City snap Anfield curse
BLUNDERS: NIGHT TO FORGET FOR HAPLESS LIVERPOOL KEEPER ALISSON
Manchester City left Liverpool’s title defence in tatters as Ilkay Gundogan’s double and two costly mistakes from Alisson Becker inspired the Premier League leaders’ dazzling 4-1 win, while Harry Kane starred in Tottenham’s 2-0 victory against West Bromwich Albion yesterday.
Inspired by Gundogan’s goals and Phil Foden’s stylish display, City moved 10 points clear of fourth placed Liverpool after their first win at Anfield since 2003.
The troubled champions were blown away by Pep Guardiola’s side, who became the first team to score four times in a league game at Anfield in 12 years.
City hold a five-point lead over second-placed Manchester United as they eye a third title in four seasons.
They have won 14 successive games in all competitions, to equal the record for an English top-flight club, set by Preston in 1892 and Arsenal in 1987.
Liverpool are in disarray after losing three consecutive home league games for the first time since 1963.
Gundogan blasted a 38th minute penalty into the Kop after Fabinho’s trip on Raheem Sterling.
But the Germany midfielder got back in Guardiola’s good books in the 49th minute after Sterling’s incisive run unhinged the Liverpool defence.
Sterling found Foden inside the Liverpool area and when his low shot was parried by Alisson, Gundogan thumped home from close-range.
Liverpool equalised in the 63rd minute via Mohamed Salah from the penalty spot, for the Egyptian’s 22nd goal this season.
But Alisson made a massive mistake in the 73rd minute when the Liverpool keeper’s sloppy pass was intercepted by Foden.
Foden made a superb run through the heart of the Liverpool defence before cutting back for Gundogan to finish from virtually on the line.
Alisson’s nightmare wasn’t over and in the 76th minute he again conceded possession with a woeful pass.
This time, Bernardo Silva was the beneficiary and he chipped a cross to Sterling, who headed into the empty net.
England midfielder Foden capped the rout in the 83rd minute, cut in from the right to blast past the shell-shocked Alisson.
Revitalised by Kane’s earlier than expected return from an ankle problem, Tottenham got back to winning ways just when Mourinho needed it most.
Kane made up for lost time by opening the scoring in the second half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, followed by a Son-Heung-min strike moments later.
Kane’s 20th goal in all competitions this season took him to 208 goals in 317 Spurs appearances, level in second place with Bobby Smith on the club’s all-time scoring list. –