Man City’s dramatic comeback against Liverpool sustains Premier League title competition.
LIVERPOOL, England — Erling Haaland kept Manchester City’s Premier League title aspirations alive on Sunday with a penalty goal in a dramatic conclusion against Liverpool at Anfield.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s remarkable free-kick in the 74th minute appeared to be propelling Liverpool toward victory and enhancing the reigning champions’ chances of securing a top-four finish. However, Haaland shifted the momentum in City’s favor by assisting Bernardo Silva’s equalizer before clinching the win from the penalty spot during stoppage time.
Man City believed they had netted a third goal in the dying moments when Rayan Cherki scored into an empty net from his own half. Yet, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review, which resulted in Szoboszlai receiving a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity as Haaland pursued the ball for a second goal.
With this outcome, Man City has narrowed the gap to six points behind leaders Arsenal, while Liverpool remains outside the Champions League qualification spots. — Mark Ogden
Nope, Man City can’t be counted out of title race
Manchester City’s title chances seemed all but extinguished when Szoboszlai netted his stunning free-kick opener — a goal that would have left Pep Guardiola’s squad nine points adrift of Arsenal had Liverpool maintained their lead.
However, despite a lackluster performance at Anfield, City rallied in the final moments to secure a vital victory with goals from Silva and Haaland.
The three points will be a welcome boost for City, but perhaps the most significant aspect of the result is the manner of the win and the morale boost it will provide Guardiola’s players — along with the psychological impact it will have on Arsenal.
The Gunners still have to visit the Etihad before the season concludes, so as long as they cannot shake off City, they will be haunted by memories of two previous seasons when they allowed Guardiola’s team to overtake them in the closing stages.
This may not be a classic City side, but with the goal-scoring threat of Haaland and the exceptional talents of Silva, they will always remain contenders for the title. Their championship experience may prove to be a crucial factor as they pursue Arsenal.
Winning at Anfield is always a significant achievement for any team, and this will weigh heavily for City. They demonstrated they can triumph against a major rival even when not at their best. This is the kind of scenario that could trouble Arsenal. — Ogden
Liverpool let Champions League hopes slip further
The scenes at full-time at Anfield were telling. As Liverpool supporters made their way out, the Manchester City fans celebrated exuberantly in the away section. For many present, it was the first occasion they had seen Guardiola’s team win at Liverpool’s iconic ground, with City’s last victory at Anfield dating back to 2003.
For Liverpool manager Arne Slot, this represents another unwelcome mark on his record in a season that continues to descend to new lows for the Premier League champions. At 1-0 ahead, Liverpool appeared to be the team that dominated the title last season — but once Silva equalized in the 84th minute, it seemed the home crowd could sense what was about to unfold.
Haaland’s penalty in the 93rd minute marks the sixth goal the Reds have conceded after the 90th minute in the league this season, with all those goals occurring in one-goal defeats or draws. After benefiting from late victories in the early weeks of the season, Liverpool now finds themselves struggling in the final moments of matches.
With a five-point gap to close on fourth-placed Manchester United, this is a trend they must rectify quickly — or else Champions League qualification will soon slip from their grasp. — Beth Lindop
Even on a bad day, Haaland can be a game-changer
Haaland demonstrated why he is regarded as the most formidable forward in football by securing City’s victory after a largely unremarkable performance at Anfield.
The City striker entered the match having scored just once in his last seven league appearances and appeared both disengaged and out of form for much of the contest.
However, Haaland’s significance for City lies in his ability to influence crucial matches. He had been largely absent until the 84th minute, when he directed the ball into Silva’s path for the midfielder to equalize Liverpool’s stunning free-kick opener.
Seven minutes later, Haaland converted a penalty after goalkeeper Alisson fouled Nico O’Reilly. It was a high-pressure penalty in a match with significant implications for the title race, but Haaland displayed composure to score the goal — his first in the league at Anfield — and secure the win. — Ogden
Declines of Salah and Alisson exemplify Liverpool transition
When considering players who have been fundamental to Liverpool’s success over the past decade, Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker stand out.
The duo’s excellence at both ends of the pitch has propelled the Reds to numerous victories over Manchester City in recent years, but on Sunday afternoon, signs of their waning abilities were evident.
Salah’s record against City is remarkable. Prior to Sunday, the Egypt international had either scored or assisted 15 of Liverpool’s last 20 Premier League goals against Guardiola’s side.
While he was unfortunate not to register an assist for Hugo Ekitike in the second half, it is undeniable that his influence is diminishing. The same applies to Alisson, who unnecessarily fouled Matheus Nunes inside the box, granting City the opportunity to clinch the win late on.
Of course, both players still have roles to fulfill for Liverpool this season and possibly next. However, at this moment, they serve as a reminder that Slot’s team is still in transition, with the stars of the Jurgen Klopp era beginning to lose their luster. — Lindop
Szoboszlai red card makes Liverpool loss extra costly
There is a certain irony in the fact that Szoboszlai — Liverpool’s player of the season and their scorer against Manchester City — was sent off before the final whistle for pulling back Haaland. Szoboszlai has frequently been Liverpool’s savior this season, but it seems even he is not exempt from the chaos that continues to affect the Reds’ tumultuous campaign.
Szoboszlai believed he had secured victory for the hosts when he curled a magnificent free-kick past Gianluigi Donnarumma 16 minutes from time. It was a superb goal that capped an energetic performance from the Hungary international. He has now netted four direct free-kicks in all competitions this season, the most by a Liverpool player in a single campaign since Luis Suárez scored five in 2012-13.
Assigned to play at right-back against City, Szoboszlai aimed to push the hosts forward in the second half, further reinforcing the idea that he possesses all the qualities to become a future Liverpool captain. However, with Alisson out of position in stoppage time, a moment of rashness led Szoboszlai to tug at Haaland’s shirt, and after a VAR review, he received his marching orders.
This means he will now be unavailable for Liverpool’s challenging midweek trip to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. When difficulties arise for Slot and Liverpool this season, they seem to multiply. — Lindop
