SALAH SHAKES CITY SLICKERS
Mo ruins Pep’s hot streak as rivals hit new heights in Anfield classic
THIS deserves to go down as a classic for so many reasons.
Not least because Liverpool summoned up a remarkable display full of grit and determination to end Manchester City’s 21-game unbeaten Premier League run.
It was breathless, dramatic and full of controversy. Jurgen Klopp was sent off, City were denied by a big VAR call and it was full of spite and anger.
Glorious entertainment. English football at its very best.Two incredible rivals pushing each other to new heights. And it was also the day when Liverpool showed they are still a force to be reckoned with, especially when the red-hot atmosphere at Anfield makes it feel as if anything is possible.
There was a deafening noise at the final whistle and it could be a turning point for their whole season.
The eighth-placed Reds are still 10 points behind City and 14 adrift of leaders Arsenal.
But they were 14 off the pace in January and only lost last season’s title by a single point.
And with players of the quality of match-winner
Mo Salah, no one should write them off. The Egyptian king produced something quite stunning here. Liverpool keeper Alisson got the assist and route one football has never looked quite so good. There were so many big performances for Liverpool, Joe Gomez producing a magnificent show alongside Virgil van Dijk in the heart of the home defence. We will be talking about this game for a long time and the fallout will drag on because you could see Pep Guardiola’s anger and frustration as City let it slip. These two have scrapped it out for the title in the past four seasons – and there is no sign of the rivalry ending. No matter how poorly Liverpool have started the season, they dug up something special, with Diogo Jota and Andy Robertson both having chances in the first half.
But City should have gone ahead five minutes before the break when Kevin De Bruyne’s cross found Erling Haaland and the Norwegian’s header was saved by Alisson, left.
If the first half was electric, the second was off the scale.
Salah went through, his low shot was somehow saved by Ederson but a goal-kick was awarded.
Then came City’s big complaint, De Bruyne and Haaland setting up Phil Foden to squeeze the ball home.
VAR, though, ruled it out after Haaland was adjudged to have pulled Fabinho’s shirt in the build up.
Anthony Taylor was right on top of the incident and had the perfect view, so why did VAR official Darren England re-referee the situation?
That is not the idea – Guardiola was incensed while Anfield was lifted.
Liverpool struck after 76 minutes. De Bruyne’s free-kick was plucked out of the air by Alisson, he launched the ball forward and the chase was on.
Joao Cancelo misjudged the ball, Salah latched onto it and raced away before slotting it unerringly past Ederson.
Klopp then lost his cool by shouting in the ear of linesman Gary Beswick and the referee was right to send him off.
Jota was carried off on a stretcher in the closing stages after pulling his hamstring in a tackle.
Liverpool hung on for a win that was just about deserved, even though Guardiola will not agree.