Liverpool handed Manchester City their first loss of the Premier League season after securing a 1-0 win at Anfield on Sunday evening.
Premier League
Result: Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City
Date: 16 October 2022
Venue: Anfield
The Reds manager Jurgen Klopp dropped striker Darwin Nunez in favour of Roberto Firmino, who joined Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah in a front three.
The Citizens, meanwhile, kept the same side that thrashed Southampton, apart from IIkay Gundogan, who took the place of Riyad Mahrez.
Pep Guardiola's charges were on the front foot in the opening exchanges and Gundogan had a chance to give them lead on 15 minutes with a half-volley from a rebound on the edge of the box that was smothered by goalkeeper Alisson.
Liverpool got into the game midway through the first stanza as Andrew Robertson had an opening after a rebound from shot-stopper Ederson fell on his path in the box but he blazed his shot over the crossbar.
City regained their dominance after that and Erling Haaland had a big chance to break the deadlock shortly before the interval after a cross by Kevin De Bruyne found him unmarked at the back post but he directed his header straight at Alisson.
Liverpool had a bright start in the second stanza as Salah was released through on goal by Firmino but Ederson tipped his shot slightly wide from a one-on-one.
Haaland also had a chance to break the deadlock for the visitors on 64 minutes after a through ball by Gundogan but his left-footed strike was kept out by the strong hand of Alisson.
Klopp changed the shape of their attack with 18 minutes remaining after Nunez replaced Firmino and four minutes later, Salah broke the deadlock for the hosts four minutes later with a chip over the on-rushing Ederson after he was put through on goal by a long kick from Alisson.
With the game set for a frantic finish, City almost had an opening ten minutes before time but Virgil van Dijk made a timely interception to block Joao Cancelo's cross towards Haaland in the box.
Emotions were running in the dying minutes as Klopp was sent off to the stands for protesting a decision against the Reds.
Chances fell for both sides in end to end attacks and Nunez missed a glaring one-on-one chance for Liverpool, but they nevertheless held on to a narrow win that saw them climb up to eighth on the table. City meanwhile, slipped four points behind leaders Arsenal in second place on the log.
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