Liverpool got back to winning ways in the Premier League on Sunday with a dramatic victory over Manchester City.
The Reds claimed a 1-0 win at Anfield thanks to a stunning second-half strike from Mohamed Salah. That came after City had a goal from Phil Foden disallowed following a VAR check, with Erling Haaland found to have fouled Fabinho in the build-up.
Jurgen Klopp’s side move up to eighth place in the league table as a result of the morale-boosting victory and are now six points adrift of the top four. Next up for Liverpool is a home clash against West Ham United on Wednesday night.
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Plenty of national media outlets were at Anfield to watch Liverpool’s win over City. And here is a round-up of what they had to say.
Jason Burt, via The Telegraph
“Where has this Liverpool been all season? After Manchester City had what would have been the opening goal ruled out following a Var check, Pep Guardiola turned to the Main Stand, as Liverpool fans gloated, and screamed in frustration: “This is Anfield”. Yes, it is. And it is Liverpool’s home and it is where their defiance shines brightest and most ferociously.
“City were angry Phil Foden’s strike was cancelled and there was further fury as it was alleged coins were thrown at Guardiola by Liverpool fans that provoked his reaction. The Football Association will investigate.
“With five minutes to go Jurgen Klopp was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor after yet more haranguing of the officials – the Liverpool manager had been in the face of assistant referee Gary Beswick, forcing him to step onto the pitch after Foden’s effort hit the net.
“There were huge amounts of skill as well as spite in what was a modern classic with great saves, missed chances and a relentless power to the football as Mohamed Salah won the battle of the centre-forwards against Erling Haaland, who drew a rare blank, and scored the only goal.”
Martin Samuel, via the Mail Online
“In a week of U-turns, Liverpool made one that went down an absolute storm. In the 73rd minute, Jurgen Klopp prepared to make a clutch of changes. The number 11 was held up, and Mo Salah trotted over, face like thunder. He was in dangerous, explosive form. Why the hell was he the one to come off?
“Answer: he wasn’t. Salah instead was given instructions and told to get out there again. It seemed the 11 was an error, not a change of heart. Either way, it was a U-turn that left Anfield delighted when Salah scored the goal that defeated Manchester City, two minutes later.
“One slip. That’s all it took. One misstep was, ultimately, what separated these teams although there is no doubt the best on the day won. Yet when Joao Cancelo failed to trap a long kick from Alisson, suddenly, what promised to be the greatest goalless draw the Premier League had witnessed wasn’t that at all.
“It was brilliant, quick thinking by goalkeeper Allison, the sort of smart, high tempo idea that defined Liverpool’s play all afternoon. He saw Salah one on one against Cancelo and gave the Manchester City man a test by launching a long kick almost directly to his feet. Cancelo failed it.
“He is usually such an exemplary performer but Salah’s lurking presence spooked him. He stepped forward to kill the ball, failed and Salah spun him beautifully, intelligently using his body without giving up a foul. Now he was away, with only Ederson to beat. He finished in style, his first league goal since August – although he scored a hat-trick in the Champions League against Rangers as recently as Wednesday. So Salah is back.”
Henry Winter, via The Times
“Pep Guardiola kept shouting 'This is Anfield' when a decision went against his Manchester City, ruling out a Phil Foden effort, yet this is more. This is a ground where City have struggled. Anfield, and its baying Kop, is too often a fallow field for City. They have taken only nine points from the last possible 60 at Anfield.
“Guardiola’s men walked into another ambush here. Liverpool were in City’s faces from the start. After all the talk of the gulf between the teams, and Liverpool’s injury travails, here was a loud reminder that they are still guided by the driven Jürgen Klopp, who was so emotionally engaged in the contest that he was eventually sent off by Anthony Taylor for complaining.
“Liverpool still have competitors like James Milner setting the tone as captain, playing at right-back, standing up to Foden’s sinewy threat, overseeing this defeat of his old team. They still have Andy Robertson returning at left-back, soon showing his fighting spirit, charging forward, taking on Bernardo Silva with the ball and with a verbal riposte. They still have class personified in Mohamed Salah, who calmly netted his ninth goal in his 16 Liverpool appearances against City. Salah was up top, leading the line, leading the fight, taking on Rúben Dias, occasionally drifting right and running at Nathan Aké.
“They still have players committed to Klopp’s ethos, pressing hard. City’s players were given no time to settle. Kevin De Bruyne was immediately closed down by Robertson and Diogo Jota. Bernardo was then surrounded by Fabinho, Thiago Alcântara and Roberto Firmino. Thiago and Fabinho hounded Erling Haaland. Jota embodied this determination, winning four tackles against the champions in the first half alone. Such was Jota’s influence that Bernardo left his foot in on him, much to Klopp’s disgust.”
David Hytner, via The Guardian
“Mohamed Salah had seen his number go up before he brought up that of Manchester City. With passions raging and City threatening to wrest a high-end encounter their way, Jürgen Klopp went for a triple substitution. There were 72 minutes on the clock but why was Salah’s No 11 up on the board? He had been Liverpool’s most dangerous player.
“It must have been a mistake because Salah was going nowhere. Klopp explained that to him on the touchline as he oversaw the changes. Moments later, Salah would storm through to score the game’s only goal, handing City a first defeat of the Premier League season and reminding everybody that this Liverpool team are a long way from being a spent force. Did anybody seriously believe that anyway, despite their erratic start to the season?
“Salah’s goal was a personal disaster for João Cancelo, who had reached in to try to nick away an Alisson clearance only to get it all wrong. When Salah rampaged through, there was no doubt as to whether he would finish.
“The second half was a thriller and there was plenty more to come. Earlier, Pep Guardiola had raged at the disallowing of a Phil Foden goal for a foul by Erling Haaland in the build-up but it was Klopp who saw red, losing his mind when the referee, Anthony Taylor, did not whistle for a Bernardo Silva challenge on Salah. He would be directed to the stands.”
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