrowing for Haaland. Great play from the Dutchman.
61 min: Liverpool attempt to pass it around, and advance forward. Szoboszlai has a shot blocked after Mac Allister’s elegant turn and gallop.
59 min: Doku and Savinho – two wingers – Pep is going old-school. Rico Lewis appears to be pushed forward, too, released from what is now a back three. It may take a while to work out a revised formation. It’s all City, Liverpool looking to the counter.
57 min: City subs; Savinho and Doku on, Gundogan and Nunes go off. Nunes was on a booking.
Salah misses a sitter…
56 min: Akanji and Ake get in a tangle and Salah is through. He has company to pass to, too, and yet he shoots miles wide. He can’t believe it, rubs his new hair in confusion….what a moment.
55 min: Walker and Silva almost combine to get away. Anfield now rings out…their fans are encouraging the team on…
53 min: On the sidelines, Pep and Juanma are back on speaking terms. And Nunes’ high press almost robs an idling Gomez. City want – and deserve – a corner.
