Emphatic City eyes Liverpool's throne after rare Anfield win

Premier League: Emphatic City eyes Liverpool's throne after rare Anfield win

 

Ilkay Gundogan profited from rare Alisson errors to power City past Liverpool on Sunday. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Champions elect, Manchester City extended their lead at the top of the table to five points after Alisson made two blunders in a 4-1 victory at Anfield on Sunday in an empty stadium although with all the same atmosphere.

 

On a day one would have thought lady luck was with the home side after Ilkay Gundogan missed from the spot when Raheem Sterling was hacked down in the area by Fabinho early on in the first half.

 

The German midfielder, who can be comfortably named as the best player in the premier league at the moment atoned for his sins when he opened the scoring early in the second-half following neat work by Raheem Sterling.

 

Jurgen Klopp, knowing he only had the day to prove his side is not a spent force had the luxury of recalling Fabinho in the heart of the defense but he still named Jordan Henderson as his partner and had Sadio Mane back to complete the trinity up top.

Pep Guardiola, who had never beaten Liverpool at Anfield handed Phil Foden another start and the youngster repaid the faith in full with some extra toppings.

 

The first half was evenly matched in terms of chances although the visitors dominated possession, Firminho could have gotten the Kops in front but his near post header went wide of Ederson’s post.

 

After Gundogan blasted miles over from the penalty spot, the home side got inspired and moved the ball faster but John Stones and Ruben Dias were up to it and it took only five minutes into the second half for goals to rain.

 

Ilkay Gundogan came to life in the second half, reacting quickest to tap home after Alisson saved from Foden but the Brazilian goalkeeper would later hand the initiatives to the visitors following two horrendous errors.

 

Mohammed Salah leveled for the hosts from the spot after the ever-reliable Dias pulled down Salah in the box and the Egyptian blasted past Ederson without questions.

 

It was probably the first mistake that could be credited to Dias but his teammates would hand him a get out of jail card not long afterward.

 

City went ahead 10 minutes later when Foden capitalized on Alisson's mistake to set up Gundogan for his second.

The Liverpool goalkeeper made another massive error as his stray pass went straight to Bernado Silva who set up Sterling before Foden scored a fourth moments later.

 

"It's brilliant, every player wants to play in big games like this and we showed that courage from minute one," Foden said.

"We definitely forced the errors, it's something we're working at in training."

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said that the team side are now targeting champions league qualification.