IN BLUE CITY SLICKERS

Inflict first defeat for Liverpool

when Kompany took out Mo Salah with a two-footed lunge trying to retrieve a pass from Stones. The City skipper was cautioned for what looked a red-card challenge.

Then five minutes before the break, Aguero got to Bernardo Silva’s cross ahead of Dejan Lovren, took a touch and turned smartly to arrow the ball high into the net from the most outrageous of angles.

The goal continued his run of scoring in every one of his seven home appearances against the Reds.

Liverpool were back on level terms in the 64th minute after Danilo missed the ball, allowing Robertson to turn it back across goal for Firmino to score with a diving header.

City’s defensive frailties, which had cost them so dearly in recent weeks and allowed Liverpool to open up a sizeable lead, were exposed once again, with Klopp’s men taking full advantage to equalise.

But the Blues restored their lead seven minutes later. Sterling was allowed to surge forward unchallenged before finding Sane, who drilled an unstoppable shot past Alisson and in off his far post. Salah went close late on, Emerson swiping his effort behind, while City were forced into some desperate defending. Bernardo went close in the final minute, with Sterling somehow screwing the rebound wide.

It mattered not, for Sane’s goal proved the decisive moment and reignited the title race.

HUGS GAME Klopp and Guardiola before kick-off last night night, especially down their right flank and, when Sane was sent away by Raheem Sterling, he produced a precision finish that went in off the post.The Blues finally exposed a weakness in the Liverpool defence, which had looked so solid all season.And City showed they will not give up their title easily. Skipper Vincent Kompany said: “I’m buzzing with the tremendous performance. We went toe to toe with a very aggressive team and we matched them.”