Anfield lived this Thursday the change of crown of the Premier League when the Manchester City he ripped it off a surrendered Liverpool (1-4).
Not a penalty missed by Ilkay Gündogan not a mistake from Ruben Dias. Nothing prevented the City from taking advantage of two major failures by Alisson to finish off an exhibition that leaves the Premier very close to returning to the Etihad Stadium.
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Why Liverpool was very touched, to have seen how his fortress at Anfield became the garden of Burnley and Brighton with two unexpected defeats that made this duel key to his interests of re-enlisting in the Premier.
“We are no longer candidates“, said the defender Andy Robertson in the previous one, taking pressure off his team, at the same time that Guardiola and Klopp got into a cross of statements about who was more rested and who was better on the calendar.
Be that as it may, the fight of egos was not worth in the field. The Liverpool left with the intention of showing the soul of a champion and he hovered around Ederson’s goal with the ever-present fear of his defense, in which Fabinho and Henderson were the guardians of a team that continues to miss its centrals.
At least upstairs they regained their bellows and Sadio Mané, with a header up, and Roberto Firmino, with a centered volley, sweetened an insipid first half and with more value as a tactical puzzle than as a spectacle for the fans.
Had to break it Raheem Sterling, which has been playing games at a good level. He dribbled Alexander-Arnold cutting from a wing, passed Fabinho and the Brazilian left his supporting leg to knock him down. Penalty.
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Without Kevin De Bruyne on the field, Gündogan, a man who has scored from that distance in a ‘Champions’ final, took responsibility. And sent the ball to the clouds.
Extra life for Liverpool, who followed the same script after going through the rest break. But Sterling was sweet. Another boarding school, another dribble. Ball for Foden, low shot, hand of Ederson and Gündogan, with the rage of the missed penalty, appeared from behind, anticipated everyone and pushed the ball.
Cold sweats at Klopp, who saw the Premier ten points away. He needed a signal to return to the game and football gave it to him when Ruben Dias gave away the tie.
The Portuguese was able to clear a long shipment, but he missed. He handed the ball to Wrong, who left in the race alone before Ederson and Dias had to catch him and throw him to the ground.
Another penalty and this time, the infallible Salah did not miss.
Turning moment? Quite the opposite. City did not get nervous like another year against the ‘Reds’, they submitted them again. He warned them with a goal annulled millimeter to John Stones and hit them with a circus play in which Alisson gave away the ball twice. The first one was saved, they gave him another chance and he missed another pass. Picked up the gift Foden, went into the area and gave the goal pass to Gündogan to push it again.
And it did not end Alisson’s nightmare, who, more nervous than a flan, missed another pass from behind and Bernardo, in the hand-to-hand, he punched the ball so that Sterling scored the goal on the goal line and City a vital triumph for the Premier.
Ten points separate City and Liverpool, with one game less for Guardiola’s, who also have a five advantage over Manchester United.
If no catastrophe occurs, the Premier will dress in light blue for another year.