Thriller proves well worth the wait as Celtic thunder back
dinary run of form having won their opening 10 matches.
Guardiola was unable to field his captain Vincent Kompany and Kevin De Bruyne, over £60m of talent, due to injury. No matter. He could still call on the services of Nicolas Otamendi at centre half and Nolito on the left side of midfield. Together they cost in excess of £40m. Rodgers had a couple of big decisions to make in his team selection. He chose Erike Sviatchenko ahead of centre half Jozo Simunovic and Dembele instead of Leigh Griffiths up front. Both of his decisions were vindicated in just the third minute when the home side opened the scoring.
Sergio Aguero gifted them a free-kick when he handled needlessly. The hosts took advantage. Sinclair picked out James Forrest charging into the opposition area. The winger squared it to Sviatchenko whose header was chested over the line by Dembele. It was their fastest ever goal in the competition.
But City silenced the crowd with an equaliser very much against the run of play in the 12th minute. Fernandinho intercepted an Aleksandar Kolarov shot before curling an effort beyond Craig Gordon.
The home support could have been forgiven for fearing they had enjoyed their moment of glory. Nothing could have been further from the truth. They were back in front just eight minutes later when Rogic sent Tierney clear.
The left back’s lung-bursting run was impressive and if there was a touch of good fortune about the goal – Tierney’s ball was deflected past Bravo off the outstretched leg of Sterling – there could be no denying he deserved to put his side back in front.
City came more into the game as the first half wore on and it was only a matter of time before they drew level.
Sterling atoned for his earlier own goal in the 28th minute when he received possession from David Silva and turned Tierney before steering a shot into the bottom right corner.
Celtic came out flying in the second half went in front for the third time after just 28 seconds. Nir Bitton fed Tierney wide on the left flank and the teenager whipped a cross into the centre of the park. Kolarov failed to clear and the ball fell to Demeble who controlled it on his left knee before netting an acrobatic overhead kick with his right foot.
Having denied first Nolito and then Ilkay Gundogan in rapid succession as City pushed hard for an equaliser, Gordon was helpless at their third in the 55th minute.
He pushed an Aguero shot into the path of Nolito who made no mistake. Rodgers responded by replacing Rogic with Stuart Armstrong. Roberts also took over from Forrest and Griffiths came on for Bitton.
Guardiola put on Stones for Clichy and Fernando for Nolito. But the Premier League leaders were unable to net for a fourth and their winning run was halted.