ANFIELD OF DREAMS
Liverpool have one foot in the semis as they destroy City in 19 amazing minutes
IT is only half written, but this night will go down in Anfield folklore.
The night when Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Manchester City crumbled and their Champions League campaign went up in a cloud of red smoke.
Liverpool were too good, too fast, too dangerous. Their famous old stadium came alive to revive memories of past European glories and inspire Jurgen Klopp’s new generation of heroes.
Liverpool’s tempo, midfield energy and attacking prowess was too much for City as Guardiola’s Premier League champions-elect were suddenly made to look ordinary. Mo Salah, Alex OxladeChamberlain and Sadio Mane scored in a breathtaking first half to leave both sets of fans in a state of disbelief.
This was a reminder of the magic of one of football’s great European cathedrals. The redhot atmosphere and deafening noise intimidated City and they buckled.
Home fans lay in wait for the City bus, showering it with bottles, coins and red flares as it arrived. Inside the stadium, they were given no peace either, Liverpool tearing into them and the away end falling silent.
Klopp predicted this was a night when Liverpool would write a new chapter of history, his men making their own mark alongside the five European Cups of the past.
Even though the job is not done, this victory will give them reason to believe they can go all the way. If they do, this might just prove to be their most significant result.
After all, Klopp hailed City as the best team in Europe and Liverpool simply blew them away. Strangely, given what was to come, City started quite well, Kevin De Bruyne looked to be running the show as he picked passes in midfield and Liverpool were on the back foot.
But if evidence was needed to settle the argument over who should be player of the year perhaps Salah provided it on 12 minutes.
De Bruyne sparkled but Salah was decisive. James Milner played the ball forward down the right, Salah broke forward and released Roberto Firmino but when keeper Ederson made a brave block, Kyle Walker failed to clear and the ball broke loose in the six yard box.
Firmino’s lay-off set up Salah and he smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Anfield came alive, the noise was deafening. It was Salah’s 38th goal this season, an unbelievable record from an unbelievable player.
Eight minutes later, it got even worse for City.
Vincent Kompany fouled Firmino, referee Felix Brych played an excellent advantage and Oxlade-Chamberlain hit a 20-yard screamer which flew past Ederson. And to think there are those who questioned why he left Arsenal. City had no
answer, no reply and no clue. Guardiola (below, left) looked stumped, unable to make changes or tactical tweaks to stem the tide.
On 31 minutes, Salah turned provider. His shot was blocked but he collected the rebound and stood up an inch-perfect cross to the back post where Mane raced in to power home a close-range header.
Guardiola did not make any changes at half-time and his men emerged looking for an away goal to give them a lifeline. Leroy Sane burst into life on City’s left, finding space and twice went close, while Liverpool lost some momentum as Salah hobbled off injured after 52 minutes.
City threw on Raheem Sterling, surprisingly left out of the starting lineup, to a predictably hostile reception given his acrimonious exit from Liverpool three years ago.
Suddenly it became a very different Liverpool performance, every player in red battling and scrapping to shut down the visitors, who became frustrated as they were unable to find a way through.
It was a night which belonged to Liverpool and Klopp, who now has seven wins from 13 encounters with Guardiola, the best record of any opposing manager. This will go down as arguably the most memorable of all.