Manchester City cut Liverpool’s Premier League lead to four points on Thursday night with a 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium. The Cityzens found a first-half goal through Sergio Aguero before Roberto Firmino’s header levelled the score in the second half. Leroy Sane’s second-half strike gave Manchester City the win despite the Reds’ constant pressure late in the fixture.
The two clubs will take a Premier League break this weekend with the third round of the FA Cup kicking off. Just four points separate the two teams and this is what we learned from Manchester City’s 2-1 win.
Sergio Aguero continues to be Man City’s key man
Manchester City are not the same team with Sergio Aguero on the sidelines. The Argentine has started 17 games this season scoring 10 goals and assisting five. Aguero has scored or assisted a goal in each of Manchester City’s last three games. Two of which have ended in wins. Against Crystl Palace, a 3-2 loss, Aguero managed just 40 minutes on the pitch. His presence completely changes the side and his ruthlessness in front of goal showed against Liverpool. His goal from a tight angle was a thing of beauty.
Man City and Liverpool are miles ahead of the chasing pack
Thursday’s game proved just how miles ahead of the rest of the Premier League both Manchester City and Liverpool are. Sure, the Cityzens have lost two of their last four Premier League games, but those blips on the radar are just that… blips. Liverpool suffered their first loss of the season at the Etihad. Both teams are incredibly strong and regardless which wins the title, so far, they have proven they are worthy of it.
Man City wins thanks to Liverpool’s style of play
Liverpool had a slightly better possession rate with 50.5 percent of the ball. However, it was Manchester City using Liverpool’s pressing and counterattack to score the game winner. Sane’s goal came on a beautifully worked counterattack after Manchester City had won the ball. Liverpool not only had the better possession rate, but the Reds had five shots on target compared to Manchester City’s four.
Has Liverpool’s luck run out?
Liverpool could be called the luckiest team in the Premier League by supporters of other teams. The Reds got a wonder goal from Daniel Sturridge to draw with Chelsea, Divock Origi’s 90th-minute header defeated Everton after Jordon Pickford’s calamitous goalkeeping error, and Xherdan Shaqiri’s two deflected shots got past David De Gea to beat Manchester United.
The Reds could have been in front early on, but Sadio Mane’s shot rebounded from the post in the first half. John Stones’ clearance into Ederson went into the goal but didn’t completely cross the line. Replays showed it was centimetres that separated Liverpool from an opening goal. Had it gone in, the result may have turned out different. While some people will feel Liverpool’s luck has run out, the fact is, they played the second best team in the league. Liverpool didn’t need to beat Manchester City, they just need to beat everyone else to win the league.