The Kop sang “We Shall Not Be Moved!” as Liverpool knocked Manchester City off the top of the Premier League for the first time since December. They were right for less than an hour.
The Anfield narrative since City ’s wasteful draw at Crystal Palace a fortnight ago has been of a flagging Blue horse, while the Merseysiders go from strength to strength, gradually overhauling Pep Guardiola ’s side and, with the Etihad showdown between the two just eight days away, delivering the psychological blow of toppling them from the heights with a 2-0 win over Watford. The only problem is that for all Jurgen Klopp’s talk of his team being “mentality monsters”, City have the belief, the ability and an unquenchable team spirit that makes talk of “pressure” and mind games virtually irrelevant.
Kevin De Bruyne took five minutes to smash Liverpool hopes of possessing a points edge before the two teams meet at the Etihad Stadium next Sunday, and with Ilkay Gundogan making it two by half-time, City cruised effortlessly into a crucial fortnight with three points, a clean sheet and plenty in reserve. They were able to hold John Stones in reserve following his injury scare on England duty, while Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez were also on the bench as Guardiola husbands his resources ahead of a huge fortnight.
