Manchester City's chances of winning a third straight title were dealt a big blow as clinical Liverpool earned a huge 3-1 win at Anfield.
Match Report
Liverpool ruthlessly dispatched title rivals Manchester City 3-1 in a barnstorming clash at Anfield to open up a commanding eight-point gap at the top of the Premier League.
Fabinho rifled the Reds into a sixth-minute lead moments after the visitors were left seething when Trent Alexander-Arnold was not punished for a seeming handball in the penalty area.
Mohamed Salah doubled the lead in a pulsating start and Sadio Mane completed the ransacking early in the second half as Liverpool's hopes of ending 30 years of title pain earned a monumental boost despite Bernardo Silva's 78th-minute strike giving the visitors late hope of a revival.
Liverpool – who are now unbeaten in 17 Premier League contests with City at Anfield – have an eight-point lead over Chelsea and Leicester City but perhaps far more significant for Jurgen Klopp's men, is the cushion of nine they have over Pep Guardiola's defending champions.
EPL Standings
Match Events
5' No penalty? Alexander-Arnold handball overlooked by ref
Bernardo Silva darts in behind van Dijk before flicking the ball across goal to Aguero where Lovren intercepts. All the City players stop however and cry out for a penalty while the referee waves play on!
6' GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Man City (Fabinho)
Goal! Liverpool take the lead! The hosts break rapidly while City are still howling for a penalty and Mane drives down the left flank before having a cross blocked out towards Fabinho, who fires a fierce drive into the top left corner from 25 yards! Bravo was left with no chance!
13' GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Man City (Salah)
Goal! Liverpool double the lead! Alexander-Arnold executes a crisp switch of play out towards Andy Robertson on the left flank, who proceeds to swing in an early cross that Salah runs onto, before nodding a cushioned header beyond Bravo from close range! What a start for the hosts!
28' POST! Angelino almost scores a goal
Angelino goes close for City! The away side work an intricate move that ends with Gundogan sliding Angelino in behind, who brushes off a challenge from Alexander-Arnold, before poking an effort from close range that Lovren deflects inches wide!
40' CLOSE! Aguero's shot wide out
City miss another big chance! De Bruyne kickstarts another dangerous City break before threading Aguero clean through at an angle. The striker drives into the box before hammering a shot across goal from 18 yards that slams narrowly wide!
44' SAVE! Bravo parries Salah long shot
Salah lets a curling effort fly from 25 yards, but Bravo is equal to the shot and he manages to leap to his right and gather the ball.
51' GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Man City (Mane)
Liverpool get a third! Gundgoan affords Henderson too much space on the right-wing and he flights in a cross from deep towards the back post, where Mane charges past his marker and powers a header beyond Bravo at the near post!
66' Sterling goes down in the box but ref says no penalty!
City howl for another penalty after Mane appeared to push Sterling from behind in the box, but once again, the referee and VAR remain unmoved.
78' GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 Man City (Bernardo Silva)
City get one back! De Bruyne beats Fabinho in the air to recycle possession out towards Angelino who fires in a low cross that Silva calmly slots beyond Alisson from ten yards!
82' AGAIN! Alexander-Arnold handball overlooked by ref
City appeal for yet another penalty! Sterling approaches Alexander-Arnold again before attempting a curling shot that strikes the defender's arm! The referee waves play on again, perhaps owing to the fact that the defender had his arms in a largely natural position.
kp_the_3rd
3760
two Manchester City goalkeepers(Walker & Bravo) couldn't stop Mané from scoring[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Dunkirk
3279
The ref destroyed what could have been an honest victory😡😡
CylinderEarther
1092
Neutral here but 3 penalties not called for man city. Refs in the prem always favour the leader. Man city got favoured lots last season and now Liverpool get favoured this season
ibarusha
904
PEP IN THE MORNING :we're not under-dogs to go and make nonsense there at anfield because we know what we 're doing and who is our rivalry. PEP DURING AND AFTER GAME:I can't believe these things I 'm seeing with my two eyes ,I think I'm dreaming . PEP AFTER FINAL WHISTLE : I 'm right right with these but I think I 'm robbed the game ,refrees must have kept something in their pocket because I know my team can't disappoint like that . PEP AT HOME :we will try our luck next time but so far Liverpool is about to find my Wi-Fi password to stop me to defend this title ,I don't know how to hide them the secret I used last two seasons. KLOP : tell me or not because you're late to hide your Wi-Fi password because the hacker I sent to track it has already successful. THE HACKER : All I wanted was the Wi-Fi password, now klop is going to break Liverpool record after this long wait 😂😂😭😭[Crylaugh][Crylaugh].
tababcmn
888
British referee will never improve where the game matters most , personal interest always comes first
Mosanya
820
Referee in the match...
Abdulrashid Aliyu
763
What we see=Video Assistants Referee. What Man city see=Very annoying Reply
Pendeta_Gila
685
my fantasy point mane - 7 arnold - 2 oliver - 10 🤣🤣🤣🤣
AG7F
632
Liverpool Won the Match Fabinho scored the stunner But the Referee won the MOTM
yicdimt
545
Liverpool opened the scoring through Fabinho's strike from the edge of the area but the goal was checked by VAR amid a shout for handball at the other end of the pitch. The ball appeared to hit Trent Alexander-Arnold's hand in the build-up which would have resulted in a Man City penalty but the referee and VAR both disagreed. Here's what the Premier League say about the rules around handball in the Premier League this season amid the Man City controversy. What are the new rules? There are a number of significant changes to the handball rule. Firstly, if a player scores with the use of a hand, both accidental and intentional, it will be disallowed. The biggest change related to intent. Handballs no longer needs to be intentional for it to be given. It's all about the positioning of the arm or hand. If the arm or hand makes the body 'unnaturally bigger', it is handball. The rules say that an arm or hand above the shoulder can 'rarely be a natural position'. Having the arm or hand in that position is considered a risk on the part of the player. Of course, if the arm or hand is away from the body, it will be considered to be making the body 'unnaturally bigger' and a handball will be given. The only exception is when a player puts their hand on the floor to support themselves when making a sliding challenge or falling. If the ball hits an arm or hand in that situation, it won't be given as handball. Do deflections differ? Players will be 'given extra leeway' when the ball deflects off an arm or hand. If the ball deflects off an opponent or teammate and it's deemed impossible for the player to move their arm or hand in time, a handball won't be given. That's also the case if the ball comes quickly from a body part of their own. For example, should they accidentally mis-head the ball onto their own arm, handball won't be given. Check out the exclusive overview of Liverpool vs Manchester City
Khalifybinney
510
Too bad too too bad... Ahhhhhh, this the reason why FIFA dont call english referees to world... Such a shameless a cheat.... Looking at pep reactions make me feel bad... Serioulsy too bad
fidbknr
478
First of all,Pep is a gentleman. A lot of coaches wouldn't have shook hands with the rival coach, with rival players,he almost does this in all the matches,win or loss. I watched the 2nd half, and for longer periods I saw L/pool much,much better than City. City were very sloppy until the last 15mins or so. It was like watching Valverde's Barca. L/pool were always going to be worthy winners until....well, the first handball was 50-50. It is a type that can go either way. Am surprised VAR wasn't used just to clear the doubt. The 2nd handball? It mad me think that the EPL people don't want Man City to win EPL again. It was a CRYSTAL CLEAR handball. Again why VAR wasn't used? I have no idea. Congrats to L/pool regardless. The POSITIVE news for City is: #1 the last few minutes showed that City still got what it takes (obviously they had a very poor start -2goals in 1st 15mins cost them a lot). They is a lot of fuel in City's tank. #2. It's not even even week 19 yet, City still has games to catch up ,plus L/pool will need to visit City also. If they believe and remain competitive,they still can catch L/pool and maybe even win it ,like last season. Having said that ,L/pool are also strong, and if they maintain like they have ,and can, they may just win they first EPL in a very long time.
whykallar
409
Today match result proved that: 1. some Afers on here don't know nothing about soccer when it comes to analyzing, 2. FA is very favoritism, A they cheat teams that is not owned by British, American and Jewish(Europe, North America & Australia) 3. Liverpool can't even beat Man City team B perfectly. 4. Liverpool got anither 3 more decades to win the premier league, B. with the team Liverpool having right now, likewise without any injury, is not a team to win EPL. 4. Two clean penalty disallowed by FA A. even with the goalkeeper Man City had, clearly indicate that Liverpool won't win the EPL. B. both Man City midfield and defense was empty like coca cola leaque. 5. Leicester proved that they're going to win the EPL again this season. B. FA cheated Leicester for Liverpool to win. C. Imaging just 13 matches gone with Liverpool leading and i see people concluding that Liverpool will win the EPL this season. A. last year at this time, Liverpool was leading more points then this, B. there're still 26 matches left, let me save more comments, but the fact is Liverpool won't win this year EPL. P/S only real analyst or people who knows about soccer, will agree with me. My views.
AG7F
398
Guardiola: Mane is a diver Mane: Yeah... and this is how I dive *Scores a goal while diving*
DeuzDerknom
331
For those who asking penalty for TAA's handball😚
championon
282
The GIF is already here, my pleasure: http://bit.ly/2O1712r
saailhussain
238
I know I'll see many people trolling Man city. Its okey they will get, trust me I've seen worse. But every football fan out their should beleive Liverpool are just unstopable. They have the best supporters, they have the best coach, they have the best team spirit in the world. For a great team, these are a must to be in the team. I enjoyed the game.