Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City
A clash of the top two sides in the Premier League was always going to be close.
After all, there was only one point between them after a mightily dramatic finish to last season.
And so it proved again.
Indeed, maybe, just maybe, the side which needed the win the most showed slightly more desire and nicked it.
How Liverpool needed this against the champions of Manchester City.
It was a tense afternoon, as shown by the sight of home manager Jurgen Klopp being sent-off in the closing stages.
But in the end, Mohamed Salah’s goal 14 minutes from time proved enough to send the visitors to their first defeat of the campaign.
Highlights of the game
In a game of plenty of commitment, the clearest first half chances came the way of the home side with young midfielder Harvey Elliott finding forward Diogo Jota whose header was straight at Ederson, while full-back Andy Robertson could only smash the ball over the crossbar after the Brazilian goalkeeper was unable to hold onto a dangerous James Milner cross.
However, the threat of the visitors was clear too as demonstrated when Kevin de Bruyne’s delivery found man of the moment, Erling Haaland, whose header was also straight at the custodian, on this occasion another Brazilian in Alisson.
The Premier League highlights continued after the break and it took a fine fingertip save from Ederson to deny Salah.
Salah turned provider shortly afterwards with a chipped ball which Jota headed over from close range when he probably should have scored.
Then it was back down the other end as Haaland tested Alisson who was able to push the ball away with his right hand before holding a de Bruyne free-kick which was straight at him.
It proved a key moment as the goalkeeper quickly launched a goalkick downfield which evaded everyone bar Salah who got away from his marker and slotted the ball past Ederson.
Anfield erupted and even the sight of Klopp, unhappy at a challenge on Salah moments later, being sent from the touchline could not contain the delight of the home faithful who came close to a second in stoppage time when substitutes Darwin Nunez and Trent Alexander-Arnold combined, the latter inches away from getting a touch on the ball.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds will surely still make City title favourites.
After all, this was their first league defeat since February and a first away league defeat for 14 months.
Yet this was a much-needed win for Liverpool and shows they have not become a fading force overnight.
Key statistics
Salah has become only the second player in Premier League history to score 100+ left-footed goals, after Robbie Fowler (105).
City have only won twice in 26 Premier League away matches against Liverpool.
Klopp’s side are unbeaten in 28 home league matches since a 1-0 defeat by Fulham in March last year (won 21, drawn seven).
Klopp leads Pep Guardiola by 11 wins to eight – excluding penalty shootouts – in their 26 meetings as rival managers.
This was a first away league defeat for City since they lost 1-0 at Spurs on the opening weekend of last season.
What’s next?
A midweek programme of league action to come but City’s match with Arsenal has been postponed so they will not be in action again now until next Saturday (October 22) at home to Brighton.
Liverpool host West Ham on Wednesday evening and are then at newly promoted Nottingham Forest next Saturday lunchtime.
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