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.
2019/2020 Premier League
3-1
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.
Player Ratings
