Manchester is red as Liverpool lose again
MANCHESTER City’s 21-match winning streak was ended by rivals Manchester United on Sunday with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side enjoying a 2-0 Premier League derby win at the Etihad Stadium.
The result narrows City’s lead over United at the top of the table to 11 points with 10 games remaining and was City’s first defeat in all competitions since November 21.
City were stunned after just 34 seconds when referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the penalty spot after Gabriel Jesus brought down Anthony Martial just inside the box.
Bruno Fernandes took the penalty with Ederson getting his right hand to the shot which squeezed in the corner to give the visitors the lead.
Luke Shaw had a great chance to double their advantage shortly after the opener but the fullback shot straight at Ederson from a good position in the box.
City had an appeal for a penalty turned down when Raheem Sterling tangled with Fred in the area and Riyad Mahrez went close just before the break.
United, tactically and defensively solid throughout, doubled their lead when keeper Dean Henderson threw a clever and fast ball out to Shaw who burst past two City defenders and after a swift exchange with Marcus Rashford, drove into the bottom far-corner.
Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is looking for a “masterpiece” that would change his side’s momentum following another poor attacking display in a 1-0 home defeat by Fulham, their record sixth league loss at Anfield in a row.
Klopp made seven changes but his side still suffered from the same problems they have had all season, failing to convert their superiority into goals and getting hit by a sucker-punch that cost them all three points.
“There were moments we could have had more of an impact on the game - conceding that goal before halftime was a massive blow. We tried to react and the boys showed that. In the end we don’t score goals and that’s a big problem,” he told Sky Sports.
“We never had a momentum in the season. You can see it’s still in the boys. They still have it all, but at the moment can’t show it. It would be a masterpiece to find out how we change that overnight.”
Liverpool have yet to win at home in the league in 2021 and Klopp’s ambitions have gone from retaining their league title to something much more prosaic.
“To win football games, to win football games (so) I don’t have to stand here and say we fight for this or for that. We have enough to do with fighting for three points,” Klopp said.
Fulham boss Scott Parker said his side were good value for their victory as they moved level on points with Brighton & Hove Albion, who are fourth from bottom with a game in hand. |