EPL: Man City beat Liverpool to keep title race on track

EPL: Man City beat Liverpool to keep title race on track

Erling Haaland’s stoppage-time penalty earned Manchester City a dramatic 2–1 victory at Liverpool on Sunday, cutting Arsenal’s Premier League lead to six points and keeping City’s title hopes alive.

The Norwegian striker struck deep into second-half stoppage time in a pulsating contest at Anfield, converting from the spot in the 93rd minute to hand Pep Guardiola’s side a rare and vital away win.

City’s title challenge appeared to be slipping away when Dominik Szoboszlai unleashed a stunning long-range free kick in the 74th minute, crashing the ball in off the post to put Liverpool ahead. Even after Bernardo Silva hauled City level 10 minutes later, the champions were still staring at the prospect of finishing the weekend eight points adrift.

However, late drama swung the game decisively in City’s favour when Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker brought down Matheus Nunes in the penalty area. Haaland kept his nerve to drive his effort into the bottom corner, sending the travelling supporters into raptures.

“I was really nervous right beforehand,” Haaland told Sky Sports. “All my thoughts were about getting the ball in the back of the net. Incredible feeling.”

The tension did not subside after the decisive goal. City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a superb save to deny Alexis Mac Allister an equaliser, pushing his effort away from the top corner.

Liverpool thought they had salvaged something spectacular when substitute Rayan Cherki scored from the halfway line, but VAR intervened to rule out the goal and instead sent off Szoboszlai for a foul on Haaland in the build-up.

The win was significant historically as well as competitively. City had managed just one victory in their previous 23 visits to Anfield, while Guardiola himself had won only once there since arriving in England in 2016, a behind-closed-doors match during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

It also marked the first time Manchester City have completed a league double over Liverpool since the 1936/37 season.

“It’s special. It’s an incredibly difficult place to come,” Guardiola said, as City reignited the Premier League title race with a statement victory.

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.

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